On Australia Day next year, people who have made a significant or inspirational contribution to society, and who are 25-years-old or younger will now be eligible to become the Narrabri Shire’s Young Citizen of the Year.

Previously, the Young Citizen of the Year award recipient has been 16-years-old or younger but a recent vote at a Narrabri Shire Council meeting changed the age bracket.

“This makes a lot of sense for the future,” commented Councillor Maxine Booby.

It also means the Citizen of the Year will be 26-years-old or older when the award is announced at the Council’s Australia Day celebrations, next year on January 26.

In the lead up to the celebrations, Council provides an opportunity for community members to be nominated as Young Citizen of the Year or Citizen of the Year.

The majority of councillors were in favour of the shift in age bracket with Cr Ann Loder the only one to vote against the recommendation, ‘that Council adopt the proposed amendments to the current application guidelines for the Young Citizen of the Year being 25 years or younger on 26 January of the relevant year and Citizen of the Year being 26 years or over on 26 January of the relevant year.

Cr Loder queried whether the award recipient needed to be an Australian citizen.

“Why do they have to be an Australian citizen?

“We have lots of different cultures here and I’m sure lots of them do a fair bit of work in the community to help people out,” said Cr Loder.

Cr Robert Kneale respectfully argued against Cr Loder’s suggestion.

“It’s called the ‘Australia’ Day Citizen of the Year and that should be an additional encouragement to become an Australian citizen,” said Cr Kneale.

“Living in Australia but gaining all the benefits, should be an added incentive to become a naturalised Australian.

“I don’t see there’s a problem, there’s got to be some rules and regulations – it’s not just a free for all,”said Cr Kneale.

“I think we will just concentrate on what the recommendation is otherwise we can diverse into many different sections and never get anywhere,” said mayor Cathy Redding urging councillors to focus on the age bracket change recommendation and move on.

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