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Geoff has given tirelessly to sport in the Mid-Western Region for many years. He has held positions on the Mudgee Sports Council, including secretary and treasurer, and has been responsible for coordinating ground bookings and organising the Mudgee Sports Council Awards over the years.
Known as Mr Basketball, Geoff has been at the helm for decades and coordinates competitions, clinics and everything in between. Without Geoff many local players and coaches argue there simply wouldn’t be a basketball competition in the region.
Geoff is a regular contributor to the Mudgee Guardian and The Weekly, and is the voice of sport on Radio 2MG and Real FM, hosting a weekly sports show every Saturday morning and presenting the sports section of the news each morning.
Young citizen of the year: Jessica Foote
Jessica is currently serving her second term as Youth Mayor at Mid-Western Regional Council. A great role model for young people in the region, Jessica is proactive in speaking at Council and to her peers in support of youth events in the region. She is constantly encouraging others her age to get involved in the local community.
She is Vice Captain at Gulgong High School and is actively involved in her school community.
In her role as Youth Mayor, Jessica has been involved with and driven the Youth Council’s involvement in many youth focused activities including trivia nights, Youth Week, Mudgee Skate park upgrades, the Town Hall Cinema and various holiday activities.
Volunteer Emergency Services Award: Thomas McBean
Thomas has been a serving member of the Rylstone Kandos VRA for over 23 years and is truly an inspiration to the local community. Even through battling his own health issues, Thomas has never faltered in his commitment to the VRA and SES, where he has achieved his 10-year long service medal. Thomas is also a foster carer for children in need of a loving home environment and is an active fundraiser for many local charities.
Environment Award: Diane O’Mara
Diane has been a committed and active member of Mudgee District Environment Group since its inception in the 1980s and has taken up many roles within the group including serving on the management committee.
With a lifelong love of Australian nature, Diane has organised community tree planting days in Gulgong, raised community awareness on environmental issues across the region and is an active fundraiser.
Diane was also involved in the establishing the Friends of Adams Lead, a group of volunteers who work to restore the woodlands area on the outskirts of Gulgong.
Volunteer Services Award: Fred Hoy
Fred and his wife Sandra moved to Clandulla from Sydney in 2000 and became involved in the local community immediately. In 2009, Fred became a founding member of the Kandos Rylstone Men’s Shed and was involved in the restoration of the old railway shed that has become a comfortable place for men to congregate. Fred is constantly seeking new projects for the Men’s Shed to get involved with and mentors young, unemployed men in the region. Fred has been an active member of the Rural Fire Service for 20 years. With a wealth of experience, he is a valuable member of the community.
Arts Award: Sam Paine
As an artist, actor, writer, teacher, administrator and innovator, Sam embodies the arts and has made an enormous contribution to the local community.
As a talented playwright, Sam won the People’s Choice Award at the Dubbo Short + Sweet Festival and Best Production in Mudgee Short + Sweet Festival, going on to perform at the Sydney Short + Sweet Festival last year. He has been involved in numerous Mudgee Performing Arts Society productions since 2006 as an actor and director including Aladdin in 2014.
Sam runs his own drama classes and has encouraged young people to engage with the performing arts in a variety of ways.
A gifted artist, Sam has exhibited artwork throughout the region and at local art events.
In 2013, he designed his own calender which was quickly snapped up.
Sam is a founding member of the Mudgee Underground art movement and is instrumental in organising events like the Chalk Festival and comedy improvisation evenings.
Wall of reflections: Dr. Brian Heber
Dr Brian Heber was born in London in 1929. After he and his wife Janice moved to Australia in 1964, the couple settled in Mudgee. Dr Heber went on to care for the local community until he retired in 2004.
Dr Heber considered being a country practitioner a “privileged occupation” and was extremely committed to the health of the community, often working at all times of the day and the night to deliver babies and care for those at the hospital, especially when resources were stretched.
