Hat’s off to our local Australia Day award winners

The Upper Lachlan Shire Awards were presented in Gunning, Crookwell and Taralga by Mayor John Stafford and Lyndey Milan OAM, 2019 Australia Day ambassador. 

Cr Stafford said the annual awards recognise outstanding individuals and events that have had a positive impact on the local community.

“On behalf of council I would like to congratulate all of the award winners and thank them for their exceptional contributions,” Cr Stafford said.

“I would also like to acknowledge all of the very worthy nominees for their wonderful efforts.”

A Shire-wide winner was announced for each category, along with recipients from each of the townships of Gunning, Crookwell and Taralga.

Gary Poile is the Upper Lachlan Citizen of the Year.

Mr Poile is an active member of many groups and organisations, including the current president of the Collector Village Pumpkin Festival and the unit controller of the Collector State Emergency Service.

During Mr Poile’s presidency the Pumpkin Festival, now a well-established event, attracts over 16,000 visitors.

He has been the SES Unit Controller for over 20 years.

Mr Poile was instrumental in securing grant funding for projects to enhance the Collector community; the construction of a community outdoor gym, an extension of the Collector Hall, and the installation of pedestrian pathways to improve access for school children and visitors.

Alexandra Branson is the Upper Lachlan Shire Young Citizen of the Year.

Ms Branson is a proud representative of the Crookwell community and an accomplished public speaker.

She is a former vice captain of Trinity Catholic College, was a student voice representative at the Students Yearn to Learn Conference, and was invited to the Member for Goulburn Pru Goward’s, ‘Pizza with Pru’.

Ms Branson received several academic, public speaking and sporting awards.

She is also a former winner of the Lions Youth of the Year Quest Public Speaking Award and Lions Youth of the Year Program and has been a Student Member of the Timor-Leste Immersion Trip.

The Breadalbane Memorial Wall Opening and Inaugural Anzac Day Commemoration 2018 is the Upper Lachlan Shire Event of the Year.

The event was the culmination of many years of hard work and research and involved the official unveiling of a memorial wall and plaques dedicated to local servicemen and women who served in World War I and World War II.

At least 100 family and community members attended the service where touching tributes were read, school children sang and wreaths were laid.

The event culminated in a huge community breakfast. It was a great example of the community working together with almost every person in Breadalbane having some sort of job in the lead up to the event.

Sally McLean was named the Gunning Citizen of the Year.

Ms McLean is a Member and Chair of the Breadalbane Hall Committee, she was instrumental in the erection of an Anzac Memorial Wall at the Breadalbane Hall.

Her role was coordinating all associated historical research, grant applications and construction work.

She also organised the inaugural Breadalbane Anzac Day ceremony and Memorial Wall unveiling in 2018 and the Kangaroo March in 2015.

She has spearheaded Hall fundraisers such as the Breadalbane Bush Bash and is the President of the Breadalbane Hall Committee and Chief Instructor of the Breadalbane Pony Club.

William (Will) Luck was awarded the Gunning Young Citizen of the Year Award.

Mr Luck is a youth representative of the Gunning District Association and is the current School Captain of Goulburn High School.

He is also assisted with numerous Gunning events, including but not limited to, the Gunning Fireworks Night and Carols by Candlelight, and has performed in, and supported fellow musicians, in the Gunning Focus Group ‘Emerging Talents’ youth conference.

In 2017, Mr Luck attended the NSW Youth Council Conference, representing young people from across the district, and in 2018, he was one of 100 students from across NSW selected to attend the NSW Schools State Constitutional Convention.

Mr Luck is a talented musician, studying guitar since he was seven, has been recognised for his academic achievement, and has raised money for charitable causes such as the Relay for Life.  

The Collector Village Pumpkin Festival was named the Gunning Event of the Year.

From humble beginnings in 2003, the Collector Village Pumpkin Festival has grown to become one of the most anticipated and popular events in the Canberra region.

The Festival, which celebrates rural life and the harvest season, attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the Upper Lachlan Shire each year and has become a major fundraising activity for many community groups and charitable organisations in the local district.

Nerida Croker and Andrew ‘Duckie’ Shepherd are the joint recipients of the Crookwell Citizen of the Year Award.

Ms Croker is a founding member and chairperson of the Fullerton Hadley Landcare Group and recently secured funding for Superb Parrot habitat enhancement.

She is an active Board Member of LachLandcare Inc and is also the current Vice Chairperson and former Chairperson of the Upper Lachlan Catchment Coordinating Committee. In the role she represented the Committee and Landcare district on several boards and committees including South East Landcare and the South East Weeds Steering Committees.

She is also involved in various other community groups, including, but not limited to, the Fullerton Hadley Bush Fire Brigade and Crookwell Patchwork Group.

Andrew Shepard has given many years of dedicated service to local community clubs and events.

Mr Shepard is a member of the Crookwell Lions Club and in 2014/15 was awarded ‘Lion of the Year. His involvement with Crookwell Rugby Club also earned him a life membership.

Anthony Watt was named the Crookwell Young Citizen of the Year.

Mr Watt is a former member of the Upper Lachlan Youth Council who was instrumental in the fundraising for the Crookwell Skate Park and assisted in many Youth Council events and activities.

He has competed at both local and regional levels in the Lions Club Youth of the Year competition and is a former school captain, student representative council member and peer support leader of Crookwell High School, during which time he represented the school at significant events, including, but not limited to, Member for Goulburn Pru Goward’s, ‘Pizza with Pru’.

In 2017, Mr Watts also won the Crookwell Rotary Club Community Service Award for his service to both Crookwell High School and the local community.  

The Crookwell Rugby Club’s Premiership Reunion and Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Round received the Crookwell Event of the Year Award.

In June 2018, the Crookwell Rugby Club held its first Premiership Teams Reunion and MND Round.

The weekend brought together teams from 1993 and 1998 and raised $20,000 for the Crookwell Community Trust to assist families affected by MND.

Graham Lambert was named the Taralga Citizen of the Year.

Mr Lambert initiated the Taralga Bicentennial Committee to organise the 2019 Bicentennial celebrations. He is also involved in numerous community groups, including, but not limited to, the Taralga Golf Club, Taralga RFS and Taralga Historical Society.

Jem Green is Taralga’s Young Citizen of the Year.

Mr Green is the 2019 School Captain at Mulwaree High School and has been praised by the School’s Principal for his outstanding academic record and high standard of work.

He has a keen interest in politics and in 2018 travelled to Sydney to participate in politics in the pub.

The Taralga Rodeo 2018 was named the Taralga Event of the Year.

The annual event attracts competitors and spectators from far and wide who enjoy the heart pumping rodeo action.

The rodeo also includes a variety of stalls and rides, which add to the exciting carnival atmosphere.