2018 Australia Day Awards – Murrurundi

By Des Dugan

THE rain came early, Thursday night, leaving Murrurundians with a pleasant morning to deal with the Australia Day celebrations . . . a bit different to last year when the Heavens let loose and forced everyone into the pub.

Murra County Markets was resplendent in a new steel collapsible cover, last year its cover ended up in shreds and incumbents soaking.

The previous night’s rain meant vehicles in the parade had to go around the outside as officials deemed soft spots on the oval could end up a danger to the following cricketers sending balls and cricketers awry.

Ambassador on the day was Karen Banton, a tireless worker in the fight for asbestos disease sufferers through the Bernie Banton Foundation.

See photos below.

The foundation fought tirelessly for seven years to achieve a binding agreement with James Hardie Industries for a long term compensation fund for the many sufferers of asbestos-related diseases (ARD) who were exposed to the company’s asbestos containing products.

During those all-consuming years Bernie spent as the public face for asbestos-disease sufferers of Australia, behind the scenes, Karen very much ‘walked the walk’ with him.

Karen was every bit as passionate as Bernie for the cause, and even more so with his passing in November 2007.

Friday morning’s gong line-up included Gillian Paterson, Meals on Wheels, Margie Cooper, Marty Wilson, Jayde Ferguson, Kevin Taylor, Hayden Edmonds, Charlotte Drake-Brockman and the Murrurundi Troop of the 12th Australian Light Horse.

The main gong, Citizen of the Year went to Gillian Paterson with the Young Citizen of the Year going to Jayde Ferguson.

Young Achiever of the Year was Hayden Edmonds.

Achiever of the Year was Marty Wilson while Community Group of the Year went to the Murrurundi Troop.

A feature of the parade was the spruced-up Cobb and Co coach which arrived on semi-trailer being on its way to a parade on Saturday in Tamworth.

Recently renovated, the coach was available for public inspection by owners of Murrurundi’s oldest hotel, the Royal Hotel on Mayne Street.

Attendees at the celebrations were told by ambassador Karen Banton in her mind what it means to be Australian is uniting together to make sure all people have a fair go.

She pointed out over two people continue to be diagnosed each day and two people die each day of asbestos related cancer.

“And that’s just the tip if the iceberg when compared with the other asbestos-related diseases which account for far more than that,” she said.

“Australia has the second highest rate of asbestos related cancer deaths in the world per capita after the UK.

“It is estimated by 2030 asbestos related diseases will have killed 60,000 Australians.

“It may come as a surprise asbestos exposure continues to be just a serious problem today as it was a decade ago.

“Last year over 1700 Australians reported suspected asbestos exposure some time throughout their lifetime.”

She said what inspires her on is that the disease is preventable and ultimately is “is within our power to reduce the incidents of asbestos related disease to zero.

“At the Bernie Banton Foundation we are fighting for this goal as passionately as Bernie fought for justice a decade ago” she said.