Australia Day 2023

 

 

Official Program: 

8am Breakfast  by Dungog Rotary Club

9am Official Ceremony Featuring:

Performances by Megan Edwards

Flag Raising Ceremony by 1st Clarence Town Scout Group

Address by Ambassador Mr Corey Payne

Presentation of Australia Day Awards

Citizenship Ceremony 

 

After the official ceremony morning tea will be provided.

 

2023 Nominees:

Owen Nicholson 

A dedicated community volunteer, Owen has been instrumental in executing a number of community events for the town over a number of years. As committee secretary for Dungog Show, Owen bends over backwards to do what needs to be done to make the show a success, and has done for many years. He also helps organise Dungog Rodeo. 

Given the strange climate with COVID of late, he is a true community crusader, dedicated to creating a wonderful community atmosphere in the way of community events for the people. 

 

James Ashton 

James was instrumental in forming the Martins Creek Quarry Action Group. A former Paterson Village local, James knew too well the full effect of the potential quarry development.  He galvanised the community in its opposition to the quarry expansion, embracing the public’s concerns. He has given freely his time, shown considerable leadership and united the community with ease. He is a voice for the people and doesn’t shy away from a David and goliath type battle, working tirelessly coordinating residents and being a spokesperson for many.  

Social justice and community crusader, James is a voice for the people and has fought hard for the rights of residents in the Shire. 

 

Gwen Rumbel 

Gwen is a Year 11 student at Dungog High School and is regarded as a student leader, diligent to her studies and achieving much in her extracurricular activities. 

Earlier this year she received a Premier's ANZAC Memorial Scholarship for 2022, she was one of 20 in NSW to receive the Scholarship. She is also currently a member of the National Rural Youth Ambassador Program. 

 

Dungog Commoners Landcare Group 

The Dungog Common Landcare Group have worked tirelessly to enhance the environment value of the Dungog Common. Their regeneration of the area has restored the flora and fauna by eradicating non-natives, they have undertaken voluntary weed control and their erosion control measures have made the area thrive for all to use. The group have identified rare and endangered species a well as created a data base collection of every grass and tree within the common, which are now preserved at the Hunter Region Botanical Gardens. 

 

William Dowling 

Bill from Bandon Grove has had a lifelong interest in the flora and fauna of the shire. 

He has been involved in several ecological projects from state forests and Barrington Tops conservation to his work at the Dungog Common. 

He is widely published, completing academic papers on species of flora and fauna and since 2002 he has been consulting to Roads and maritime Service of NSW on threatened ecosystems in and around important road development projects – the Bulahdelah Bypass was just one. He is also a contributor to the ongoing census of flying fox camps, monitoring locations and behaviours across the Lower Hunter. Bill also conducts educational walks and talks for school children and TAFE students, adult educators, and service clubs throughout the Common, all voluntary. 

 

Lachlan Richardson 

A rodeo cowboy from Gresford, Lachlan has firmly cemented himself as one of the country’s best rodeo riders, placing second in the PBR Australian titles. He has ended the 2022 season in the top three in Australia. 

The 30-year-old is in excellent form and spent the year finishing either on the podium or within the top five at every event he competed on the rodeo tour. He is rumoured to be the one to beat on next year’s championship tour and is a great representative of the Shire. 

 

Stephanie Vasic 

A budding all-round sports star, Stephanie has been nominated for Junior Sports award for her excellence in primary school sport of many codes. She has a high-level of achievement and dedication to training for her ag (12). She was named senior girls athletics champion at Glen William Public School and went on to compete in six events at Port Stephens Athletics Championships. She is also a soccer star and has competed in all school finals for touch football in Sydney, where she scored the most tries and nominated player of the match. 

 

Georgia McDonald 

Georgia, 12, is a dedicated swimming star who also plays netball, touch football and competes in athletics. She has represented Glen William Public School at zone athletics, swimming, and touch football. She was runner up champion at the zone championships and been chosen for representative netball and touch football teams, to name a few of her achievements. 

 

Charlie Barnes 

Charlie is a talented Rugby League player who demonstrates maturity and kindness well above his years. He is the captain of the Dungog High School U15s Rugby League team where he consistently shares his knowledge and skills and leads by example. Throughout 2022 Charlie was successful in trialling for multiple school representative teams, including Northern NSW. He also represented his school, nation, and community with pride in the 2022 Nations of Origin Tournament. 

 

Susan Dillon 

Susan has been a dedicated member of the Paterson River Pony Club for more than 20 years, initially as a parent, but then remained volunteering in the canteen long after her children moved on. 

She manages Gresford Showground canteen -known as “Sue’s Kitchen - for groups that make use of the showground including the Gresford Show, Rodeo and Campdraft events, the Mud Run, dressage competitions and motorbike championships each year. 

It’s always long days, and she makes sure to stay long into the evening to make sure everyone is fed. The culture at Paterson Pony Club is largely attributed to Sue’s strong example and good humour. Such is her passion for the ground that Sue became a member of the Parks Trust for the Showground. 

 

Robyn Keller 

Robyn serves the community and more specifically the youth of the Dungog Area through her tireless commitment to Scouts. She dedicates hours each week to not only planning and preparing the sessions for the children but also fundraising for the scouts. The fundraising she conducts allows for reduced fee payments for parents, which in turn increases participation and allows for children from homes with less disposal income to still participate. Robyn instils a sense of community in the children, encourages them to explore their strengths and to support each other to grow and develop. She ensures they are nurtured and under her guidance.  Through her dedication and commitment, Robyn is indubitably sculpting the leaders of tomorrow for the Dungog Shire. 

 

Pauline Cambourne 

Pauline has volunteered every week for 10 years as treasurer and administrator of the Dungog Growers Stall, an initiative that increase the availability of locally grown primary produce in our community. She is the glue that keep and 25 volunteers together and her efforts have allowed the group to expand and thrive. 

A founding member, Pauline has helped grow the community project from one small stall into something that can be described as a vibrant growers market now filling the CWA courtyard every Saturday. Every Saturday for 10 years – that’s 500 Saturdays! - Pauline has turned up rain hail or shine to coordinate 45 growers who bring their local vegetables, fruit, honey, herbs and eggs for sale at the stall. Pauline ensures all the money raised by the committee from these market days gives back to the community.  

 

 

When

Location

The James Theatre, 6 Brown Street, Dungog, 2420, View Map