2018 Australia Day Awards – Merriwa

A community that rallies during adversity was evident in Merriwa during the Australia Day Awards ceremony yesterday at the Merriwa Sports Club.

Following the devastation of the Sir Ivan bushfire the green shoots of renewal and the Aussie spirit was recognised as many award recipients we recognised for their role in leading and supporting the local community through a tough period.

This year the Upper Hunter Shire Young Citizen of the Year – Tarnisha Winsor  and Upper Hunter Citizen of the Year – Linda Gant were both from the Merriwa district. See: Cassilis Citizens Celebrate.

See gallery below.

The Ambassador for the day was Catherine DeVrye who travelled six hours from Woy Woy to attend the celebration although she admitted the trip time was inadvertently extended due to a dubious rental car GPS.

Ambassador DeVrye spoke of hope and moving forward in her address to the Merriwa community and enlightened the crowd on the Australian emblem and the fact that the kangaroo and the emu are not capable of moving backwards.

“I feel honoured because I am not Australian by birth, I am Australian by choice,” said Ms DeVrye.

“I always put my hand up on Australia Day to come to the bush,” she said.

“I have been to 116 countries and this is the best as far as I am concerned, it’s not a perfect country but it’s the best I’ve been to and I think we have just got to keep looking forward,” she said.

“We are all part of something much bigger than ourselves but we all can make a contribution,” she said.

“That ‘have a go’ attitude and a little bit of help from my mates, I do believe we truly are the luck country.

“We want to learn from the past, be in the present but make sure we are headed into the future and I think Australia Day is a wonderful day to reflect on that,” Catherine DeVrye said.

Arthur Williams, the master of ceremonies for the event was also recognised for being part of the Australia Day ceremonies in Merriwa since they began 30 years ago.

Merriwa Citizen of the Year was awarded to Linda Gant who also reicieved the Upper Hunter Shire Citizen of the Year.

“I am overwhelmed and humbled really, I didn’t get it for me, it is really a community award because so many people cam forward and helped,” said Ms Gant.

“There was a real spirit of generosity I was just harnessing it,” she said.

“I think it is a result of a community that cares and looks after each other, little bits make a big difference and if everyone is doing a little bit it gives a community that is healthy for other people to go forward and flourish in and I think Tarnisha is a beautiful example of what a little community that cares about each other can produce,” Linda Gant said.

Tarnisha Winsor was not expecting to be awarded the Upper Hunter Shire Young Citizen of the Year as well as the Merriwa District Young Citizen of the Year.

“I am so very honoured and very overwhelmed as well, my mum and dad have been a ginormous part, nothing I have done I would have been able to do without them, they are my biggest supporters,” said Ms Winsor.

“I have a lot to do with a lot of people in Merriwa, they are such great people,” she said.

“To me either way I am just so happy to see so many people doing so many great things for our community,” Tarnisha Winsor said.

The Community Group of the Year was awarded to the Country Women’s Association and was accepted by President Barbara Campbell who stated the importance of giving back to the community and was delighted that younger people are getting on board with the CWA.

The Achiever of the Year was awarded to Rob Tindall who has served numerous years improving the Merriwa Showground and serves on various committees in the community.

Robert’s address to the crowd summed up the community spirit he tries to live by.

“The honour is not in being nominated, the honour is not in winning, the honour for me is being able to help my community, to do things for my community, to make things better for all of us,” said Mr Tindall.

“My position is made so much easier by all those that help you along the way, a lot of those people are here today and some of those people have been nominated for awards as well,” he said.

“I lived for many years in a community or in communities where I didn’t contribute, I was just part of the community, I was happy to go along to events that everybody else organised, but I have now got to the stage in my life where I want to be part of the organisation, I want to be part of putting events on, holding events and improving things for everybody,” Robert Tindall said.

The Award for the Young Achiever of the Year went to Caitlin Porter who is making her mark in the beef industry with numerous awards across New South Wales including the prestigious Champion Junior Parader at the Sydney Royal Show.

The Environmental Achievment Award was given to Ray Inder for his work in improving his land and to work towards improving the land with an overarching desire to leave the land in better condition.

The Sustainability in Business award was given to Elaine and Peter Gallagher for work on their property ‘Tomimbil’ where they are well known for their commercial seed enterprise.

Employing local people to help run the enterprise and keeping up with technology has helped sustain their business to become a diverse successful property with a view to the future.

Emma-Lee Cooper was awarded the Creative Arts Excellence award for her work in visual arts during high school and aims to continue and expand her work at university in 2018.

Breanna Goodear was awarded the Academic Excellence award and also is active in student leadership across the shire and was representative for the Merriwa Central School on many occasions.

The recipients of the awards in true Australia Day spirit acknowledged the community as part of their award and all acknowledged the nominees for their input as individuals.

The Australia Day nominees for Merriwa District were: Patrick Ryan, Caitlin Porter, Tarnisha Winsor, Amanda Johnston, John Penninger, Elaine Gallagher, Peter Gallagher,Ray Inder,Linda Gant, Robert Tindall, Barbara Campbell, Ambassador Catherine DeVrye, Eva Towler, kim Clydsdale, Lenore Taylor and Beatrice Voysey.

Related Stories:

• Cassilis Citizens Celebrate
• VIDEO: Lorraine Gardiner Awarded
• 2018 Australia Day Awards – Scone