During his retirement, Dr Heber continued to be involved with the community, raising money to bring SBS to Mudgee and advocating for fluoride to be placed in the region’s water supply. He was responsible for raising money to replace the organ at St John’s Church, was a great actor who enjoyed taking to the stage and a keen woodworker who crafted a sailboat for himself and a rocking horse for his grandchildren.
Dr Heber died in October 2012 at 83 years of age.
Wall of reflections: Elizabeth (Betty) McLean
Elizabeth McLean made an important contribution to the local community as an actress, mentor, golfer and gardener.
Born in Dubbo in 1930, she grew up in Hargraves and Hill End before moving to Mudgee to begin high school.
As an active member of the Mudgee Dramatic and Musical Societies, Betty performed in and directed many productions over the years.
She was the driving force behind the amalgamation of the Musical and Dramatic Societies to form the Mudgee Performing Art Society in 1984.
A dedicated feminist, Betty was an original member of the local chapter of the Women’s Electoral Lobby and helped to form an underground group in the 1970s to assist pregnant teenagers to explore their choices safely.
In her retirement, Betty became a keen gardener and a life member of the Mudgee Golf Club.
She was always willing to share her advice and skills with those willing to learn.
Betty died in September 2011 at the age of 81.
Wall of reflections: Mary Lester
Mary Lester has left behind a wonderful legacy in the town she called home all of her life. Mary’s involvement with local community groups and charities was endless. She was a board member of the Mudgee District Hospital, and Mudgee-Gulgong Regional Health Service for over 20 years and a board member of Kanandah from 2202 to 2013. Mary was also a founding member of the Children’s Medical Research Institute - Mudgee branch and was a part of the group for over 40 years. She was involved with the Mudgee Olive Growers Association, a member of the Mudgee Race Club for more than 50 years and still managed to find time to be a part of the Mudgee Presbyterian Church Ladies Auxiliary, the Piambong Bushfire Brigade, Apex, Guide Dogs, Pony Club, Golf Club and Girl Guides Parent Support Group.
Mrs Lester gave so generously of her time and talents to the community because of she believed that it was an obligation of a good citizen to do so. She managed to donate her time to all of these charities while raising three daughters with her husband David.
Community event of the year: Bylong Mouse Races
.For 25 years, the Bylong Mouse Races have amused mouse aficionados on the last Saturday of March. Unfortunately, 2013 looks to be the final time the event will be held for the foreseeable future.
Run by a small band of volunteers from the Bylong Hall Committee Inc, the Mouse Races started from humble beginnings, raising a small amount of money for the local public school and grew to become fundraising event in our region. The 2013 event raised $60,000 to support a range of local community organisations.
Over its 25-year history, the event has raised in excess of half a million dollars for local community groups, charities, service organisations and community projects.
Pictured is Bylong Mouse Race secretary Jodi Nancarrow accepting the 2013 Bylong Cup on behalf of Moira Hennessy, trainer of Thumbelina.
Young farmer of the year: Jack Webb
Jack Webb has been involved in farming his whole life, working on the family property in Cooyal with fine wool merino sheep, cattle, cropping and hay production from a young age. After attending Mudgee High School, Jack pursued his passion for agriculture and attended Tocal Agricultural College for two years. Before returning to Mudgee in 2009, Jack gained further experience throughout NSW and Queensland. Since his return to he family farm, Jack has become highly regarded in the wool classing arena and has taken out many awards in this field.
Glen Johnston Memorial Award: Tyrolin Puxty
Tyrolin has been contributing to the local community since her primary school days and is particularly known for her involvement in the arts and music industries. She is heavily involved in the performing arts, where she is highly regarded for her singing and acting, performing on stage with the Mudgee Performing Arts Society. She is a self-published author, having been invited to take part in the Mudgee Reading Festival on several occasions.
Tyrolin has been nominated in the top 25 Australian Independent Music Awards for Original Song for two years running and in her spare time runs classes for children in public speaking, dancing and singing.
She has a desire to contribute to her local community as well as setting high standards for herself over the years.