Cheryl Hennessy honoured as SIAHTO Woman of the Year

The annual SIAHTO Changeover dinner was held at the Narrabri RSL Club on Tuesday, November 22.

The highlight of the evening was the much-anticipated announcement of the SIAHTO Woman of the Year. This year the accolade went to Narrabri local Cheryl Hennessy.

Outgoing president Tracey Thompson was delighted to pay tribute to Mrs Hennessy.

“Our 2022 Woman of the Year is known as a quiet achiever who works tirelessly. Cheryl is a mother of five, a grandmother of one, and a volunteer on many committees,” Mrs Thompson said.

Ms Hennessy’s contributions to the community during the past 12 years include:
• Narrabri West Public School canteen;
• Narrabri High School canteen (as president and volunteer), including periods when she did not have children at the school;
• Meals on Wheels (10 years);
• Can Assist;
• Narrabri Rugby League Football Club;
• Narrabri 1st (Scout Leader);
• Narrabri High School Raise program;
• Co-founder, partner/helper of Donuts for Charities alongside a friend helping raise money for various local groups, as well as individuals in need;
• Cheryl is still an active member of the RSL legacy group;
• In 2021, she mosaiced a bra on a mannequin, and it sold for $450, which went towards the fund-raising cause with Pink up the Namoi.

Cheryl has completed another mannequin for 2022, which was auctioned on Saturday night.

“This candidate for the SIAHTO Woman of the Year was born in Narrabri and attended Narrabri West Public School and Narrabri High School,” said Mrs Thompson before making the announcement.

“She moved away but always looked on Narrabri as her home as she has many family ties here.

“Since returning to Narrabri in 2010, she has moved onto the farm where her husband works and has been busy raising her five children.

“She is very proud of her family, all of whom are respectful and polite, and the lesson she has taught her children relating to ‘giving’ by example is priceless.

“You will often see one or more of her children helping with setting up functions or serving guests at a high tea fundraiser, and they are happy to simply eat leftover homemade cakes as payment for their hard work.”

“This deserving lady works full-time as a medical receptionist as well as holding down part-time jobs helping out when other people’s businesses are short-staffed. Some of the roles include, but are not limited to, financial paperwork, flipping burgers, and making pizzas – both in Wee Waa and Narrabri. She is always happy to help when needed, always answers with a ‘sure’.

“I am convinced that there is a lot more that she accomplishes that nobody even knows about. I am very happy to announce our Woman of the Year for 2022 is Cheryl Hennessy.”

Cheryl was joined by family and friends for the SIAHTO dinner after the announcement was made. She was nominated by work colleagues at Namoi/Narrabri Medical Centre, Deb Wales and Julie Murphy.

“Cheryl is a quiet little achiever who flies under the radar all the time,” said Mrs Wales.

“Our friend and colleague does so much for our community that many people just don’t realise. Julie and I made the decision to nominate Cheryl, and we are so pleased with the end result!”

Other awards handed out during the evening were the SIAHTO motivation award and best attendance given to Karen Fenton, while the friendship award went to Ann Loder, with the award accepted on her behalf by incoming commissariat Joanne Gordon in Mrs Loder’s absence.

One-hundred per cent attendance awards were taken home by Karen Fenton, Joanne Gordon and Heather Caton.

Next came a particularly prestigious award of life membership to Trish Mackereth in an acknowledgement to her outstanding contribution to the club for the past 30 years.

The SIAHTO major donation for 2022 was presented to the Narrabri Community Health Palliative Care Unit. The donation will be put towards the upkeep and ongoing service of the department’s mobility unit. Clinical nurse consultant and palliative care nurse Fiona Campbell and palliative care registered nurse Robyn Allen were honoured to be in attendance to accept the donation presented by SIAHTO treasurer Sharon Farnham.

Outgoing president Mrs Thompson presented her report detailing the achievements and activities of the committee during the past year, and the commemorative cake was formally cut by Mrs Hennessy.

Guests at the dinner were given the opportunity to make donations at the table, which will be put toward personal care items supplied to the Salvation Army.

Outgoing president Tracey Thompson thanked her committee for their work throughout 2022 and welcomed the incoming committee for 2023. The induction of the SIAHTO 2023 committee took place.

The incoming office bearers are as follows:

President – Cheryl Hennessy, senior vice-president – Sharyn Norrie, junior vice-president – Trish Allison, secretary – Noeline Kiss, assistant secretary – Karen Fenton, treasurer – Sharon Farnham, assistant treasurer – Trish Mackereth, commissariat – Joanne Gordon, assistant commissariat – Kris Allen and past president – Tracey Thompson.