The driving force behind community radio station 2bbb, Dorin Hart is the 2010 Bellingen Shire Citizen of the Year.
The announcement was made at the Australia Day ceremony in Dorrigo yesterday afternoon by the Bellingen Shire Ambassador, Clown Doctor Peter Spitzer.
Other award winners were:
Young Citizen of the Year Robert Sherrington
Community Event Dorrigo Relay for Life
Community Group Bellingen High School Students Representative Council
Team of the Year Senior Dorrigo Fire Brigade
Team of the Year Junior Bellingen High School 16yrs girls Futsal team.
Junior Sportsperson Corey Wedlock
Dorin Hart has been a part of Radio 2bbb since the mid-1980s in various positions including chairperson, news co-ordinator and trainer. But it was her role during the March 2009 floods that kept the station afloat as floodwaters inundated the building in Wheatley Street, North Bellingen.
With a small team of volunteers, she moved electrical equipment to a safe height while maintaining contact with the SES and continuing to broadcast flood information to the community. Eventually, Ms Hart was forced to switch off the main console and evacuate the building.
The 2bbb building required extensive restoration and again Dorin Hart put her hand up to supervise the refurbishment and the smooth switch over from the studios to an OB van in the main street of Bellingen over a three week period.
The outcome was that 2bbb stayed on air for the whole period of the renovation shutdown at Wheatley Street and the studios were renewed with a new kitchen, equipment, carpet and paint. The workmen commented positively on the whole exercise which ran smoothly and harmoniously with Dorin in charge.
Her nominees stated: This small example illustrates the outstanding and mindful contribution Dorin Hart makes on a regular basis to the community”.
Young Citizen of the Year is talented musician, Robert Sherrington.
He is a foundation member of the Bellingen Youth Orchestra and has seven years continuous membership of the Bellingen Shire Big Band (clarinet and trombone).
In Year 11 at Bellingen High last year, he was placed first in all subjects (advanced English, maths, extension maths, music, physics and modern history) and completed an accelerated HSC french through distance education.
He has worked as a guide at Camp Creative for the last four years. Camp Creative President, Peter Nance said that in the eight years he had known Robert “I have had the opportunity of observing his transition from boy to young man”.
“During these eight years, the achievements that Robert has made are nothing short of remarkable, covering not just academic but also civic and social areas of activity,” Mr Nance said. “Young people such as Robert make us proud to be Australian and give us hope for the future.”
Dorrigo Relay for Life: The Event of the Year raised over $30,000 for cancer research. Planning began in May last year and culminated in 280 representatives in 20 teams walking on a sloppy, miserable field in heavy rain in early November. Maria Bunic’s team alone raised over $10,000.
Ted Greenwood of the Cancer Council said: “This was one of the most memorable relays I have been part of and I would like to thank you all for putting in such a huge effort under the most difficult circumstances. They obviously breed ’em tough in Dorrigo!”
The Bellingen High School Student Representative Council: The students unselfishly gave up their lunch times, recesses and morning for numerous charities.
In 2008, they raised $303 on Daffodil Day; $546 for Canteen; $175 for ICEE Sunnies Sight Day; $468 for Plan; and purchased a microwave oven for the school canteen.
In 2009, the students raised $3049 for the victims of the devastating Victorian fires.
Dorrigo Fire Brigade: As well as protecting the Dorrigo community, the 14 members of the brigade compete very successfully at State, national and international championships.
Last year in Tamworth, the team finished third in the State competing against 60 much larger towns. They went on to represent NSW and Australia in New Zealand where they finished with a silver medal and overall 11th pacing out of 30 teams.
They were the number 2 ranked team in NSW and number 3 in Australia.
BHS Under 16 Futsal team: Won the Mid North Coast Zone title; and were runners-up in the North Coast Regional Carnival; and overall runners-up at the National Carnival, losing the final 4-2 to St Andrews from the Gold Coast.
Corey Wedlock: Corey is an outstanding junior lawn bowler. He was the first junior to win the Urunga Bowling Club’s minor singles title and is the District under 18 singles and pairs champion, a remarkable effort for a 13-year-old.
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