“My initial response was joy for Dane but total surprise that my name was included,” Junee said. 

“I had to ask the general manager (of council, Leanne Barnes) if she was sure it included me.”

But there was no question as council had received so many nominations for both Dane and his mum Junee and she was told that it had been a unanimous decision of council.

“As far as I was concerned I was just the water lady,” Junee added.

“I don’t think it was until late on Tuesday night that I allowed myself to think about.”

On Wednesday morning Junee told Dane and they sat together while Junee read out the citation to Dane.

“We toasted with a cup of coffee the success of making a connection with so many people that we met across the country,” Junee said.

“It really is much bigger than Dane and Junee. It’s about the people who thanked us, the people who supported us and we talked about that,” she said.

“When Dane was told ‘your community loves you’ he said ‘thank you and I love my community,’. He feels such a special part of this community,” Junee said.

There were also special thanks for the people of the shire who did so much to help and support Dane’s Dream.

Junee said that everyone had been so supportive.

People crowded into the Pambula Surf Life Saving Club on the morning that Dane finished his 4000km run in Pambula. 

Junee and Dane will be at the Merimbula Australia Day event prior to going to Bega for the presentation of their Citizen of the Year awards. 

Two other locals will receive well-deserved recognition from the shire and the community on Australia Day when they receive Bega Valley Shire awards.

In addition to naming Dane and Junee Waites joint Citizens of the Year, Ron Finneran will receive the Senior of the Year award while Sean Fitzpatrick will be named the Young Citizen of the Year.

Dane’s 4000km, three month run across the country was 14 years in the making – a mission supported by the rock in Dane’s universe his mum Junee and his late dad Rod.

Dane and Junee’s aim was to raise awareness of what is possible from a life with autism, along the way they raised money for support services and research, but it was their simple presence in communities along the way that carried the most value.

In doing so Dane’s epic run also raised over $120,000 for autism research and Beyond Blue.

“More than that Dane and Junee show us that people of ability come in all sorts of packages and that we aren’t all the same – and that is okay and in fact difference and diversity are qualities to celebrate,” Bega Valley Shire Council’s citation said.