Daniel Smith honoured with prestigious Lillian Hulbert Memorial Prize

Daniel Smith has received the Lillian Hulbert Memorial Prize for 2024 and was celebrated along with four other exceptional young finalists this year.

The award presentation took place on Saturday at the Narrabri Shire Council chambers in front of family, friends, and Lillian Hulbert Prize committee members who helped judge this year’s applicants.

The prestigious $10,000 prize is awarded to a young person between the ages of 15 and 18 years of age, who is born in the Narrabri district and has shown outstanding achievements through an act of bravery or heroism, charitable work in the Narrabri district, or academic or sporting achievement.

Daniel Smith of Narrabri High School was awarded the prize in recognition of his excellence in sporting achievement, education, and academic achievement, as well as charitable activities.

“Thank you for presenting me with this amazing award, I would like to thank the council for hosting this event, all the committee members for interviewing us, mum and dad, and all the teachers who supported me,” said Daniel.

Daniel has been part of the Future EDU organisation, Narrabri Junior Soccer Club, Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club, Narrabri Dolphins Waterpolo Club, New England and North West Swimming, and 2024 Narrabri High School Leadership Team (Prefect), among others.

These experiences have shaped Daniel’s commitment to making a difference among his peers and community.

“It’s great, I’m really excited to win, it’s nice that all the hard work has paid off.”

Additionally, he also helps develop Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics opportunities for local students through the Future EDU organisation.

Daniel assisted the junior robotics program and set up and ran stalls at community events such as the Narrabri Show.

He also ran trialling and assisted the Narrabri Public School and St Francis Xavier’s robotics programs.

Daniel was also a radio announcer for NWPS news at 2MAXFM while school prefect in 2018.

Daniel was encouraged by different community members and school teachers to submit an application for the award and felt that it was important for other young people to give it a go.

“Knowing people who told me about the award was a big help, so then I found out more information, and my principal Mr Warden, and David Pierce helped a lot with preparing for the application process,” said Daniel.

“Go for it, just give it a go, the worst they can say is no.”

Mr Smith said he was going to spend the $10,000 paying off his university fees and attempt to keep up with as many activities he can until he starts university.

The Lillian Hulbert Memorial Prize was established by Mr Thomas Whipp Hulbert in memory of his beloved mother, Lillian, and the winner’s $10,000 prize award is held in a trust, to be accessed on their 21st birthday.

Mayor Darrell Tiemens was honoured to present the award on behalf of the Narrabri Shire Council as part of the legacy of Lillian Hulbert and thanked David Willets for attending the ceremony as a representative of the Hulbert family.

“Thank you to the Hulbert family for offering such a fantastic prize to the youth of Narrabri,” said Cr Tiemens.

Mr Willets made the trip from Dubbo to attend the award ceremony and thought it was a privilege to attend in honour of his late uncle Tom.

“It just so happens that today is uncle Tom’s birthday, and he has done some fantastic things, including starting this Lillian Hulbert award in dedication to his mother.”

“Uncle Tom was born in Narrabri, then went on to study law in Sydney, so he understood the great cost of things, and wanted to help contribute with this award.”

Cr Tiemens also thanked the parents for their contribution and encouragement during the three-month application process for the young finalists.

“I would like to acknowledge all the finalists and their families, joining us here today, and to thank you for your involvement in this year’s memorial prize,” said Cr Tiemens.

“It has also been my great privilege as mayor to have been involved in the committee. I would like to thank my fellow committee members for this year:

• Jacqueline Neil, Wee Waa High School,

• Simon Warden, Narrabri High School,

• Malcolm Frend, new principal at St Francis Xavier’s Primary School, and Nick Baird – former principal at St Francis Xavier’s Primary School,

• Father Sabu, St Francis Xavier’s Church,

• Minister Bernard Gabbott, St Cyprian’s Anglican Church,

• Minister Sam Smith, Narrabri Presbyterian Church.

Applicants to the Lillian Hulbert Memorial Prize must fill out applications, and then face panel members in a face-to-face interview.

