The recognition stems from her work to resettle four African refugee families from Sydney’s inner-city to the village of Mingoola, in turn reopening the local school and reinvigorating the small, ageing community.

Mr George congratulated the recipient and her community “for creating opportunities for families who thought they’d never have that opportunity”, and for creating a pilot scheme which may be adopted not only nationally but internationally.

“There are communities out there just waiting to see the results from Mingoola,” he said.

“I should get 60 Minutes from America to come over and do the filming,” although the current political climate in the US may put a dampener on that.

Tenterfield mayor Peter Petty said Mingoola was an important part of the shire, and that the job the community had done is outstanding.

In accepting the award Mrs Harpham said if her husband was a woman his name could also be on the certificate, and as always asserted that the accomplishment was a community effort.

The winner of the Regional Woman of the Year award will be announced in Sydney at a breakfast ceremony on March 8, International Women's Day.