Bellingen Shire Australia Day 2018

The winners in each category for 2018 were:

 Citizen of the Year: Ann Phelan

 Young Citizen: Katelyn Beaumont

 Community Service: Debbie Rose

 Community Group: The Community Transport Company

 Community Event: Dorrigo & Guy Fawkes Agricultural Show (Dorrigo Show Society)

 Sportsperson: Kathleen McPhail

 Junior Sportsperson: Katie Thorn

Awards were handed out by Australia Day Ambassador, chef, businessman and author David Bitton, Jo Pierce sang an alternative version of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ penned by Judith Durham from The Seekers, and Indigenous Elder Margaret Walker stirred the crowd with a beautiful rendition of ‘I am Australian’.

In his speech, Mayor Dominic King spoke about how he had felt welcomed into Australian society after arriving here as an eight-year-old, but as he grew up he had gradually come to realise that the inclusiveness did not fully extend to its original inhabitants.

He said that over the next year, the council would be engaging in discussions about changing the date for the Australia Day citizenship and awards ceremony to something other than January 26.

A full list of nominees and winners in each category follows.

Katie Thorn – winner

Talissa Alford

Talissa is a keen sportswoman and a great role model for younger athletes who has presented Bellingen High School at regional, Mid North Coast and North Coast level in four sports. Athletics – Cross Country – Swimming and Hockey.  

In addition, Talissa’s standout sport is hockey. In 2017 Talissa was named players player for her local Hockey Team (Southside) in the Coffs Harbour & Region Competition

Justin Alford

Justin has excelled in his hockey career during 2017.

Adrian Betts

Adrian in a local athlete and personal trainer, currently studying exercise physiology, who has both excelled at, represented in, and made contributions to exercise, sport and fitness in the Bellingen Shire during 2017.

Adrian works with people from all areas of life, those who suffer chronic long term illness, have mental health illness or just want to get fit and healthy. He is community minded and very helpful. Also, very fit.

Kathleen McPhail – winner

Kath is a valued member of Urunga Women’s Bowling Club, holding a position on the management committee as Chair of the Match committee.

Kath is a Bowler who has succeeded at both club and district level during 2017.

Kath has won many accolades not only as a player, but also as a good sport and the best skipper in the Mid Coast District. Kath is always encouraging and has an excellent temperament. Kath is always considerate of others and her opinion is always sought because of experience and knowledge. She is extremely well respected throughout the Mid North Coast and beyond.

Kath has organised bowls so that all players are catered for, including working women. The Urunga Women’s Bowling Club is held in high esteem throughout the District, largely on the back of kath’s performances.

Dorrigo and Guy Fawkes Agricultural Show – winner

For over 110 years, the society’s mission has been to serve and enrich the community on the Dorrigo Plateau and neighboring regions via the annual show. The show is the largest community event held on the Plateau and attracts approximately 3000 locals and visitors.

The show encourages education, exhibition and competition while showcasing the excellent local livestock, produce, arts, crafts and cooking. The Dorrigo and Guy Fawkes Agricultural show society is a not for profit organization with over 1300 members. In 2017, the society held the show and an adjunct bull riding Rodeo across three days, 24 to 26 November. The event was coordinated by a core administrative committee of 25 members with over 100 ancillary staff including many volunteer members of the 17 Plateau community organizations and civic clubs, provided essential manpower and specialist expertise.

The show enables the whole community to promote and preserve our local history and heritage as an agricultural district. In summary, the annual Dorrigo and Guy Fawkes Agricultural Show displays the resources and endeavors of the community, engaging and educating both rural and town communities via a unique, well-run, traditional country agricultural show.

The Community Transport Company – winner

The Community Transport Company (formally known as Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca Community Transport) has contributed to the Bellingen community by providing door to door transport for the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged. It also helps the community by providing subsidized transport for community groups through hiring of buses as well as providing transport to the Youth Hub supporting Bellingen’s younger community.

