Andrew Gee (Calare, National Party, Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I rise to acknowledge the citizens and organisations across the Calare electorate who were honoured on Australia Day for their wonderful contributions to our communities. In Canowindra, Anne and Mark Ward were recognised with Australia Day honours by receiving Order of Australia Medals for over 50 years of work across an array of local organisations.

In the Cabonne shire, awards were also presented to Melissa Campbell, Kylie Toberty, Tommy Jeffs, Helen Colman, BronFlick, Frances Anderson, Joan Brooks, Bob Sullivan—well done, Bob—Stuart Brisbane, Joanne Davis, Marnie Adams, Zali Armstrong, Laura Harvey, Joanne Wright, Hannah Betts, Arthur Morrisson—well done, Arthur—Boudicea Blatch, Cameron Wild and Beau McKenzie.

Awards were presented to the following organisations: Orana House Trust Committee, Cargo Common Committee, Cudal Central INC, Eugowra Community Children's Centre, Molong's Pantry, Mullion Creek Public School, Mulga Bill Festival, the Manildra First Responders and the Cumnock Long White Lunch Committee/

In the mid-western region I would like to recognise Dr Alexander Ghanem, Dr Gary Moore, Max Beechey, Des Kelly, Ellen Riley, Charlotte Wilson, and the Kandos Street Machine and Hot Rod Show. From Oberon, there were Craig Gibbons, Peta McGrath, Justin Reynolds, Clare Mawhood, John Brotchie, Oberon Tigers Men's Open Rugby League team, the Oberon Tigers' Can Assist Foundation charity event, the Burraga Ag Bureau seniors lunch, Oberon Public School, St Joseph's Yerrushagardens and the Oberon District Museum volunteers, including the 'Rusty Restorers Group'.

In Bathurst, Australia Day Achievement Medallions were awarded to Gwendoline Laird, Donna Sollorz, Jan Hudson, Darren Sturgiss, David Sherley, Bernadette Sinclair, the Eglinton Rural Fire Service, the Bathurst Seymour Centre and the Bathurst division of NSW Ambulance service. For their work on the Bathurst Regional Youth Council, I would like to acknowledge Jennessa Eggins, Grace Lynch, Natalia Burgess, Benjamin Davis, Travis Barrie, Jack Lynch, Angus Cooke, Joshua Borland, Bonnie-Skye Wright, Tristen West, Zoe Peters, Maddison Sufong, Bethany Donaldson and Nyoaki Pearce.

In Wellington, awards went to Gay Bennison, Gerhard Meisch, Rod Althofer, Daniel Mezes and Cory Sutherland were recognised for their work. In Lithgow, Alisha Cook, Kas Hilton, Thomas Ebersoll, Owen Sharwood, Adam Sharwood, David Peters, and Sharron Bowman for the Live'n'Local After the Fires event, and the RFS Clarence/Dargan Brigade. From Orange, there were Jordyn Wright, Bev Rankin, the City of Orange Eisteddfod committee, the Light up Orange New Year's Eve laser show and Kennards Hire, Orange. In Blayney, those awarded were Ian Tooke, Fiona Bottom, Alicia Gersbach, Anthony Bright, Rachel Burke, and the Millthorpe Virtual Garden Ramble.

Congratulations to all of those honoured. I'd like to place on the record the gratitude of the Australian parliament for the Calare community's work in building our strong and vibrant communities, and acknowledge those efforts here today.