Among those heading across the region are:

ARMIDALE DUMARESQ 

COUNCIL - Joanna Savill 

WHEN it comes to Australian food and wine, there’s no one better placed to pass judgment than Joanna Savill. 

For the past two decades, Savill has explored and promoted the extraordinary diversity and wealth of Australian food and wine in the print and electronic media.

GLEN INNES SEVERN COUNCIL - Jean Kittson 

THE star of stage, screen, radio, print, television and bookstores, Jean Kittson is one extremely funny woman. 

An advocate for women’s health issues, her latest book, You’re Still Hot To Me. The Joys of Menopause, has seen Kittson bring the National 

Press Club in Canberra completely undone.

GUNNEDAH SHIRE COUNCIL - Dr Eman Sharobeem 

EMINENT migrant and refugee advocate Dr Eman Sharobeem was first selected as an Australia Day ambassador in 2014 and loved the experience of sharing her story with others.

The year prior to that she was a finalist in the Premier’s Award for Woman of the Year, and presented with a certificate from the Parliament of Australia in recognition of her service and inspiration to Australian women. 

GUYRA SHIRE COUNCIL - Jeff Sayle 

RUGBY and life saving are ingrained in Jeff Sayle’s DNA.

Having played rugby since age eight, he’s represented his state, his country and was honoured with entry into the Randwick Rugby Club Hall of Fame.

He was recently presented with a 50-year pin for his involvement with Coogee Life Saving Club. 

GWYDIR SHIRE COUNCIL (WARIALDA) - Claire Tonkin 

NETWORK Ten’s drama executive since 2007, Claire Tonkin has helped oversee the development and production of prime-time dramas including Offspring, Puberty Blues, Rush, Mr & Mrs Murder, Hawke, A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne, Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, Underground – The Julian Assange Story, Wonderland, Secrets & Lies, Party Tricks and Neighbours. 

A former Tropfest finalist and Australian Writers’ Guild Award winner, Tonkin was also awarded an international Emmy when her television script, Me & Mine, received the Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award in 2009.

GWYDIR SHIRE COUNCIL 

(BINGARA) - Joseph Tawadros 

TRIPLE ARIA award-winner, oud virtuoso and composer Joseph Tawadros is said to blend and blur musical tradition and cross genres with a magical end result.

He has recorded, composed for and performed with many of the biggest international jazz and classical artists and he’s just 31 years old.

He’s taken out a rare ARIA hat-trick with his 11th album, Permission to Evaporate, featuring music legends Christian McBride and Mike Stern, named the 2014 Best World Music Album.

INVERELL SHIRE COUNCIL - Clary Castrission 

THE best piece of advice Clary Castrission could have received from one of his professors was: “If you want to get involved in international poverty-reduction, don’t do it from a high-rise in New York or Geneva, get to the developing world and get your hands dirty”.

That led to him starting an organisation called 40K Foundation Australia, which is now helping educate children in rural India.

LIVERPOOL PLAINS SHIRE COUNCIL - Gary Dawson 

MORE commonly referred to as “Smokey”, Gary Dawson has been around corporate golf and fundraising since 1988, raising more than $18 million during that time. 

Some of the charities that have benefited from his input include NSW Wheel Chair Sports, Hearts in Union, Bear Cottage, Camp Quality, the Special Olympics, Heart Research Australia, The Children’s Cancer Institute Australia, Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities, Melanoma Foundation, Starlight Foundation, Special Olympics and more.

MOREE PLAINS SHIRE COUNCIL - Lyndey Milan

FOR the past 30 years, Lyndey Milan has been one of Australia’s most recognised food and cooking show personalities. 

With her thirst for life, sense of fun, love of good food and a sparkling shiraz, Milan has written nine best-selling books and appeared on countless TV shows. She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to hospitality, particularly to the food and wine industry, and to the community.

NARRABRI SHIRE COUNCIL - John Clarke 

BORN and bred in Newcastle, John Clarke began his career as a musician and teacher, but was drawn into the world of broadcasting at the ABC.

From behind the microphone to upper management levels, he still loves presenting his weekend shows, Saturday mornings in Newcastle and The Hunter, and Sunday mornings across NSW, right after Macca, where he gets to meet people across the state, share stories, issues, fun, food and good music.

TAMWORTH REGIONAL COUNCIL (BARRABA) - Peter Wilkins 

THE definitive all-rounder in sports broadcasting terms, Peter Wilkins has an unbridled passion which is reflected in many of his commentaries across the years. 

He has predominantly worked for the national broadcaster for the past 34 years as a presenter, commentator and reporter in both television and radio and in December 2012, received the prestigious Australian Sports Commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award for services to sporting journalism.

TAMWORTH REGIONAL COUNCIL (MANILLA) - Steve Widders

A DESCENDANT of the Kamilaroi and Anaiwan people, after Widders was declared medically blind in 1990, he suffered from severe depression.

Instead of letting this control his life, Widders took charge and turned his personal adversity into a full, productive, rewarding and inspiring existence.

As well as his fulltime position with Armidale Dumaresq Council, Widders takes on personal challenges and works with all sectors of the community as a leading light.

TAMWORTH REGIONAL COUNCIL (NUNDLE) - Catriona Rowntree 

AFTER 16 years at the helm of the Nine Network program Getaway, Catriona Rowntree well and truly earned her reputation as “Australia’s most travelled woman”. 

Working on several other programs in the years that followed, Rowntree has also been involved in various charities, from Mission Australia and Landcare Australia to the Arnotts Foundation as its patron. 

URALLA SHIRE COUNCIL - Prue Watt 

ONE of Australia’s most successful Paralympians at the Athens 2004 Games, Prue Watt brought home five silver medals and one bronze.

Eight years later the added that elusive gold medal to her mantelpiece in the London Paralympics in the 100m breaststroke. Born prematurely at 24 weeks, Watt’s vision was severely impaired, which made her more determined to succeed than most. 

WALCHA SHIRE COUNCIL - 

Gordon Bray

SPORTS enthusiast, journalist, author and business ambassador Gordon Bray took on a major commentary role with ABC upon the retirement of his colleague Norman May in 1980.

Over the next three decades, he became known as “the voice of rugby” in Australia. Spending 25 years with ABC sport, a year at Network Ten and 16 years at the Seven Network, Bray is back with Ten as chief rugby commentator and an Olympic and Commonwealth Games broadcaster.