Cr Tiemens also spoke about the impressive commitment, maturity, and accomplishments shown by each of the finalists before handing out award certificates and mayoral references to each individual.

“We had five finalists this year, all of a very high standard, who participated in the interview process, which as you can appreciate, can be a little daunting,” said Cr Tiemens.

“It was very difficult for the panel members to choose our winner from such an exceptional field, however, we had to choose just one winner.”

Finalists Mietta Smith and Will Faris went through the process, along with winner Daniel Smith from Narrabri High School, and felt that undergoing the prize requirements would be pivotal to applying for more opportunities in the future.

“It was an opportunity, and it leads you to more future opportunities,” said Mietta.

“Gaining the experience to apply for something like this gives you more experience and confidence to apply for something else.

“And the mayoral reference is very handy for your portfolio and future university applications.”

Below, please find the profiles of the other exemplary students who participated in the award process and made it to the final judging round.

Congratulations and well done on your outstanding achievements.

William Faris, of Narrabri High School

William was nominated for charitable activities as well as education and academic achievement including arts and sciences.

He achieved high academic results at Narrabri High School in 2023, came fifth in the state for physics, and received three top awards in Year 10 and the Australian Defence Force Future.

William also participated in and assisted with the Rotary Science and Engineering challenge for all of high school.

For many years William has supported elderly people on his Gibbons Street The Courier paper run, checking in and chatting with them.

He plans to study science at university. He is particularly interested in microbiology and genetics with the goal of helping in the area of disease control.

Tayla Nott, of St Peter’s Lutheran (Brisbane)

Tayla Nott could not attend the award ceremony but was represented by her mother Natasha Nott.

She was nominated in two categories: education and academic achievement, and sport.

From an early age, Tayla has been studious, determined, and driven to reach her goals.

This hard work was rewarded when she was announced Dux of Narrabri West Public School.

As well as contributing to the arts as an eisteddfod competitor, Tayla has spread her talent across the sporting field.

This includes in athletics as a multiple State representative, in netball, representing Narrabri from 12 to 16 years at both NSW Junior and Senior State Titles, and in swimming – representing her schools and clubs at Regional, Country, State, and National Championships.

She also volunteered her time to umpire junior netball.

Before becoming a qualified Learn to Swim instructor, Tayla volunteered and assisted with these lessons – helping teach a valuable life skill to children.

Mietta Smith, of Narrabri High School

Mietta was nominated in three categories: charitable activities, education and academic achievement, and sport.

Mietta is an active community member, participating in the

Narrabri Shire Youth Council, delivering Meals on Wheels, helping organise the Killarney Bike Classic family ride, and SRC activities at Narrabri High School as prefect and member over the last three years.

She was actively involved in the Toys and Tucker drive to raise donations for Shared Table, supporting people in need.

Mietta and her two sisters also created Narrabri’s first Street Library, which can be found at Geni.Energy in Maitland Street.

Academically, she displays aptitude and commitment, with awards in Year 10 for overall Academic Excellence, the CSIRO Telescope Prize for Outstanding Student Food Technology, and the Narrabri Shire Council Prize for Outstanding Student Textiles and Design.

Mietta was selected to represent Narrabri High School at the University NSW Residential Program (2023); University New England Santos Science Experience (2023) and the Da Vinci Decathlon (2019 and 2020).

Matilda Currey, of Wee Waa High School

Matilda was nominated for her excellence in education and academic achievement, as well as sport.

She has taken a mature approach to her learning – achieving outstanding grades across all areas of study while being a very successful and motivated member of the sporting community.

Matilda has represented the school and Narrabri Shire at local, zone, and state level multiple times in netball, athletics, touch football, rugby, and cricket.

She often takes a leadership role in the sports she is involved with, helping others to improve their skills and come together as a team.

With aspirations to be a veterinarian, Matilda is working towards her goal by undertaking a work placement at Namoi Vet Clinic and maintaining outstanding results in her studies.

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