FROM tireless volunteers to self-sacrificing individuals, this year’s Australia Day Awards Ceremony proved that as a town Tenterfield has an enviable amount of stand-out citizens.
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This year saw approximately 200 people turn up to Memorial Hall eager to display their patriotism and dedication to the community.
The top honour went to Ken Poulsen who was awarded the Citizen of the Year.
Born in Tenterfield, Ken has lived here for the entirety of his life and raised two children.
Despite the loss of his beloved wife, Ken has remained in the family home built when he and Olive first wed.
Ken worked for Sexton and Green as a floor manager and then with the RTA until his retirement.
He was an active member of Tenterfield Apex until he reached the age of 40 in 1977.
He then joined the Tenterfield Lions Club and has been, and remains, an active member.
Ken has served as President on three occasions, as Secretary, Publicity Officer and Membership Chairman for the group throughout his years.
In addition, he has received the Lions International Melvin Jones Award for service to the Tenterfield community.
Senior Citizens Week has been boosted by his involvement and organising of the week for the last seven years.
While Ken remains active in the Lions Club, he is also an active member of the Vintage Car Club and Tenterfield Railway Museum.
In relation to Lions Club activities, Ken is involved and co-ordinates all catering activities for functions held for the Tenterfield community, including Lions Cracker Night and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Christmas Carnival.
As a direct result of Ken’s activities, the Tenterfield Lions Club has donated in excess of $15,000 to both local organisations and Lions Club projects over the past 12 months.
At 78-years-young Ken continues to volunteer with meals on wheels as well as collecting and packaging used glasses to be distributed around the world.
“All I can say is thank you very much – I really appreciate it,” was all an emotional and teary Ken could muster while accepting the award.
It what may be a first, two teenagers shared this year’s award for Young Citizen of the Year.
Tenterfield High School Captains for 2013-14 Thomas Butler and Stacey Hayne shared the honours.
Both students won the NSW Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement presented by the Minister for Education Adrian Piccolli.
The pair was two of just 20 out of a possible 70,000 students to receive the award.
High school principal Peter Willis nominated the pair who he said were “outstanding representatives” for the school and community.
“The list of their individual achievements across many fields is immense,” mayor Peter Petty said while speaking on the pair.
Both have achieved top accolades in education and sport while showing strong leadership skills.
Their integrity, respect, responsibility, excellence, co-operation, participation, care and fairness is what set them apart Cr Petty said.
With no nomination for this year’s Sportsperson of the Year focus turned to the Young Sportsperson of the Year, an honour won by 17-year-old George Jones.
As well as assisting in various appeals and partaking in numerous community events George tallied up an enviable list of sporting accolades in 2014.
Emergency Services Volunteer of the year went to Daniel Roex.
Mr Roex has resided in Tenterfield for over 10 years, establishing himself within the community.
His appreciation and love for the Tenterfield community is reflected in his many years of volunteer work.
Before moving to Tenterfield, Daniel volunteered for 25 years as a St John Ambulance First Aider, working at various events and incidents in the Newcastle area.
Upon his arrival in town he joined the local Rural Fire Service and maintained his support and commitment for over 10 years, reaching the rank of Fire Captain for his local branch.
During this 10 years Daniel attended and actively assisted and performed lifesaving and property saving tasks associated with bush fires, floods and motor vehicle collisions.
In recent year’s Mr Roex has dedicated much of his time as a Volunteer in Policing (VIP).
Daniel has accredited over 1000 hours of unpaid volunteer work for the Tenterfield Policing Sector which is why Senior Constable Ash Ray put his name up for consideration for the Australia Day award.
“For the past 3 years Daniel has maintained his solid commitment to his volunteer position as a VIP during the stresses of having no available water on his drought affected property,” Cr Petty said.
“He continued to show up each week, putting the needs of others in the community in front of his own issues, burdens and worries, just to enable them to be at ease and cared for.”
Community Event of the Year was also jointly recognised this time around with the Drake Community Day Market and Mingoola Community Fun Day sharing honours.
Both events were assisted by drought relief funding from the Federal Government through Carers NSW.
Hundreds turned out to both events which went along way to supporting their respective communities and farmers doing it tough.
Countless helpers assisted in getting the respective events off the ground and were duly recognised.