Not only does the community Transport Company provide much need and valuable support for medial or specialist appointments, it keeps people independent and in their own homes for as long as possible. The organization thrives on volunteers, around 60% of its drivers donate their time to help community members get where they need to go, fostering relationships between volunteers and passengers. The service is very important for isolated people living outside the town areas of Bellingen, Urunga and Dorrigo as the drivers come straight to the client’s door for pick up and drop off.

The Community Transport Company is a leader within its industry being identified as the “Best Community Transport Service in NSW”. By the Community Transport Organization.

19 Years Girls Futsal Team

The 19 years Girls Futsal Team won the Coffs Coast Futsal Championships, the Northern NSW Futsal Championships, attended the Australian Championships where they placed runner up.

As the senior team, they lead by example setting a positive role model and attitude to all younger Futsal teams, both male and female. Their ability to work together and help younger players reach their potential is excellent.

The 2017 team of Katie Thorn – Zali Rees – Sarah Ludwig – Gaia Malcisi – Hannah Watt – Jordan Healy – Kelsey Williamson-Leslie – Sophie Russell – Emily Ruming – Willow Neal – Lauren Rigney

William Baggett (Bill)

Bill has been a member of a number of community groups during his 17 years in Dorrigo and because of this, the Dorrigo community has benefited from the numerous activities and projects he has been a part of during this time.

Margaret Jane (Meg) Corlis

Meg is an active member of Dorrigo RSL Auxiliary, The Dorrigo Show Ladies Catering committee and assist with Daffodil Day activities on the mountain.

Over the past 38 year since moving to Dorrigo Meg has been involved, on many levels with the community through her contribution:

Sally Duckett

Sally is President of the Dorrigo & Guy Fawkes Agricultural Show, a position she has held since 2008. Sally joined the show society’s committee in 1989 after winning Miss Show Girl in 1988, and has had held numerous positions until becoming President, her experience in virtually every dimension of the show enables her lead the team as an effective President.

Other positions held include, President of the Agricultural Societies Council of NSW a state overarching organizing for agricultural shows.

The agriculture Show is the premier community event on the Dorrigo Plateau encouraging education, exhibition and competition showcasing local livestock, produce, arts and craft. Sally’s input and dedication are vital in bringing together the many aspects of a local show, the community and the many visitors who attend, this requires months of solid preparation and planning.

Sally is also involved in North Dorrigo Pony Club and is a member of the Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse committee

Neil Holt

Neil has been a volunteer driver with community transport Company (aka Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca community transport) for over 10 years. He gives of time (three days a week, sometimes more) often going above and beyond of what is expected in his role as a volunteer driver to serve the community of Bellingen Shire.

Neil is always willing to take on extra work outside of what is required, working on weekends and outside business hours to help deliver transport services to the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged members of the community making an enormous difference to their lives. Neil has developed close relationships with senior members of the community making sure they are safe and happy.

Nita McKnight

Nita is both Secretary and patron of the Dorrigo Branch of the United Hospital Auxiliary of NSW. She has been a member for 60 years in 2017, joining in 1957. Nita held executive position for 43 of those years including 22 years as president. Nita is a generous patron donating many prizes for raffles and gifts for guests, also gather grocery items to fill three huge Christmas hampers which are raffled at the show. Nita continues to cook for street stalls and is always willing to staff them, all fund raised go towards buying much needed equipment for Dorrigo Hospital.

Over the years, Nita has been involved many events and activities in the community

Debbie Rose – winner

Debbie makes a contribution everywhere she goes and with everyone she comes in contact with.

The past year Deb has been involved through her contribution to Urunga Mylestom Chamber of Commerce and on several committees organising events in Urunga

Over the years, Deb has been involved in:

Deb’s selfless contribution, ongoing service, compassion for everyone and making an inclusive environment wherever she contributes make her a worthy nominee

Katelyn Beaumont – winner

Katelyn is an outstanding member of the Dorrigo High School Community and performed along this at the highest level of Cricket for her age in NSW. Katelyn is an all-round ambassador for sport and the community.

