The Community Elders Honour Roll is an initiative developed by Moree Plains Shire Council in 2017 to recognise local elders' contributions to reconciliation and the Moree community.

In 2017, a total of 44 elders were recognised on the honour roll.

This year, a further 19 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal elders, including some who are no longer with us, were added to the board.

A special presentation was held during Reconciliation Week, on Thursday, May 30, to recognise the latest nominees.

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"The National Reconciliation Week theme is 'Grounded in truth. Walk together with courage'," Moree Plains Shire Council community development/liaison officer Ros Laws said.

"This is very true for those we're honouring here today, many of whom walked side-by-side with community, with courage and conviction to leading the way in reconciliation.

"Today we are here to honour Moree people and their contribution to reconciliation. Possibly they did not think about reconciliation when they were helping others, they were merely kind gestures that they were doing, working together and getting on with life with one another, but in reality, reconciliation occurred."

"Council's very honoured and privileged to be part of today's ceremony, honouring those people who have made such a long-lasting contribution to Moree Plains," Mitchell Johnson added, before reading the names of those honoured.

Among the elders recognised is Fenella 'May' Copeland, who is believed to be the oldest living Aboriginal person in Moree.

Mrs Copeland, who will be 90 in July, has lived her whole life in Moree and is one of the elders of Mehi Crescent.

In the 1970s she was one of the inspirational women to establish the first Aboriginal Housing Co-op on the mission in Moree, known as Wiradjuri Housing Co-Op, funded by the Minister for Aboriginal Affrais Charles Perkins, to establish eight homes along Mehi Crescent. In turn, Fenella and her late husband Dolph, along with others, signed the 99-year lease for the Crown Land that Mehi Crescent is currently situated on. Families were able to take up these residents and together built the Mehi Crescent community.

Mrs Copeland said she was honoured to be named on the roll.

"It means a lot; I can't explain how much it means to me," she said.

"I feel that good about it. It's lovely."

Darryl French is another elder recognised on the honour roll. He was one of 11 children born at the old McMaster Ward at Moree Hospital.

Having went to the mission school in Moree, Mr French went on to graduate from the Australian Catholic University and Macquarie University and continued studies in Aboriginal education and commercial law at Macquarie University.

He was employed as an Academic at Macquarie University from 2000 to 2005, during which time he and a fellow teacher co-authored the Anti-Racism Resource Package for NSW Education. As a result, he was a recipient of the Human Rights National Corporate Award and has presented at various World Indigenous People Education Conferences in America, Hawaii and Canada.

Mr French is still working in education, as a teacher at Cardiff High School in Newcastle.

His passion for education has been passed onto his children, with Janine and Dean both teachers, while Brett has worked in education for about 15 years.

Mr French was thrilled to be recognised on the honour roll.

"It's an amazing honour," he said.

"I'd like to see more recognition for academic achievements of our people. We went to the mission school and now I have a double degree."

June and Reg Riley were also among those recognised, having operated the fuel depot for more than 40 years and provided services to the wider community of the shire.

They have held camp oven markets, organised for an old train to attend Garah to celebrate Garah and Talmoi Centenary Races with all funds raised going to the local church/hall or wherever funds are needed in the Garah community to help anyone in need. June would often be seen carrying water to the trees in the park and is a key organiser of Anzac Day and the Talmoi Races.

"This honour means a lot," Mrs Riley said.

"We're absolutely flabbergasted to be honest."

Betty Carter

Betty is well known for her passion for Moree. She's always the first person to say hello to everyone she meets, relay how good the pool and club is for visitors and is heavily involved in selling raffle tickets for many community groups, cooking for families in need and assisting with donations for a variety of charities in Moree. Betty was a Patron of Moree Primary School for many years and has spent a lifetime giving.

Barbara Cutmore

Barbara has played a pivotal role in shaping the youth of Moree as she taught at Moree East Public School for more than 20 years. She has contributed widely to the Moree community and is a wonderful example of reconciliation, citizenship and community commitment. Mrs Cutmore began working as a typist for the Moree Municipal Council in 1965 as well as the Aboriginal Legal Aide and the Mission School. In 1972 she began her dedication and contribution to the education of youth in Moree, undertaking her teaching training with the Catholic University. She has also served on the AECG, ASSPA, MEPC/P&C, MEPC Reference Group and Pius X Aboriginal Corporation board.

Gwendoline Dennison (deceased)

Gwendoline, born in 1930, and her husband Cyril commenced a partnership with the former Henderson's Bakery family, which led them to sell bakery goods to the families on the mission. Mrs Dennison devoted her life to her family, especially her youngest child Kevin, who had cystic fibrosis and whose life expectancy was not great. Her determination for Kevin to expand his life expectancy was very much hands-on for Mrs Dennison, who performed his physio twice daily until she became unwell in her 80s. When visiting specialists in Sydney, she was asked to demonstrate her skills to others to share her knowledge about how she was able to give her son a prolonged life.

Harold Thomas French

Harold Thomas French, bettwe known as 'Thommo', has dedicated his life to the Moree community. Mr French worked in Moree as a teacher and health worker over the years and was the founding member and inaugural chairperson of the Moree Aboriginal Men's Group. Mr French is also a life member with the Moree Boomerangs, chairperson of Moree Local Aboriginal Lands Council and is a keen activist in ensuring education for young people.

Sheila French

Sheila strived for better conditions for the Aboriginal people of Moree and in 1977 started her career in the Moree Technology High as an Aboriginal Education Assistant, a position she held between Technology High, Courallie High and West Moree Primary School for 20 years. She was also one of the first people involved in setting up the Aboriginal Education Consultancy Group (AECG). Even today, she constantly puts the needs of others before her own and, alongside her husband David, provides constant care for their grandson with special needs.

