Four Elders of Moree were recognised for their contributions to the community at Friday night’s Reconciliation Awards.
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Pastor Greg Lawson was named the male non-Aboriginal Elder of the Year for his tireless work spreading spiritual leadership and building cross cultural understanding.
Pastor Lawson has offered guidance and faith to all races in the Moree community for the past 30 years and has become a much loved, appreciated and respected Elder.
“We are truly grateful to call Moree home,” he said.
Non-Aboriginal female Elder of the Year was awarded to Marian Arnold.
Ms Arnold dedicated herself to teaching and has helped any student with a genuine interest in learning.
During the many years teaching in Moree, she has and continues to go above and beyond for her students to help them achieve set goals.
Barry Sampson was awarded the Aboriginal male Elder of the Year.
Mr Sampson had a 20-year career with Moree Plains Shire Council before serving the community as a taxi owner/operator in 1990.
He coached junior league int he 60s and taught Jiu Jitsu at the local PCYC. He was one of the first Aboriginal people to be awarded a life member of the PCYC for his dedication and hard work.
Mr Sampson helped introduce line dancing to Moree and surrounding communities and was a chair of the Moree Aboriginal Elders Group until 2016. He is still actively involved in the local community but dedicates most of his time to his beautiful grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Barbara Cutmore was honoured as the Aboriginal female Elder of the Year for her dedication to Moree East Primary School where she started in the front office. She is a teacher representative of Moree East Reference Group.
She has been a member of the Pius X board for four years and is current secretary. Mrs Cutmore has served the Anglican Church for more than 40 years in many voluntary capacities including Sunday School teacher.
Mrs Cutmore is known to go above and beyond her required duties at Moree East for example organising Anzac Day and NAIDOC Week events, encouraging school attendance, assists with cultural awareness for new staff and much more.
“Mrs Cutmore is an extraordinary woman with a generous and caring heart.”
Shelby Briggs was named the Aboriginal Youth of the Year for five to 12 years and Gabrielle Elbourne was the non-Aboriginal recipient.
The Aboriginal Youth of the Year aged 13-18 years was Kiyalee Duncan and the non-Aboriginal recipient was Claudia Tuner.
Kye Boland was named the Aboriginal junior Sportsperson of the Year for ages five to 12 and the non-Aboriginal winners were Noah Humphries and Shelby Thompson-Graham.
Mark Pegus was named the Aboriginal junior Sportsperson of the Year in the 13-18 years category and Rhiannon Byers was the non-Aboriginal recipient.
Lesley ‘Lofty’ Tighe was named the Aboriginal Senior Sportsperson of the year and Alex Noble was the non-Aboriginal recipient.
Moree Area Homelessness Service was the funded community group/organisation to be honoured on the night, while Moree Services Men’s Bowls Club was the voluntary group honoured.
The Uncle Albert Dennison Caring for Country Award winner was Liz Taylor.
Cheryl Guyer was honoured with the non-Aboriginal Mental Health Recovery award and the mental health recovery carer went to Linda Barnett.
Aboriginal school based Trainee of the Year was Mitchell O’Loughlin and non-Aboriginal winners were Brodie Dawson and Ben Clark.
Aboriginal Trainee of the Year was Bianca Wells and Aboriginal Apprentice of the Year was John Singleton.
Non-Aboriginal Employee of the Year was awarded to Lynne McQueen.
The Aboriginal Brenda Brennan Memorial Employee of the Year award recipient was Donna Taylor.
An Aboriginal judges special award was given to Lizzy Swan-Haines as an Employee of the Year.
Cut Above Fitness Centre was named Business of the Year.
Darrel Smith was named the Aboriginal Citizen of the Year and non-Aboriginal Citizen of the Year went to Donna Boughton.
