2021 Tamworth Local Legends Awards: Fresh format awards ceremony pays tribute to region's unsung heroes

A fresh format awards ceremony at Tamworth's Town Hall will highlight the unsung heroes who make the region a better place.

Tamworth Regional Council launched the inaugural annual Local Legends Awards on Wednesday, wrapping the region's community awards into one compact event to honour the efforts of individuals and organisations.

Throughout the years the region's award ceremonies have diminished in profile with a drop in nominations and attendance, mayor Col Murray said, but the new format is hoped to change that.

"We've got lots of different community awards that previously we've done at different times, scattered right across the annual calendar," he said.

"Council has decided because those awards have been diminishing a bit in their profile and that recognition hasn't been as a great as what we would like it to be, we would bring them all together."

He said the "significant package" of awards at the one big event would be "much better recognition and much more appropriate to acknowledge those high performing community members".

READ ALSO:

Council's Seniors Awards, Volunteer of the Year Awards, Access Awards, Sustainability Awards and the Gift of Time recognition will all be wrapped into the Local Legends Awards.

The first event will be a semi-formal occasion at the Tamworth Town Hall at 10am on Friday, November 26.

Council's volunteer coordinator Eleze Drew said the awards are a great opportunity to recognise contributions to the community.

"The awards recognise that we do have seniors, young people, people of all walks of life who contribute to the wonderful services that happen in our community, whether it's through volunteering or whether it recognises their work in particular areas of accessibility," she said.

Multiple new awards have been added in the areas of visual arts, performing arts and community inclusion.

For each award, five finalists will be selected and invited, including the winner.

The 2021 Local Legends Awards include: Access Award (Individual); Access Award (Business or Community); Volunteer of the Year Award (Youth, 24 years and under); Volunteer of the Year Award (Adult, 25 to 64 years); Volunteer of the Year Award (Adult, 65 years and older); Seniors Award (Individual); Excellence in Sustainability Award (Community or Individual); Excellence in Performing Arts Award (Community or Individual); Excellence in Visual Arts Award (Community or Individual); Community Inclusion Award (Community or Individual); and Local Legend of the Year.

Nominations open on Thursday, September 30 at 9am and close at 5pm on Wednesday October 20.

Nominate online here, at your local library or community centre, or call the council on (02) 6767 5555.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: