Country People Volunteer More

Aberdeen Australia Day Nominees: John Presland, Lorena Croft, Bethany Lloyd, Elizabeth Birch, Carol Ray, Dianne Walmsley, Charlene Liddell (front), Doug Liddell (back), Jan Wild and Frank Heap.

THIS morning Australia Day nominees from Scone and Aberdeen gathered for a morning tea at the Council Chambers.

Wayne Bedggood, Mayor of the Upper Hunter Shire Council said many of the nominees were volunteers and their work in our community was crucial.

“It is a fact that people who live outside capital cities, are more likely to volunteer than those within the cities,” said Mayor Bedggood.

“This doesn’t come as any great surprise to us living in the Upper Hunter,” he said.

“We know our neighbours, we help out when it’s needed and our cultural heritage is to pitch in, build and organise for ourselves, rather than just waiting for government or other authorities to provide for us.

Scone Australia Day Nominees: Margaret Cooper, Muriel King, Liz Foote, Janice Cameron, Alexandria Field, Tyler Kelly, Anne Davies and Dr John Paradice.

“In rural areas we are more reliant on volunteers to fight fires and to attend and help out at accidents and other disasters.

“Hospital auxiliaries, the Westpac Helicopter and health research get enthusiastic support from our community.

“But volunteers aren’t just there for the worst of time or for the most needy,” he said.

Volunteers create a more vibrant, connected and caring community for everyone in the Upper Hunter,” Mayor, Wayne Bedggood said.

The nominees for Australia Day Awards include:

ABERDEEN: John Presland, Paul Hobbs, Elizabeth Birch, Lorena Croft, Kelsey French, Bethanee Lloyd, Aberdeen Local Studies Group, Aberdeen Care Package Cadets, Aberdeen Community Caring, and Upper Hunter Museum of Rural Life.

Scone Group Australia Day Nominees: Back: Alan Gordon from Transcare, Denise Bell from Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society, John Musumeci, Maria Musumeci and Robert Thurgood from Scone Lions Club. Front: Carol Ray, Janice Cameron and Dianne Walmsley from Scone and Upper Hunter Shire Council.

MURRURUNDI: Rodney Swansborough, Talia Bruce, Debbie Eather, Murrurundi Meals on Wheels, Rachel Brown, Murrurundi Rotary Club, Lachlan Bryce and Missy Peters.

MERRIWA: Jim Alker, Barbara Wightman, John Cronin, Michael Nutt, Kay Burgess, Cassilis Public School, Richard Wilkinson and Elizabeth Hagley.

SCONE: Margaret Cooper, Janice Cameron, John Paradice, Anne Davies, Kirsten Smith, Sophie Dawson, Alexandria Field, Chloe Hollingsworth, Tyler Kelly and TransCare Hunter Ltd, Scone & Upper Hunter Historical Society, Lions Club of Scone and Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre.

Please scone.com.au’s Community Calendar for Australia Day events.