Mekella Hanna, Kevin Donaghy: Kyogle, Woodenbong and Bonalbo Australia Day recipients
From keeping our towns tidy to selflessly organising housing and food for those in need, there are some truly remarkable citizens of the Northern Rivers. Read their stories here:
Lismore
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From keeping our towns tidy to selflessly organising housing and food in those moments of need, there are some truly remarkable citizens of the Northern Rivers.
On Australia Day, these inspiring residents were recognised with the Kyogle, Woodenbong and West of the Range Australia Day Awards.
Here are their stories of community dedication:
Kyogle
Senior Citizen of the Year Award – Anne Reardon
Awards presenter Gary Dawson said there wasn’t much Mrs Reardon hadn’t been involved in around Kyogle as he presented her with the Senior Citizen of the year award.
“And now in her 80s there is no sign of her slowing down,” he said.
Mrs Reardon has given her time to the St Brigids and Kyogle high school fetes and canteen for 40 years, and spent 28 years delivering meals on wheels.
She is a 25 year stalwart of the Kyogle Show Society crewing the dining room, and has run lunches with the Red Cross for 14 years.
A 10 year foundation member of the Red Cross blood bank at Kyogle hospital, Mrs Reardon has also served 14 years as Tidy Towns president – a position she still holds and still has energy for after 20 years of providing morning tea rosters for friends of Whiddon.
Senior Sportsperson of the Year Award – Noel Bodycote
Noel Bodycote has been active in the lawn bowls community for many decades.
He is often the first to volunteer to organise and facilitate community and charity bowls events, serves as a director of the Kyogle Bowling Club and donates his evenings to ensuring guests to the club are correctly signed in and have the best experience they can.
Mr Bodycote is the very embodiment of community sport and a paragon of what it means to be part of a community club.
Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award – Oscar Kennett
Oscar Kennett takes sport in his stride – no pun intended – having achieved notoriety for his prowess in athletics, swimming, cross-country, basketball, surf lifesaving, rugby union and rugby league.
As a member of Kyogle High School opens university shield rugby league team, opens touch and basketball team, Mr Kennett represented the Northern Rivers region at the greater Northern rugby league trials.
He volunteers on the Kyogle High School surf lifesaving squad at Evans Head, has represented the North Coast at the NSW U16’s Central High School rugby Union and is the Captain of the mighty Kyogle Turkeys U16’s Rugby league side.
Senior Student of the Year Award – Faryn Johnston
Faryn Johnston was elected School Captain for Kyogle High School in 2021.
During a disrupted school year, Faryn displayed strong leadership in representing the school both at internal events as well as many public events.
At the 2021 Australia Day Awards in Kyogle, he gave a moving and thought-provoking speech on the meaning of Australia Day.
He led the 2021 Anzac Day march for Kyogle and gave a moving speech at the dawn service.
Citizen of the Year Award – Kevin Donaghy
Over the last forty-three years, Mr Donaghy has dedicated his time volunteering for fifteen community organisations.
He raised close to $1.3m in grants to update infrastructure and introduced powered camping facilities for use by the general public as a member of the Kyogle Showground Management Trust for twenty-five years.
During his tenure the grounds went from tired old buildings to become the cultural hub of Kyogle, hosting the local gymnasium, shows, motor cross, rodeos, demolition derbies, and concerts.
]Mr Donaghy served time as the president of the Northern Rivers branch of the Holstein Friesian Cattle Society and instigated the North Coast Junior Calf Show which was held in Lismore and designed to encourage young dairy industry participants.
He has served as a member of the Kyogle Saint Vincent de Paul for the last twenty-two years (president for three consecutive terms) providing crisis housing, food, and financial support to disadvantaged as well as also distributing donations to the needy during times of drought, fire, and floods.
Mr Donaghy supported numerous fundraising initiatives such as the Kyogle Meals on Wheels and when the local school needed timber picnic tables, he made them at night and donated them to the school.
