Andrew Gee (Calare, National Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Education) Share this | Hansard source

What makes our country communities such great places to live are the local residents who, through their tireless efforts and achievements, make such an enormous contribution to our region and our nation. Today it's an immense honour to recognise some of the exceptional recipients of Australia Day awards in the Calare electorate. In Cabonne, for Borenore/Nashdale, Citizen of the Year was Phil Tyack. For Canowindra, Citizen of the Year was Peggy Nash and Young Citizen of the Year was Emily Thomas, who is an up-and-coming young hammer thrower. Cudal Citizen of the Year was Jennifer Ryan, and Young Citizen of the Year was Sam Thomas. In Cumnock, Citizen of the Year was Amanda Schulz—good on you, Schulzie—and Young Citizen of the Year was Angus O'Brien. In Eugowra, Citizens of the Year were Ben and Jess Stanley, and Young Citizen of the Year was Sabina Heinzel. In Manildra, Citizen of the Year was Dick Honan. In Molong, Citizen of the Year was Wendy McNab and Young Citizen of the Year was George Betts. In Mullion Creek, Citizen of the Year was Paul Culverson and Young Citizen of the Year was Eleanor Roe. In Yeoval, Citizen of the Year was Murray Parker, and Young Citizens of the Year were Douglas Philipson and Katie Letcher.

The Cabonne Sportsperson of the Year was Juliette Mills, and the Cabonne Youth Ambassador was Tengis Meiklejohn. In Lithgow, the Member of the Order of Australia went to Associate Professor Dr John Dearin AM for significant service to medicine and to community health in Lithgow. Citizen of the Year was Kay Adams, Young Citizen of the Year was Christian Broome, Young Volunteer of the Year was Lauren Trounce and Open Volunteer of the Year was Bill Evans. The Heritage Conservation Award for this year went to Donna White.

In Oberon the Medal of the Order of Australia went to Dr Ian Pfennigwerth OAM for service to military history. Citizen of the year was Kathy Sajowitz—well done, Kathy—Young Citizen of the Year went to Daria Olney, Sportperson of the Year went to Grace Yeo and Volunteer of the Year went to Greg Bourne.

Citizen of the Year in the Mid-Western Local Government Area went to Craig Bassett. Well done, Basso; he's our 2MG and local legend. Young Citizen of the Year went to Kirilee Besant. The Glen Johnston Memorial Award for Arts and Music went to Cheryl Murray and Theresa Therese. The Mid-Western Regional Council Sport Award went to Jessica Reynolds. The Volunteer Services Award went to Martin and Priscilla Weyermann.

In Wellington the Citizen of the Year was Jennifer Wykes, Senior Citizen of the Year was Shirley Drysdale, Young Citizen of the Year was Chloe Shanahan. Young Sportsperson of the Year was Ronnie Tandy-Bell, and the Community Service Award went to Melissa Whitton, Jeffrey Amatto, John Newton and John Whiteley. I was honoured to be in Wellington for their Australia Day celebrations on Australia Day evening.

In Blayney, the Citizen of the Year went to Gwenda Stanbridge. The volunteers of the year went to Edward Prosper and Darrin Yates, and the appreciation awards went to Jan Roberts and Babette Bradley.

In Bathurst, the Medal of the Order of Australia went to Sister Mary Comer OAM for service to the community of Bathurst. Also a Medal of the Order of Australia went to Barry Purdon OAM for service to the Bathurst community. The Australian Corrections Medal went to Jason Schnepf ACM, and the Australian Fire Service Medal went to Maurice McMillen AFSM. The Public Service Medal went to Janet Bingham PSM for outstanding public service recognising and maintaining the Aboriginal cultural heritage of the Bathurst region. The Citizen of the Year went to Melissa Baker, the Jo Ross Memorial Award went to Cathy Hale and the Bathurst Regional National Trust Heritage Award went to Alan McRae and also to Lee Steele.

In Orange, Dr Susan Blinkhorn received a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine as a psychiatrist. The Orange Citizen of the Year was Pip Waters, and the Young Citizen of the Year went to Annabelle Van Wyk. The Local Legend Award went to Linda Williamson.

I congratulate and thank all of our wonderful award winners and honours recipients and also pass on the appreciation of our region for all they do for our communities. These awards are richly deserved recognition, and we are all very proud of them and all that they have achieved.

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