Yass Valley Australia Day Award recipients announced

Yass Valley Australia Day Award recipients announced

The 2021 Yass Valley Australia Day Award recipients have been announced today at a community breakfast in Coronation Park, Yass.

Peter Firth, has been named Citizen of the Year for his outstanding and tireless work in Gundaroo. A long serving and valued member of the village community, Peter’s contributions have spanned local government, active community service, fundraising, sport and social activities. He has been instrumental in saving and revitalising local facilities, preserving heritage and traditions, creating new ways of fundraising to support village groups and, most recently, supporting mental health through the creation of the Men’s Shed. Peter has been active in the bushfire brigade, co-founded the Gundaroo Community Association, served on the Gunning Council for 11 years, led the Gundaroo & District Historical Society as founding member and President and was the driving force behind establishing and operating a number of local community groups.

Senior Citizen of the Year, Michael Newling, has demonstrated a genuine commitment to the Yass community through his active service to the Yass Rotary Club. The instigator and principal driving force behind numerous community events that have yielded long term benefits for the wider community, Michael continues to promote the Yass Rotary Club’s involvement and service through fundraising activities and personally volunteers for events such as today’s Australia Day breakfast. The former Police Sergeant has organised the Bi-Centennial Celebration, was the founding member and organiser of the Classic Yass Billy Cart Derby, initiated driver training at Yass High promoting road safety in young drivers, was the organiser of the Big Aussie Barbeque aimed at increasing bowel cancer awareness, and has served as the Chairperson of the Rotary Foundation.

Talented Murrumbateman dancer, Holly Fleming, has been awarded Young Citizen of the Year for her dedication to dance and the local arts industry. Holly started dancing with Dazzle Dance Academy in Murrumbateman at eight years of age, the first student to represent Yass Valley at national level and has also received invitations to dance and compete in the United States. She now represents MAKS Ballet Studios in Mitchell with pride and passion. The former Mt Carmel and Yass High student is the current Champion Dance Runner Up at the Follow your Dreams dance competition, held in Melbourne in 2020, and has collected well over 100 trophies and medals marking her success.

YassFM 100.3 is Yass Valley’s local community radio station, staffed entirely by volunteers. Providing music, weather updates and important information, YassFM has been on the local airwaves for approximately 20 years. During 2020, YassFM played an integral part in keeping the many vulnerable members of our community safe and secure with regular broadcasting, information and advice relating to the global COVID-19 pandemic. It was decided to keep YASSFM on air every day even when widespread Government restrictions were introduced so that updates and notifications could continue to be conveyed to the Yass Valley community. The Community Group of the Year award recognises the many dedicated volunteer presenters who have worked hard to be a constant and calming source of information during what has been a challenging year.

The Murrumbateman Christmas Carols Committee has been awarded an Individual Community Service Award. The award recognises, in particular, the hard work of Robin Darmody and Karen Davis in overseeing, and growing, the Murrumbateman Community Christmas Carols for more than 11 years. The Carols started in the Murrumbateman Recreation Hall in 2006 with around 30 people attending. Robin and Karen volunteered to form the Committee for the Carols in 2008, ensuring the continuation of the event under the umbrella of the Murrumbateman Progress Association and growing the attendance. In 2017, they collaborated with the Murrumbateman Village Markets Committee to bring another dimension to the event, introducing market stalls and food vendors. Through their dedication to the community, and their creative flair for executing this event, the Murrumbateman Community Christmas Carols now attracts crowds of 500 plus people to enjoy a magical and free event.

Frances and Stuart Atkins are stalwarts of the Bowning community and, today, were awarded Individual Community Service Awards. Active members of the Bowning Rural Fire Service, they lend a hand to fight fires near and far. As volunteers with Can Assist and the SPIN Foundation, they have donated their property for charity hill walks, helping bring the community together for fitness and fundraising. Keen archers, Stuart is a world champion in Archery and Crossbow and has won numerous prestigious accolades in his sport, including gold medals at world championship competitions. Frances is also a competitive archer in her own right.

“Yass Valley is a very special place to call home, but what makes it special are the exceptional individuals who volunteer tirelessly for their community,” said Mayor Rowena Abbey.

“It is always wonderful to publicly acknowledge our award recipients and their contribution at our annual Australia Day breakfast, but after a challenging 2020, it is even more fitting to come together and celebrate our community champions in this way. Congratulations and thank you.”

2021 Yass Valley Australia Day recipients: Citizen of the Year – Peter Firth. Senior Citizen of the Year – Michael Newling. Young Citizen of the Year – Holly Fleming. Community Group of the Year – YassFM. Individual Community Service Award – Murrumbateman Christmas Carols Committee. Individual Community Service Award - Francis and Stuart Atkins.

28 January 2021

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