MOREE’S Elders and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Citizens of the Year have been announced, following another successful Moree Reconciliation Gala Awards night on Friday.
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More than 300 people showed to Moree town hall to welcome the newly-named recipients.
“It was the biggest gala night yet,” co-host Cathy Budda-Deen said. “Three-hundred and twenty people turned up: we were turning people back because we didn’t have enough tickets.”
This year marked the fifth time the awards night has been hosted in Moree, an annual event that celebrates the achievements of the town’s unsung heroes.
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“It’s important to celebrate the excellence that is happening in our community. Every town and city has its issues, but we need to remind ourselves that as a community there is good happening between local organisations, businesses and everyday people,” Cathy said.
Lucas Swan was named Aboriginal Citizen of the Year for his unsolicited volunteer work in the community. He is best known around town for his crusade to keep Aboriginal people out of jail. He frequently tours local schools to enlighten students about the struggles many children face in their day to day lives.
Kay Berge took home the non-Aboriginal Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of a life of altruism. She has worked as senior secretary at Courallie High School for 34 years, sat on the Moree Ladies Lions Club for 21 years and volunteered at Moreena Units for Aged Pensioners.
Valda “Val” Dahlstrom and Gay Roberts were each crowned Aboriginal Female Elder of the Year for their unmatched service to the community. Val has been a member of the Aboriginal Bicentennial Committee at a state and national level, while Gay has been a firm supporter of Moree Relay for Life in a bid to tackle the worldwide threat of cancer.
Lorraine Bartel claimed the non-Aboriginal Female Elder of the Year Award. She has been president for the P and C Committee and Moreena Aged Pensioners Unit. She is also a life member of Moree East and Moree PCYC.
Harold “Tommo” French took the Aboriginal Male Elder of the Year Award in recognition of 30 years of service to education committees and his unrelenting effort to fight for the rights of Aboriginal children.
Archie Karam was awarded non-Aboriginal Male Elder of the Year for his involvement in St Philomena’s and Moree High School’s P and F, a commitment that has spanned longer than 15 years.
List of other award recipients:
Marsha Tighe (Aboriginal) and Marni Raye (non-Aboriginal) took Youth of the Year 5-12 Years Award. Shanika Hippi (Aboriginal), Jesse James and Jasmine Robertson (non-Aboriginal) claimed Aboriginal Youth of the Year 13-18 Years.
Benjamin Didonna (Aboriginal) and Lauren Appleby (non-Aboriginal) were awarded the Junior Sportsperson of the Year 5-12 Years, and Jordan McKenzie (Aboriginal) and Annabelle Abrahamsen (non-Aboriginal) Sportsperson given the year 13-18 Years Award.
Malu French took the Culture for Creative Arts, Pius X claimed the Funded Community Organisation of the Year, Moree Mobile Neighbourhood Watch claimed Voluntary Community Organisation of the Year and Sisters Under the Skin took home Business of the Year.
Dubbo David Roberts (Aboriginal) and Rua Noble (non-Aboriginal) claimed the Senior Sportsperson Award.
Darren Foreman (Aboriginal) was awarded for Mental Health Recovery and Marie Hodges and Ruth McGowan for Mental Health Carers.
Ty Bearman (non-Aboriginal) took the School Based Apprenticeship Award, Isabella Khoury (Aboriginal) claimed School Based Trainee, Jack Rae and Blake O’Neill (non-Aboriginal) took the Apprenticeship Award and Narica Smith (Aboriginal) landed Trainee of the Year.
Jessica Wager received the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Award, Paula Duncan took the judge’s highly-commended Aboriginal Employee of the Year, while Carol Duke (Aboriginal) took Employee of the Year and Frank Crump (non-Aboriginal) claimed Employee of the Year.
