The Australia Day Awards are an opportunity for the community to officially recognise the achievements of community members who make a significant contribution to the Narrabri Shire.

The nominees for the 2020 Young Citizen of the Year Award:

•Georgia Goodhew – Georgia has excelled in education, environmental and humanitarian duties. She has represented her school locally, in NSW and ACT as well as overseas. She attended ‘Schoolies Unearthed’ in Vanuatu to complete humanitarian duties assisting in the build of toilet blocks for a small village.

•Matthew Nash – Matthew was nominated because of his excellence in the areas of school leadership and the creative arts. He encourages young students in the community and has toured overseas with regional and state music ensembles.

•Jenna Baxter – Jenna has excelled in the areas of school leadership and supporting humanitarian causes. She has been instrumental in fund raising activities both with Narrabri High School and the wider community, particularly around issues to do with women’s health.

•Emily Shearin – Emily has been nominated for her outstanding achievements in mentoring and advocacy for rural Australia and in the wider local community. She has enjoyed success in sporting, rural and agricultural areas as well as part of the robotics team at Wee Waa High.

The nominees for the 2020 Citizen of the Year Award:

•David Morris – David has been nominated for his dedication to his work in a voluntary capacity with the RFS. He has shown great leadership as Captain in both the Bobbiwaa and Bullawa brigades. He prioritises protecting life first, then property and thirdly the environment. He is a prominent member of other volunteer organisations, including the Eulah Creek Hall committee.

•Jenny Wilson – Jenny is a tireless volunteer with the Cancer Council and other organisations and has raised thousands of dollars to assist essential services such as Cancer Council Patient Transport car and the Westpac Helicopter service to keep operating in our region. The countless raffles, afternoon teas, head shaves and the Donuts for Charity fundraiser assists many local cancer sufferers with the cost of their treatment, travel and accommodation.

•Cheryl Hennessey – Cheryl has contributed greatly to the community through her fundraising efforts. She regularly volunteers for canteen duty at the West School, the High School and for the Rugby League. She has been instrumental in the Donuts for Charities fundraiser as well as morning teas and head shaves. She has a heart of gold, a quiet, caring nature and a willingness to assist others in the community.

•Joanne Tailby – Joanne has excelled at fundraising in her local community at Boggabri. She does everything from fundraising raffles, running events, preparing food, loading firewood and gathering donations. She has been heavily involved with the successful event the Drovers Campfire. She is a happy, down to earth person who provides whatever assistance is required to anyone who asks.

•Harvey Black – Harvey has an unequalled history of sustained voluntary service to the Narrabri Shire community as a long-time leader and mentor to the Narrabri Volunteer Rescue Association. He was a founding member back in 1975 and has provided a constant link through the VRA’s development over 44 years. He has also taken on other roles at state and higher levels.

•Peter Carrett – Peter was a long-standing Principal at Wee Waa Public School until his retirement in 2018. He is passionate about music and has formed a community band that performs in the Wee Waa district at events such as Anzac Day, carols in the hospital grounds and plays music at the local aged care hostel.

•Tom Kay – Tom has been nominated for his extensive contribution to the Narrabri Scouts. He has been involved with the Scouts for nearly 30 years. He dedicates most of his weekends to scouting activities helping to keep lots of kids ‘off the streets’ and learning lessons about respect, honesty and life skills.

•Darrell Tiemens – Darrell is a passionate supporter of the Narrabri Shire and its community and is instrumental in ensuring success for community based activities that promote the shire. The most notable of events that Darrell has been involved in include the Rotary Club drought relief project “Neighbours in Need”. There has been more than $300,000 flow into the club that has been disbursed across the townships in the Shire. He was also involved in the fundraising for the Narrabri Hospital CT scanner and instrumental in re-igniting the interest in the NOSH on the Namoi. He remains a long term member of the Friends of the Crossing Theatre and is also a volunteer announcer with 2MaxFM.

•Julie Dowleans – Julie is a volunteer announcer for the Community Radio 2MaxFM hosting the Wednesday morning show.
She was involved in a 12 hour marathon on 2MaxFM in awareness of drought relief. Julie has been nominated due to the number of committees she has sat on in Wee Waa including Namoi Echo Museum, Lions Club, Relay for Life and the Garden Club.

•Ian and Eletha Bailey – Ian and Eletha volunteer their time as announcers on 2MaxFM, best known for their ‘Breaky with the Bails’ segment on Thursday mornings. They have been nominated for the endless hours they have given to community clubs. They are members of the Narrabri Westpac Rescue Helicopter Support Group as well as the Narrabri Show, NOSH on the Namoi and have represented Narrabri at Bowls.

•Trish Mackereth – Trish is known in her peer groups as the ‘quiet achiever’. She has been nominated for her contributions as a member and volunteer with a number of clubs in Narrabri including SIAHTO, View Club, Whiddon Group Aged Care Facility auxiliary and Meals on Wheels. She regularly attends fundraising events and is a valued member of her local community.

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