Moree Aboriginal elder Mary Swan and cyclist Steele Sutton were recognised as Local Heroes at the opening of Bank Art Museum Moree's (BAMM) latest exhibition, Courage to Care.
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A crowd of about 60 people, including Holocaust survivors Gaby and Ana and five volunteers from Sydney, attended the Courage to Care opening on Thursday, November 7, during which the Local Hero awards were announced.
The Courage to Care exhibition, which highlights the courage of ordinary people who took action to help others, refers to Upstanders as being inspiring members of the community who are committed to community betterment.
Two Upstanders were recognised for their continued service to the Moree community and received the Local Hero awards.
Elder Mary Swan was recognised for her years of service dedicated to improving services and outcomes for Moree's Aboriginal community, and Steele Sutton for his selfless work in mentoring youth and encouraging them to make positive life choices.
Both recipients spoke on the evening about what inspired them to have the courage to face challenges and overcome adversity.
"I would like to congratulate Mary and Steele for being acknowledged as Local Upstanders and again commend them on the fantastic work they do in helping others in our community," BAMM interim director Kate Tuart said.
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The exhibition was opened by Moree Rotary Club president Steve Harris, who welcomed the special visitors and acknowledged the shared desire of both organisations to make the world a better place.
Ms Tuart was very pleased with the turnout at the opening.
"It was wonderful to have Ana and Gaby and the amazing volunteers here with us this week and for our opening tonight," she said.
"We are privileged to be able to hear firsthand accounts from Holocaust survivors and we thank them for sharing their personal stories with us.
"The exhibition will be on until the end of November, and every week we will have a new group of guides and survivors visiting to share their stories.
"I encourage everyone - whether it's a business, community group or just a group of friends, to come along and take advantage of this unique opportunity."
Courage to Care is a unique historical exhibition that demonstrates the impact of discrimination through historical objects and personal stories of Holocaust survivors and their relatives, and encourages us all to live with empathy and compassion. It highlights and honours the courage of ordinary people in the past, who despite facing great personal risk, took action to help others and had the courage to care.
The Courage to Care exhibition will run until November 30. Free tours will be run by the visiting guides during weekdays. Contact BAMM on (02) 6757 3320 to make a booking.
