Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This year I was lucky enough to attend Singleton Council's Australia Day ceremony, where they announced their 2025 citizens of the year. This year paramedic Nigel Korff was named the 2025 citizen of the year. Nigel is a deserving recipient of this award after clocking up 40 years as a volunteer for the NSW Rural Fire Service. This award also recognised his role as a crew member for the record number of helicopter rescues in a single day that they performed in the 2022 Lismore floods.

The ceremony also saw Dr Jared Lawrence honoured for young achiever of the year. A Singleton High School alumni, Dr Lawrence received his award for his impact on improving the health and wellbeing of the Singleton community and executing an exceptional vision for the future of rural health care as he undertook his training as a doctor. Jared proves that it doesn't matter what school you go to. You can achieve anything when you live in the Hunter by going to one of our amazing local public high schools. He's a shining example of the potential of young people in the Hunter and shows that you should never feel limited in what you can achieve because of where you came from or what school you went to.

Congratulations, Nigel and Dr Lawrence. Thank you for all you have done for our community. Just as a little side note, Dr Jared Lawrence was taught by the good member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid. He took him through his time in that hospital. Thank you for what you do, Dr Gordon Reid, the member for Robertson, as well in helping our young people achieve their future.

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