27-01-2017
Upper Lachlan Shire’s unsung heroes have been honoured in the 2017 local Australia Day Awards.
The Awards were presented at the Australia Day celebrations in Gunning, Crookwell and Taralga by Upper Lachlan Shire Mayor Brian McCormack OAM and Upper Lachlan Shire Council Australia Day Ambassador, news presenter, Jacinta Tynan.
Cr McCormack said the annual Awards recognise outstanding examples of citizenship and achievement in the Shire.
“On behalf of Council I would like to congratulate all of the Award winners and thank them for their outstanding contributions to the Upper Lachlan Shire,” Cr McCormack said.
“I would also like to acknowledge all of the nominees for the positive impact they have made on the local community.”
Awards were presented for the Upper Lachlan Citizen of the Year Award, the Upper Lachlan Young Citizen of the Year Award and the Upper Lachlan Event of the Year Award, with a Shire-wide winner announced, along with recipients from Gunning, Crookwell and Taralga*. They included:
Citizen of the Year
Upper Lachlan Citizen of the Year Award (Shire Award)
Robert Bill was named the Shire’s Upper Lachlan Citizen of the Year for his tireless work in the Crookwell community.
Robert has been an active member of the Crookwell Amateur Dramatic Society for over 30 years and takes delight in the challenge of set building and stage management of adult and junior productions. He is a longstanding member of the Crookwell Memorial Hall Management Committee which has turned the Hall from a rundown facility to a community asset that now hosts weddings and other events. Robert is also on the Crookwell Christmas in the Park Committee assisting in the organisation, set up and clean up of the annual event.
He was also a founding member of the Crookwell Youth Centre, was involved in the Crookwell Pony Club for many years and is a former manager, coach and referee in both junior and senior soccer in Crookwell.
Upper Lachlan Citizen of the Year Award (Gunning)
Kathleen Webster (Collector) and Patricia Hallam (Gunning) were jointly awarded the Gunning Upper Lachlan Citizen of the Year Award.
Kathleen has served on numerous local committees and associations, including but not limited to the Collector Pumpkin Festival Committee, the Collector Community Association and the Red Cross.
In addition to her involvement with various community groups such as the Gunning Pastoral, Agriculture and Industry Society and Gunning District Community and Health Service Inc, Patricia is an active member of the Gunning Catholic Church where she has played the organ for close to 40 years.
Upper Lachlan Citizen of the Year Award (Crookwell)
Joyce Edwards received the Crookwell Citizen of the Year Award for her involvement in numerous committees, organisations and events, including but not limited to, the Crookwell District Hospital Community Consultation Committee, Meals on Wheels and the Crookwell Potato Festival.
Upper Lachlan Citizen of the Year Award (Taralga)
Lawrence Chalker was awarded the Taralga Upper Lachlan Citizen of the Year Award for his decades of service to Saint Matthew’s Church and Cemetery Bannaby and the Taralga District ‘Stone Quarry’ Cemetery.
Young Citizen of the Year
Upper Lachlan Young Citizen of the Year Award (Shire Award)
Constance Marks, 18, was named the Shire’s Young Citizen of the Year for her community involvement and school leadership.
In addition to her role as Crookwell High School Vice Captain and Vice President of the School’s Student Representative Council, Constance has been a member of Crookwell youth organisation Ya’Mad, undertook volunteer work in day care centres in Cambodia and was an active fundraiser for the victims of the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
Last year Constance was one of just eight school leaders from secondary schools across NSW to be invited to attend the Australia Day lunch in Sydney and was selected to shadow the NSW Department of Education’s Deputy Secretary as ‘Secretary for the Day’ during Education Week in 2015.
Constance has also been the recipient of the Rotary Club of Crookwell Community Service Award, placed first in the 2015 Lions Youth of the Year Public Speaking Competition and was the winner of the 2015 Upper Lachlan National Youth Week Poetry Competition.
Upper Lachlan Young Citizen of the Year Award (Gunning)
17-year-old Lucy Foley received the Gunning Upper Lachlan Young Citizen of the Year Award. In 2016 Lucy travelled to Timor-Leste where she lived within the community and assisted primary school aged children in practising their English skills.
Upper Lachlan Young Citizen of the Year Award (Taralga)
Fletcher Craig, 13, was named the Taralga Upper Lachlan Young Citizen of the Year for his significant achievements in hockey. Fletcher was also School Captain of St Joseph’s Primary School, Goulburn.
Event of the Year
Upper Lachlan Event of the Year Award (Shire Award)
The Binda Picnic Races received the Shire’s 2017 Event of the Year Award. It has become one of the Shire’s largest tourist events, attracting more than 2000 patrons and generating more than $30,000 for the local economy. Last year’s event also raised almost $5000 for Motor Neurone Disease research in memory of past committee member Mike Mayoh.
Upper Lachlan Event of the Year Award (Crookwell)
Crookwell Public School’s 150th Anniversary Celebration received the Crookwell 2017 Event of the Year Award. The event, held on the 2015 October long weekend, brought the Crookwell community together to celebrate 150 years of public education in Crookwell.
*There were no Awards presented in the Crookwell Upper Lachlan Young Citizen of the Year Award, the Gunning Upper Lachlan Event of the Year Award or Taralga Upper Lachlan Event of the Year Award categories.