Celebrating wonderful community contributions

There were many wonderful contributions to celebrate by Narrabri Shire individuals and groups during the Australia Day awards ceremony.

Along with recognising Citizen of the Year Joan Griffiths, and Young Citizen of the Year Sophie Hartnett, mayor Darrell Tiemens and Australia Day ambassador Clyde Campbell presented six other categories representing the community, sporting and environmental efforts.

Other award categories recognised were the Community Group Service Award which went to Wee Waa & District Historical Society Inc, Junior Sportsperson of the Year (Sportsman and Sportswoman) awarded to Lennon Simmonds and Emily Simpson, and Senior Sportsperson of the Year Jason Anderson.

The Community Arts and Cultural Development Award went to Scott Pollock and the Environmental Award went to Kathryn Hamilton for her contribution to WIRES.

“This year’s award recipients have all contributed so much to our shire, and it’s fantastic to see them recognised for these incredible efforts,” said Cr Tiemens during his awards ceremony speech.

“It was a great honour to present these awards to our recipients, including our Citizen of the Year Joan Griffiths, and our Young Citizen of the Year Sophie Hartnett.

“Both are very worthy award recipients, who continue to go above and beyond for their community.”

Cr Tiemens also thanked everyone who put forward nominations for this year’s awards and considered it heartening to see the number of submissions submitted by local residents and the community.

Citizen of the Year: Joan Griffiths

The very socially and physically active Joan has been a volunteer for multiple vital organisations in Narrabri.

She has won numerous awards, including Senior Citizen of the Year 2023, and the Motivation and Friendship Award while a member of Narrabri Self Improvement and Help to Others (SIAHTO).

She is a member of Narrabri Carers and Caring Group, Dementia Friendly Town Committee, Namoi Women’s Shed, Meals on Wheels, and Carers Morning Tea group.

In her major role at Shared Table, she has helped provide cooked meals and hampers every Friday to families in need, including 177 hampers at Christmas.

Joan is also an officially recognised Dementia Australia advocate, for families and carers of dementia sufferers. To support this cause, she has organised the Memory Walk and is involved in the Dementia Friendly Town Committee, as well as delivering monthly information sessions on dementia and the Parkinson’s Support Group.

She is also an advocate and inspiration for the elderly local community, being involved in the Narrabri Parkrun as well as the Bushwalking Club.

Young Citizen of the Year: Sophie Hartnett

Sophie has demonstrated an impressive commitment to tennis and netball in the Narrabri Shire at 13 years of age.

She was selected for the Narrabri Netball U13 State Age Netball team to compete at the 2023 Hart NSW Junior State Titles in Sydney and received the ‘Coaches Award’ for the series.

Sophie was also selected for the NSWCCC (Combined Catholic College) St Mary’s College for Tennis Championships in Bathurst, passing through regional Diocese selection onto State Trials.

She was selected for the North West Regional State Team Tennis Trials in Bathurst, competing in the Jan O’Neill Cup, as well as being selected to compete for State Selection for the 2023 Champion of Champions Regional event for North West and Northern Eastern NSW.

In an extensive volunteer role, Sophie has mentored junior tennis players and assisted the Narrabri head coach with the Junior Social Tennis competition.

Community Group Service Award: Wee Waa & District Historical Society Inc

President of the Wee Waa and District Historical Society Julie Dowleans OAM said it was a ‘Toyota jump in the air, oh what a feeling’ moment when the society was announced as the winner of the Community Group Service Award.

“We’re just thrilled, really excited for the museum,” she told The Courier.

Countless volunteer hours and bucketloads of pride and passion have gone into making the historical society and Wee Waa Namoi Echo Museum the local and tourist destination it is today.

“It’s a little step back in time and history of what makes our community what it is – there’s the cotton and the wheat and the families and their history,” said Julie. “When you get into the museum you might go, ‘Oh, my grandfather had one of those’ and it starts a conversation.

“It’s the history behind where we all come from.”

Operating for more than 30 years, the Wee Waa & District Historical Society is committed to preserving the past for future generations. Julie recognised the amazing army of volunteers she had worked with at the museum, including the late and much-loved Pankhursts – Dudley and Shirley.

“I went down to the museum, I had our certificate and the trophy, and I visited the remembrance rock we have there and I spoke to Dudley and Shirley and told them all about it,” added Julie.

Junior Sportsman of the Year: Lennon Simmonds

Lennon Simmonds is a part of the Northern Inland Academy of Sport Football Club (NIAS FC) Premier Youth League Under 13s squad and travels to Tamworth and Newcastle twice per week for training and match play. Lennon volunteered his time to coach a local Under 7s Narrabri junior soccer team on Saturday mornings at Gately Fields and was invited to participate in an England and France international touring squad last year as well as being recognised as a NIAS Future Star Athlete in 2023.

He was also acknowledged at the Narrabri Shire Sporting Wall of Fame event for his outstanding participation with NIAS FC.

Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Emily Simpson

As a young sportswoman, Emily has excelled in cross country, athletics, rugby union (15s and 7s), cricket, softball, soccer, touch football, Ninja Warrior and hockey.

She has been a dedicated ball runner for senior games, turned up before kick-off for the women’s games, and been there from start to finish of the first-grade game for Blue Boars home games in 2022.

Emily has helped set up and pack up at Little Athletics for the past five years and was awarded Sportswoman of the Year at Narrabri West Public School in 2022.

Senior Sportsperson of the Year: Jason Anderson

A proficient target pistol shooter and member of the Narrabri Pistol Club since 1986, Jason qualified in the 2022 Big Bore Metallic Silhouette team to compete in the 2023 World Cup in Hungary.

Jason and the Australian team competed against many world teams, including countries like Hungary, Finland, Germany, France, Austria, Norway and Sweden, taking out the gold medal for the highest score in the Big Bore teams’ event.

During Australia Day weekend this year, Jason was competing in Canberra to get his campaign for team selection underway to compete in Finland in 2025 and was therefore unable to accept his award in person.

He is also a reserve for the Australian team, competing in South Africa in June.

Community Arts and Cultural Development Award: Scott Pollock

Scott was recognised for his many creative contributions to the community, including his work as chair of the CREATE Festival of Arts, successfully overseeing its growth into its fourth year.

He is also the president of Wee Waa Community Arts and Cultural Centre and is on the Narrabri Shire Public Art Advisory Committee.

Scott has also brought nationally acclaimed artists and performers from the big smoke to the Narrabri region so that the community can enjoy “big ticket” events locally.

Environmental Award: Kathryn Hamilton

As a local volunteer coordinator for wildlife rescue organisation WIRES, Kathryn has assisted in educating and finding carers for injured animals in the Narrabri region, herself sometimes taking on up to eight joeys and other wildlife at a time.

Offering advice and caring for wildlife for almost 10 years, she has successfully rehabilitated and returned many native animals back to their natural habitats.

Local police and vets all recognise Kathryn as an important contact whenever animals need to be re-homed or nursed back to health.

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