The many hats of Citizen of the Year winner Michelle Wheeler

Citizen of the Year recipient Michelle Wheeler has dedicated considerable time to the betterment of community and sporting organisations.

Her volunteering has spanned a range of interests and has left an impact in the groups she has been involved with across the years.

Last week’s announcement of the top shire honour came as a complete surprise to Mrs Wheeler who was unaware her nomination from the previous year had carried across to the next.

She had been enjoying a long weekend trip and was in a boat in the middle of Lake Keepit when she heard the news she had received the award.

“I’m extremely humbled to have been awarded Citizen of the Year,” she said.

“A big thank you to Joan Griffiths for nominating me.”

Mrs Wheeler said the other award finalists had extensive community backgrounds and were worthy winners in their own right.

“They are total stalwarts and advocates for the community,” she said.

“It’s a privilege to be amongst them all.”

Mrs Wheeler has generously given her time to the Narrabri Show Society, St Francis Xavier’s Primary School P&F, junior league, junior union, junior cricket, women’s cricket, the Namoi Women’s Shed and the Narrabri RFS brigade.

Her work with the show has gradually increased across the years, including steward work and now as a committee member.

A passionate supporter of her kids’ sporting pursuits led her to dedicate time to junior rugby and junior cricket, the latter continued well after her children moved on from the sport.

Mrs Wheeler is also proud of her involvement in forming the women’s cricket competition in Narrabri, alongside Michelle O’Connor and Christina and Chris Watkins.

“It started with help from a lot of other people too,” Mrs Wheeler recalled.

A role which many know Mrs Wheeler for is with the Namoi Women’s Shed.

It had been spearheaded by Trish Dandridge, Rachael Anderson and Karen Larsen, and Mrs Wheeler has been proud to have been involved with the group from the beginning.

What started with meetings at Challenge, and then the community college, has grown to the organisation establishing its own facility on Barwan Street.

Mrs Wheeler, now the president of the Namoi Women’s Shed, said the group is going strong and is proud to have contributed to the community in many ways.

The Namoi Women’s Shed has become particularly prominent for its involvement in the annual CREATE Festival, including last year’s spectacular giant dream catcher which took pride of place inside The Crossing Theatre.

“The women’s shed is close to my heart,” Mrs Wheeler said.

“It gives women the opportunity to be creative.”

Mrs Wheeler said it had been a pleasure to see how the organisation, and its projects, had made a difference to the lives of members.

Similar to her contributions to junior sporting groups, Mrs Wheeler became involved in the Narrabri RFS brigade through her children when they were part of junior championships.

She had been required to complete her basic firefighting to accompany the children.

This started extensive interest and dedication to the vital community emergency service.

Mrs Wheeler recalls being deployed to Tingha for an extensive fire not long after she started with the service.

“That was very intense,” she said.

Mrs Wheeler was among a large contingent of local firefighters who received the National Emergency Medal for their efforts during the Black Summer bushfires.

She has also responded to smaller fires locally and was part of the response to the Duck Creek fire in the Pilliga in late 2023 and early 2024.

Mrs Wheeler looks back at her former and current community involvement with great pride, and encouraged others to become involved with local groups that suit their needs and interests.

“You start giving a hand because there’s a gap, or people need assistance, and it just continues from there,” she said.

“Plenty of groups are feeling the pinch with volunteers.

“We all need to help one another.”