NORTHERN region centres have honoured their residents and volunteers with a host of ceremonies celebrated on Australia Day.
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Guyra Shire’s Citizen of the Year, retired schoolteacher Bob Vidler, was announced at a function hosted by first-time Australia Day ambassador Jean Kittson.
Guyra mayor Hans Hietbrink praised Mr Vidler’s commitment over many years to the community, as a member of both the local Lions Club and the local State Emergency Services unit.
Narrabri Shire’s Citizen of the Year is Kelly Foran, who runs the Friendly Faces Helping Hands Foundation.
Tenterfield Shire’s Citizen of the Year is Kathy Goldthorpe.
Bob Kneipp of Inverell, Margaret Mell of Ashford and Jim Townsend of Delungra are this year’s citizens of the year across Inverell Shire.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Inverell Shire mayor Paul Harmon said Inverell’s Citizen of the Year Bob Kneipp had been a hardworking and dedicated worker in every field all his life.
“Apart from being an exemplary family man and a successful manager of his own farming business, he has been a leader in many community organisations and charities over a period in excess of 40 years,” Cr Harmon said.
Margaret Mell was named Ashford Citizen of the Year and Jim Townsend named Delungra Citizen of the Year.
In Liverpool Plains Shire, for the first time, the Citizen of the Year award went to two people who had been jointly nominated – Ray and Jill Hoswell, who have devoted countless hours to developing and maintaining Quirindi Rural Heritage Village.
Lucy Crane was named Liverpool Plains Shire Young Citizen of the Year.
Liverpool Plains Shire Sportsperson of the Year is Wallabies player Sam Carter, 25.
Gunnedah shire’s Citizen of the Year was Cheryl Sharman, while Grace Turner was named Young Citizen of the Year.
Miss Turner’s research into Gunnedah’s involvement in the Boer War led to council purchasing more plaques in order to house the newly found names in June 2014.
Harold Hills, a volunteer for Gunnedah Home and Community Care, was awarded The Ossie & Beryl Campbell Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award.
In Uralla Shire, Peter Phillips was named Citizen of the Year, Maureen Meredith was named Senior Citizen, and Young Citizen of the Year is Daniel Shephard.
Moree Shire’s Citizen of the Year is Wendy Baldwin, the coordinator of the Gwydir mobile preschool.
In Glen Innes, the Citizen of the Year is Richard Hartmann, who has been involved with the Glen Innes Show Society and in other volunteer roles for many years.
Glen Innes Young Citizen of the Year is Khai Quinn.
Armidale-Dumaresq Council’s Citizen of the Year is Phil Wheaton, who has had 40 years’ involvement in sport in the council district.
Armidale-Dumaresq Council’s Young Citizen of the Year is Melanie Brash, the 2015 vice-captain of Armidale High.
In Tamworth, Eddie Whitham was named the citizen of the year; Samantha Moxon was named young citizen and Maree Vongphachan the Mitchell Brady Encouragement Award recipient.
Nundle citizen of the year is Harvey Warden, Barraba’s is Jack McCarthy and the Manilla citizen of the year is Michael Gategood.