Mona Jenkins (deceased)

Mona was a 'champion' for the Aboriginal cause long before it was considered the 'done thing'. She was a non-Aboriginal woman who saw the plight of Aboriginal people while employed at Moree District Hospital. Mrs Jenkins would take home the nightwear of patients and wash and iron them, returning them the next day, and would not take payment for doing so. She ran errands for patients in her own time. She saw the need for Aborigina people to have access to health cover and walked to all areas of Moree to discuss and help those who were not covered to take it up. Mrs Jenkins made many lifelong friends throughout her life and many elders still talk about her contribution to the Aboriginal cause today.

Joan Patricia Noonan

Born on the Myall, Joan's mother Bessie Riley was part of the Stolen Generation. Joan maried Charles Demosthenous and together raised their children. A supporter of human rights, Joan was featured in the August 2009 ANTAR publication - the Jewel in the Crown of Reconciliation and presented with honours for her contribution to reconciliation.

Paul Raveneau

Born in 1953 at the old top camp in a tin shed with his family, Paul started his working career early, shearing to avoid being taken by the then Aboriginal Protection Board and had to lie about his age. Mr Raveneau has a long working history in the farming/agriculture and taxi industries in and around Moree. At the age of 20 he obtained his taxi licence whilst working at the flour mill. He formed many good relationships with farmers and employees throughout his working life. Mr Raveneau commenced contracting for cotton chipping and has always had a great work ethic, grounded in truth and compassion. He purchased his first taxi plate TC505 in 1997 and is still driving his cab today. Mr Raveneau was one of the first Aboriginal children to enter the Moree Pool in 1965. He was also a contributor to the Moree Boomerangs in the 80s and has been a committee member and volunteer of the Moree Boars Rugby League Club.

Dorothy Sampson (deceased)

Dorothy was born in 1928 and passed away in 1995. She lived in Moree all her life, raising her six children and in turn helped raise her grandchildren and great grandchildren. When Mrs Sampson was just 14 years old she won the radio program Amateur Hour, where she set a new record for the most votes. Her life in Moree involved actively volunteering for St Vincent de Paul for many years. She worked in the community doing various jobs and worked with Pam Mann, who treated her like a sister in helping her raise her family. She was a true advocate of reconciliation.

Catherine Cora 'Ma' Smith (deceased)

Catherine (better known as Cora or Ma Smith) was a non-Indigenous woman who dedicated her life to the Aboriginal community in Moree, particularly around their health. At the age of 21, she married Aboriginal man Frederick Smith and was disowned by her family. Cora, Frederick and their growing family moved to Moree where their descendents now number in the thousands. Cora and Frederick were so well respected in the community, they were affectionatel known as Ma and Pa Smith. Mrs Smith was well-known for riding around on her bicycle as she went to nurse those who were sick. She was also a well-known midwife who would help deliver local Aboriginal babies. Mrs Smith was a pioneer of reconciliation and a woman who was selflessly dedicated to her community.

Debra Swan

Debra has received wide recognition and support for her role with championing and advocating for the rights of Aboriginal families and their children with Grand Mothers Against Removal (GMAR). For many years, she worked at DoCS with families in the Moree Shire and retired from this position to be one of the inaugural persons commencing the GMAR, which has been both state and federal recognition for its efforts in working with Aboriginal communities throughout Australia.

Alma Tighe (deceased)

Alma Tighe (nee Duncan) was born in 1914 at the Terry Hie Hie Aboriginal Reserve and the family moved to Moree to avoid the children being taken away by the Aboriginal Protection Board. In 1949 Mrs Tighe and two others were the first Aboriginal women to be trained as nurse's aides. This was the start of 'Aunty Alma's' connection to Moree Hospital. Docotors would seek out her advice on patients, not only for their ailments, but also the cultural customs of the patient. She became senior nurse of the McMaster Ward and if an Aboriginal family experienced trouble, it was always understood and expected that Aunty Alma would be there. She leaves a memory of not only being an 'aristocrat of Aborigines' but the 'Florence Nightingale of the McMaster Ward'.

Maynie Saunders, Dulcie Duke and Maude Cutmore (all deceased)

Maynie Saundes, Dulcie Duke and Maude Cutmore were long-standing members of the Moree Aboriginal School and P&C Association. They participanted in the Moree Aboriginal Advancement Committee, working for the integration of Aboriginal children into mainstream education to enable educational pathways, employment opportunities and worked with a strong reconciliation collaborative approach with non-Aboriginal people in the community to achieve this goal. Through the P&C, these women worked tirelessly to ensure that Aboriginal students at the Moree Aboriginal School, later called the Wiradjuri Public School, has a well-resourced and safe environment for students and teachers. They actively supported non-Indigenous teaching staff settle into the school environment, cultural knowledge sharing and awarness to support them in their teaching roles to assist with their acceptance in the community. These women conducted regular fundraising activities within the Aboriginal community by holding balls, dances and talent quests to raise funds to purchase equipment for school resources. They were well-respected and well-known for their activities in Moree and their work with reconciliation for all.

Connie Green

Connie was a very proud Kamilaroi woman. During her lifetime, she made positive contribution, particularly in the area of education, with TAFE NSW and was a lifelong passionate supporter of the Moree Boomerangs. Connie was one of the first Aboriginal nurses to train at Moree Hospital. She established the Moree Aboriginal Sobriety House (MASH) with Les Potter to support recovery from alcoholism. There are numerous people in Moree who were encouraged to access education through TAFE, thanks to Aunt Connie's drive and persistence. A courtyard at Moree TAFE is named after her for her significant contribution to education outcomes for Moree community members.