2018 Australia Day Awards – Scone

AUSTRALIA Day ambassador Todd Greenberg, chief executive officer of the National Rugby League said being Australian is best not described by words, rather by actions.

Mr Greenberg recounted the story of his young son Cooper starting kindergarten and hearing of his best friend Jimmy who liked football and playing on the swings.

When they met Jimmy they were surprised to see he was a Chinese boy who was learning to speak English.

Mr Greenberg said he asked his son why he didn’t mention Jimmy was Asian and Copper said, “sorry dad I didn’t even realise.”

“Being Australian is about acceptance, culture and most importantly diversity,” he said.

“Good character is built piece by piece and from you’re toil it is not what you get from it, but what you become from it,” he said.

“If you have to choose between being right or kind, choose kind,” said Todd Greenberg.

He also described meeting Pauline and Hilton Carrigan last year for a charity football match in Scone and described the work they were doing as Australians in their local community as “nothing short of phenomenal.”

New Citizens

Cr Lee Watts, chair of the Scone and Aberdeen District Australia Day Committee was pleased to introduce three new Australian citizens at the awards, saying it was a great day to become a citizen and they were brave for having their ceremony with so many people.

The three new citizens were Cornelius Alberts from South Africa, Eric Churcher from England and Zane Johnson from Zimbabwe.

See photos below..

Award Recipients Included:

• School Achievement – Elizabeth Croacker from Scone Grammar School, Lucy Brazell from Scone High School, Madyson Cox from St Joseph’s High School and Breanna Goodear from Merriwa Central School.
• Creative Arts Excellence – Rachel Tillemans from Scone High School, Madeline Buckley from Scone Grammar School, Madeline Phelps from St Joseph’s High School and Emma-Lee Cooper from Merriwa Central School.
• Community Group of the Year – Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society.
• Young Achiever of the Year – this year there were joint winners: Sam Randle and sisters Ashley and Christina Wright.
• Scone District Achiever of the Year – this year there were three winners: Greg Morris, Glenn and Wendy Pennell and Robert Thurgood.
• Young Sports Outstanding Achievement – Tyler Kelly.
• Young Citizen of the Year – Lachlan White.
• Scone Citizen of the Year – Lorraine Gardiner.