Reconciliation awards group convener, Glen Crump, said the awards were in their sixth year and the nominations had gone up, with three new categories being added.

“We decided to put the caring for country section in because of the individual and environmental groups doing such great things in fighting for our country. 

“The other two added sections are the sports ones and we thought they deserved to be noticed for their great achievements,” he said.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Dhiiyaan Indigenous Centre at 10.30am on Wednesday, May 29.

• The nominations for the Albert Dennison Memorial Caring for Country Award are: Karen Craigie, Robert Stanley, Godfrey Swan, Liz Taylor, Carl McGrady, Noeline Briggs-Smith and Vivian Duncan.

• The Junior Sports Person of the Year nominees are: Tyrell Smith, Kayden Lane, Jason Saunders, Alfred Newman, Lachlan McGrady, Percy Duncan, Shanay Widders and Cody Duncan.

• The Senior Sports Person of the Year nominees are: Cameron Hammond, Warren Cain, Edward Saunders, Travis Cook, Brian Saunders, Mundarra Weldon, Rick Roberts, Luke Raveneau, Alex Barker Snr and Jamie Sampson.

• Nominees for the 2013 Business of the Year Award are: The Lunch Box Café, Gwydir Industries, Coles Moree, MAAC, Nash Logistics, Mehi Murries art gallery, Best Employment, Fairview and Alf Duncan’s trolley and cleaning service.

• The nominations for the 2013 Moree reconciliation awards Community Group or Organisation of the Year are: Moree Local Aboriginal Land Council, Indigenous Community Links service, Moree Show Society, Moree Family Support, Aboriginal Employment Strategy, Moree Aboriginal Education consultancy group, Catchment management authority, Aboriginal reference group, Moree Youth Council, Moree police, Aboriginal community consulted committee, Byamee Moree domestic violence group, Clontarf academy, Justice Health Corrective Services, Moree NSW AECG, Moree Pace Program, Northcott disabilitys, Gwydir HACC, Aboriginal Legal Service, Dhiiyaan Centre, Barwon Learning Centre, Moree Plains Shire Council and Moree Aboriginal Elders.

• The nominees for the Aboriginal Elder of the Year are: Godfrey Swan, Peter Duncan, Edna Craigie, Tom French, Lyall Munro, Brenda Porter, Shirley Duncan, Richard Swan, Mary Swan, Elaine Sampson, Robert Draper, William Grahame, Barry Sampson, Jim French, Gloria French and Greg Sampson.

• Nominations for Non-Aboriginal Youth of the Year are: Jessica Driscoll and Belinda Wheeler.

• The nominations for the Aboriginal Youth of the Year are: Jessica Duncan, Jason Saunders, Brendan Barker Kaitlyn Picker, Shakira Tyson, Lamonay Brown and Brett Wright.

• The nominations for the Non-Aboriginal Elder of the Year Award are: Caroline Osmond, Ron Harbourne, Loraine Bartel, Sinclair Hill, Stella Cusack, Margaret Hayes, Nancy Crane, Jay McNamara, Ron O’Mullane and Pati Woods.

• The nominations for the Non-Aboriginal Citizen of the Year are: Ros Rose, Tian Harris, Maryanne Heathcote, Meryl Dillon, Lyn Mcqueen, Margaret Hayes, Janelle Boyd, Leo Strahn, Annabelle Simpson, Tammy Elbourne, Leah Smith, Kerry Cassells and Nicki Zouse.

• Nominations for the Aboriginal Citizen of the Year are: Brett French, Peter Duncan, Debbie Swan, Kevin Dennison, Barb Cutmore, Bernice Mcgrady, Marlene Howard, Betty Swan-Craigie, Jackie Draper, Pauline Cain, Janelle Munro, Cecil Craigie Snr, Darrel Smith, Lance Tighe, Muriel Kelly, Billy Walker, Karen Craigie, Carl Mcgrady, Lloyd Munro, Jaye Underwood, Liz Taylor, Linden Mcgrady, Veronica Duncan, Sheena Fernando, Gina Munro, Janice Raveneau, Lisa Tighe, Stephanie Duke and Kylie Binge.