MIDCOAST Council’s decision to switch the venue for the Taree Region Australia Day celebrations from the Manning Entertainment Centre to Club Taree proved to be popular with the public.
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Strong crowds turned out for the community breakfast while there was a full house turned for the official function held in the Club Taree auditorium.
Council received nine nominations for the citizen of the year – the biggest response in years. David Denning won the award. David is a former president of the Rotary Club of Taree, member of the Friends of the Gallery, board member of Manning Valley Anglican College, warden at the St Johns Anglican Church in Taree, a past president of the Old Bar Men’s Shed and an active member of the Taree Arts Council.
Other nominees were Heather Bramble, Barbara Broadhurst, Glenn Davis, Harry (Charles) Fisher, Robyn King, Sandra Kwa, Warwick Murray and Allen Valentine.
Marylyn Sendah was named Young Citizen of the Year. Georgia Hudson was the other nominee.
Taree Quota Club’s Red Umbrella Appeal was the Community Event of the Year. Accepting the award on behalf of the club, Nancy Boyling praised the drive of member Deb Steber in starting the appeal, which raised money for drought stricken farmers.
Motor cyclist Josh Hook was the winner of the Ken McDonald Memorial Sportstar of the Year (see separate story).
Carols in the Park Taree and the Killabakh Community Association’s Killabakh Day in the Country were the other nominees.
(Further details will appear in the Times both in print and online next week).
Australia now has 20 new citizens following the citizenship ceremony conducted by mayor David West and Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie.
Australia Day ambassador Kylie Hilder, who grew up in Taree and now lives in Forster, spoke of the journey her sport has taken her. Kylie is one of the greats of Australian touch football while she has also represented Australia in rugby league. Last year she played for the Sydney Roosters in the inaugural women’s NRL competition while she is employed as the women’s participation officer with the Country Rugby League. Kylie said she has been able to achieve these goals while still living in the area, praising the assistance she has received from sporting associations. Kyle said she enjoys her job in that she is able to assist young women become involved with sport.
“Sport is the lifeblood of a community,’’ she said.
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Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead and MidCoast Council general manager Adrian Panuccio also attended the function.
Russell Saunders OAM performed the Welcome to Country ceremony.
