Canowindra’s Australia Day Award recipients gather to cut the cake following the presentation ceremony.
The Australia Day Awards were presented on Friday 26th January at the Canowindra Community Hall, located next to the Services Club. The worthy recipients have all shown a true commitment to the Canowindra community.
The Canowindra Young Citizen of the Year was awarded to Lllian Harrison. Lillian has excelled at cricket for the past 3 years and has taken advantage of opportunities and has been selected for every representative team available to her. Lillian’s skills and commitment have resulted in her being consistently picked in teams several years above her age.
Her achievements include; Western Girls Development Program for the past four years, selected in Western Academy Under 15s and under 19s, played for Western in NSW Country Championships U19s for past two years, played for Western in State challenge this year, currently playing 2nd Grade Women’s Cricket in ACT and has been selected in CHS Open Girls Cricket for Western for last 3 years.
Lillian has also been a solid contributor to many school sports at Canowindra High School and is seen as a leader by her coaches and peers, always displaying a high level of sporting integrity and spirit.
The Canowindra Citizen of the Year was awarded to Peggy Beath. Peggy has contributed many years of service to the Canowindra community and has worked with many organisations inclusive of over 25 years of service to the Red Cross as Secretary and President, more than 35 years of service to the Canowindra Hospital Auxiliary as President, Secretary and Treasurer and is still a member of that organisation today.
Peggy has been a part of Cabonne Country Day and Marti’s Balloon Fiesta, the Catholic Woman’s League and has continued a free service taking people to medical appointments in Orange and Cowra, and has cared for the people of Canowindra over the years without wanting any acknowledgement.
The Canowindra Community Group of the Year was awarded to The Canowindra Connections Centre.This group does an amazing job in providing food and other items to low-income earners that are struggling with the rising cost of living. Alongside this, they provide many free courses to help people gain valuable certificates to aid in job search and employment.
The Cabonne Environmental Champions of the Year was awarded to Timothy and Ash Wright.
Following the devastating November 2022 flood event which heavily impacted Eugowra, Ash and Tim Wright led the community’s environmental response to clean up the Mandagery Creek and travelling stock routes of belongings and debris washed from Eugowra homes and properties. In addition to cleaning up these areas, a process of retrieving and placing retrieved items at the Showground was initiated to allow residents to collect their respective items.
The environmental stewardship shown by Ash and Tim also saw them manage and guide volunteers supporting the clean-up efforts. Along with creating mapped areas that assisted and guided government agencies and contractors who then supported further clean up processes of the Mandagery Creek and surrounding areas.