Woodenbong
Australia Day ambassador, mathematician, author and media personality Dr Clio Creswell, delivered the Australia Day address at Woodenbong
Explaining mathematics and how it is integral to our lives is how Woodenbong‘s 2022 Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell spends many of her working days.
Dr Creswell‘s research has focused on the evolution of mathematical thought and the role of mathematics in society.
The Mathematics and Sex author said she is often called on by the media to explain the mathematics of life.
“Mostly I get calls about the odds of winning the lotto!” she said.
Environmental Citizen of the year – Robert Boota
Robert Boota founded Githabul Rangers from his extensive experience working for the Forestry Commission of NSW to address problems in our native forests.
Caring for country using traditional knowledge, complemented by the use of modern chemicals and equipment has enabled Mr Boota’s organisation to carry out very valuable Landcare work while helping many members of the local community build skills and capacity.
Beneficiaries of the Githabul Rangers‘ services include: National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Commission NSW, Local Lands Service, Local Government and more.
Young Citizen of the year – Reegan Allwood
Reegan Allwood‘s life has focused around sport and work.
Throughout his time at Woodenbong Central School he has performed at a high level in basketball, rugby league and golf.
He was also the school’s sports captain, captain of the basketball team, and assisted with coaching.
Reegan has played basketball for Lismore Storm in the Shield League, and was selected in the Northern Rivers Regional Team.
This is complementary to his notable rugby achievements including playing for the Under 18’s Kyogle Turkeys where he was elevated to Reserve Grade, and then to A Grade playing on the wing before turning 18.
Reegan plays golf regularly and raised $2,000 for the cancer council in the 72 hole challenge.
Business/service of the year – Thrifty T
Fay Morgan is the owner/operator of Woodenbong’s Thrifty T.
The business, located in Unumgar St provides a wide range of services to the local community and public.
Thrifty T sells groceries, fuel, a wide range of takeaway food and more.
Ms Morgan is from Koreelah and was educated at Woodenbong.
She is known and appreciated for her contribution to the retail sector, her compassion and generosity towards those less fortunate by providing accommodation, moral and material support.
Citizen of the year – Mekella Hanna
Locally born and bred, Mekella Hanna returned to the area to raise her family.
She regularly volunteers at local events and with the Woodenbong Campdraft Women’s Association and RSL Women’s Auxiliary.
She has been both treasurer and president of Woodenbong and Amberley Community Preschool, alongside roles as a Anzac Day Dawn Service co-ordinator and committee member for the Australia Day Morning Tea.
As well as being an avid historian, Mrs Hanna has researched all veterans on Woodenbong memorial honour boards to include WWI and WWII service history information and stories on more than 140 people.
Sportsperson of the year – Shallin Fuller
Shallin Fuller grew up at Muli Muli and attended Woodenbong Central School.
He has shown amazing natural sporting ability from a young age in a wide range of sports.
In 2015, he represented Woodenbong Central School at Northern Zone athletics and was a member of the school’s open boys touch football (zone champions) team.
Mr Fuller has also been a member of the Northern Rivers zone open boys touch football team, North Coast Regional and open boys State touch football team who won gold at the central schools state finals.
In addition to rugby league, Mr Fuller is adept at futsal, zone level basketball, and was age champion for athletics, holding the record for both long and triple jump.
Mr Fuller won sportsman of the year and players player for Beaudesert and in 2019 was selected in the U20s Hastings Deerings Colts for the Burleigh Bears.
He made his debut for the Burleigh Bears in the 2021 Indigenous round and soon after signed a development contract with the Gold Coast Titans.
Bonalbo
Bonalbo residents was also recognised for their incredible achievements within the community.
Those awarded include:
Bonalbo Business of the Year: Powick's Pantry
Citizen of the Year: Paul Umstad
Sportsperson of the Year: Chanel Montiel
Community Service Awards: Vilya De Tozser, Colleen McQueen
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