Co-proprietor of The Courier, Narrabri’s Wanda Dunnet, and two former local residents have been included in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours that were announced by the Governor-General, David Hurley, on Monday.
Mrs Dunnet was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia OAM, ‘for service to the print media industry.’
Former resident David Anthony, now living in Turramurra, was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia, AM ‘for significant service to the agricultural sector, and to the community of Narrabri’, and former resident John Dunnet, now of Toronto, is the recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia OAM, for ‘service to the print media industry.’
“I am thrilled to be awarded an OAM,” said Mrs Dunnet.
“I regard the award as an endorsement of the importance of printed local newspapers, particularly in country towns.
“It is a recognition of the commitment, work and enthusiasm of the great team which produces the paper year on year.”
Mrs Dunnet is actively involved in the regional newspaper industry at state and national organisation levels. She has served as a Country Press Australia board member since 2019 in her capacity as NSW Country Press Association vice president.
She has acted as delegate/attendee at each Australian eastern state industry conference and to the South Asia News Summit, 2022, and the International News Media Association congresses in Sydney, San Francisco, Washington and New York.
Mrs Dunnet has been co-proprietor of The Courier and Wee Waa News since 2007, managing director of the Gunnedah Times, since its launch in 2020 and the regional North Western Guide.
Mrs Dunnet is a passionate advocate for the role of print community newspapers.
“Every country town needs a local newspaper,” she believes.
“I am very proud of our local publications and the team led by general manager Dylan Smith and proud of the newspapers’ role in the community.”
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