Bruce Gray’s community contributions recognised

It’s been a big week for community member Bruce Gray: on Wednesday Bruce was named the 2023 Wee Waa Lions Senior Citizen of the Year and then at the weekend he was part of the dedicated committee tasked with orchestrating the hugely successful Wee Waa Cotton Capital Country Music Muster, attracting tourists to town and a stellar line-up of talent including singer Travis Collins.

Bruce, supported by his wife Kay, is well-known for his generosity and tireless volunteer efforts so it was fitting the recognition occurred just before the muster weekend.

Although he might not have had too much time to sit back, relax and enjoy the accolade as the muster committee rallied to organise one of the town’s biggest events.

The Lions Club Senior of the Year award presentation took place at the bowling club while attendees enjoyed catching up over morning tea and lunch.

The energy Bruce devotes to local initiatives, while still carrying out his own farm and agricultural work, makes it hard to believe he qualifies for the ‘seniors category’.

But if you ask Bruce, the reason he gives so much time to help is simple:

“I just love this town, I’ve been here all my life and so has my family.

“Kay and I really are a team.

“And I just love this community.”

The senior citizens’ event was hosted by the Lions Club and Namoi Care Connect, with Lion Connie Smith and a talented team of Wee Waa High School students providing the delicious lunch and sweets.

Narrabri Shire Council mayor Ron Campbell attended the event and praised Bruce for his impressive and consistent contributions to the community.

Organiser and Lion Ron Lowder, who has been coordinating the award presentation event since 1985, once again did a terrific job.

Ron detailed Bruce’s many achievements as a snapshot of why he is beyond deserving of the Wee Waa Lions Senior Citizen of the Year title.

“Bruce was born in Narrabri during the 1950s floods and has lived in Wee Waa his whole life.

“Bruce is a third-generation farmer living at the family property ‘Hawthorne’.

“Bruce and Kay have raised their family using all local community facilities, schools, and hospitals.

“Bruce has been a farmer, sharefarmer, and agricultural spray contractor.

“Over the years, Bruce has been heavily involved in most local community organisations in various capacities from pre-school, primary and high school committees, tennis club, Anglican church warden and Wee Waa Hospital board member for many years.

“Bruce was given life membership of the Wee Waa Apex Club in 1989.

“During his years in Apex, he held most board positions at a local level and held the position of bulletin editor at a zone level.

“Bruce was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary Club’s highest award) for his contribution to his town.

“In 1990, Bruce received the Narrabri Shire ‘Award of Merit’ in the Australia Day awards.

“Bruce has been a Wee Waa Lions Club member holding various positions, member of the Wee Waa Chamber of Commerce, Wee Waa Show committee as the photography steward for 20 plus years, founding member of the Wee Waa and District Historical Society Inc, Wee Waa Hospital board member, and an organiser with the local Cotton Capital Country Music Muster.

“During Bruce’s many years on the Wee Waa Hospital board he was one of the instigators of organising community support for the building of an aged care facility in Wee Waa in the 1990s.

“He is very proud that there is such a wonderful facility ‘Weeronga’ here in Wee Waa.

“He is currently still chair of that committee.

“Most recently he is a member of the community complex (doctors) board assisting with the installation of the new doctor housing buildings in Alma Street opposite Wee Waa hospital.”

Bruce was visibly humbled when receiving the award, and firstly praised Ron Lowder for being the long-term organiser of the event.

“I would also like to thank to the Lions Club and I would especially like to thank my wife Kay who supports me and she really is busier than I am – I tell you.

“The first name I saw when I looked at the award shield was Esme Lowder, and about a year before her award in 1989 I was on the hospital board and she came to see Peter Martin and myself and said that we needed aged care in Wee Waa, and that’s where it started.

“It’s very important to keep families who want to still be here in the town, and I’m just proud to be part of that.

“There were so many people on the original committee pushing for aged care and without that team of people pulling together, we’d still be having to raise money with cake stalls down the street.

“Thanks very much for this award, but there’s always a team involved.”

Bruce also praised Dennis and Letitia Lowder who worked alongside the Grays to organise the Muster weekend.