She was Dorrigo High School Captain and represented Dorrigo Rotary in the Rotary District Public Speaking Competition.

Katelyn is friendly, outgoing a well-liked and respected member of the Dorrigo community. She has excelled at her schooling while presenting a positive and supportive way with her peers.

She was selected in the Combined High Schools first NSW Open Cricket team and the under 18 years Cricket development squad.

Gavin Hickey

Gavin has worked tirelessly for the community in 2017, he is a lead organizer with the Chamber Event for Father’s Day and Carols by Candlelight.

Gavin is on the Urunga Rec Reserve committee and the upkeep of the Urunga Cricket Sports fields and can be found after work mowing pitches and fields in his own time.

Other events Gavin has or does contribute to are:

Erika and David Krishnan (joint nominees)

As a couple, Erika and David have made an enormous contribution to the Youth of Dorrigo in 2017.

Organize free movies on the mountains and evenings once a month for 12 to 18 year olds at the Dorrigo Drama club. They gave their own time and money to get this started, the Drama club and some local businesses have since come on board. It is not just free movies, it is free pizza and drinks. Each month 60 to 80 of Dorrigo youth attend these evenings.

Prior to 2017 They organized the Deervale Picnic day and are both members of the Deervale RFS. They give of their time freely and contribute to making their community a much safer place for all.

Ann Phelan – winner

As Musical Director of the Bellingen Youth Orchestra, Ann has brought the standard of this group to an amazingly high level in 2017. This was demonstrated at its September performance at the Bellingen Music Festival, a highlight of this annual community event. Significantly participants in this orchestra are drawn from the entire shire and across all socio- economic households.

Ann came to the valley over 15 years ago and is somewhat a quiet achiever in a field of endeavor which until now had not traditionally extended to the majority of our community. 2017 has represented 10 years of changing this fact of music educational life in our Valley.

By slow and deliberate effort and determination, Ann has drawn out the very best in her top students, but most importantly, she has created from virtually nothing, an extended family of music students who had no expectation they might join an orchestra, let alone an orchestra which is achieving such impressive outcomes. 2017 an orchestra of some 70 students was achieved.

Children involved in music at school achieve better grades, attend school more often (65% increase), improve their self-esteem and confidence, and experience less stress, depression, loneliness and anger.

Roger McCabe

During 2017 and for many years prior, Roger has solely setup and managed the Urunga Public School Garden Club for over 8 years.

In addition to the Kitchen garden, Roger is Vice President of Urunga Football club and involved in Bellinger Valley Little Athletics, working tirelessly, often going straight from his work shift as a nurse to mark fields, open canteens or setup nets before games. He spends most of his days off coordinating, maintaining equipment and fields and attending meetings for these initiatives or community groups.

Barbara Moore

In 2017 and in past years, Barbra has willingly and selflessly given her time and expertise to the Bellingen community through her work as team leader and community engagement officer in the SES, as President of the Bellingen Health Action Group, committee member of the Queens Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games 2017-18 and steward of the Bellingen Show.

Barbara has become an expert on flooding, river heights, flood water levels to advises the SES on the speed of the water flows down the Bellinger. Conducted flood workshops for many areas of the community and workshop for the elderly citizens, so that they can feel safer knowing what SES can do for them.

Each fortnight Barbara and the Bellingen Hospital Action Group work to support the Bellingen Hospital and contribute much time working in the gardens and maintaining the Wellness Garden which was a project created and managed by Barbara in recent years.

Barbara is a constant advocate for better Telstra/mobile service in the area of Gleniffer

Bellingen Hospital has been her focus for many years and she was instrumental in in the Save Our Hospital campaign.

Barbara’s commitment, hard work and tenacity have enhanced the Bellingen community immensely