Service awards to Narrabri Shire Council team members

A group of Narrabri Shire Council employees has received the organisation’s Corporate Value Awards, honouring their hard work and commitment to the organisation.

General manager Stewart Todd said the six awards recognised integrity, leadership, customer focus, accountability, respect and excellence, in line with Council’s corporate values.

“It is important to recognise and reward staff when they are making a valuable contribution and making a difference in their workplace and in the lives of the Narrabri Shire community,” he said.

“These awards are a way to thank the staff for their efforts throughout the year and ensure their great work is recognised.”

This year’s recipients were:
• Integrity – finance coordinator Kathleen Wales who demonstrated great commitment to improving processes and acting with honesty and transparency at all times.
• Leadership – waste coordinator in infrastructure delivery John Rumsby who strives for continuous improvement and has developed a strong culture of teamwork by valuing staff input.
• Customer focus – gardener Matthew O’Meara for providing exceptional service and commitment to the presentation of sporting fields, which has encouraged more frequent community use.
• Accountability – Wee Waa water services coordinator Brett Pillar who was recognised for his exceptional attitude towards accepting responsibility for quality service and information.
• Respect – roads services worker Izaac Jeffries for consistently treating fellow employees with courtesy, dignity and fairness, and assisting them in a patient and respectful manner.
• Excellence – assets engineer in infrastructure delivery Francis Victorino who has shown willingness to jump into challenges and make a significant contribution to improvements.

Mr Todd presented the additional and now traditional captain’s call award to Laurence Bruce, Michael Gard and Rodney Fox for their contribution to Narrabri’s Dangar Park through intensive field preparations leading up to the inaugural Santos Cup in February 2021.

“The playing surface required a ‘must have, non-negotiable’ factor for the event to go ahead, and was watched over meticulously by both the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs performance coaches. Laurence, Michael and Rodney prepared an immaculate playing surface and the event going ahead was never in doubt.”

With the awards now in their third year, the director of planning, strategy and people Andrew Brown said they highlighted the positive morale being shown by staff members across the organisation.

“Feedback from this initiative has been very positive, with staff taking the opportunity to put forward the names of their colleagues for one or more of the corporate value awards.

“A large number of nominations received in each category reinforces the high staff morale captured by the 2021 staff satisfaction survey.”

In addition to the corporate value awards each year, Council recognises staff service anniversaries in 10-yearly intervals. This year, nine staff members reached their 10-year service anniversary.

Mr Todd provided a summary of staff achievements to the 100 employees in attendance, describing the roles they have held during their 10 years’ service at council before presenting them with their service award.