2023 Snowy Valleys Australia Day Awards Announced
Published on 26 January 2023
The Snowy Valleys’ most inspiring individuals have been recognised for their exceptional contributions and outstanding service to the local community.
The 2023 Snowy Valleys Australia Day Award recipients were announced at a special dinner ceremony held on Australia Day eve, with invited nominees and nominators joining Councillors and dignitaries at the Batlow Literary Institute.
The Awards were presented across four categories:
- Snowy Valleys Citizen of the Year – Thomas Moss, Khancoban
- Snowy Valleys Service to the Community – Jen Vinge, Jingellic
- Snowy Valleys Sportsperson of the Year – Piper Duck, Tumut
- Snowy Valleys Sports Team of the Year – Franklin Public School's Girls Basketball Team, Tumut
Mayor Ian Chaffey said he was pleased to be able to recognise and celebrate local people volunteering and striving tirelessly for the betterment of their communities.
“On behalf of Council and the wider Snowy Valleys community, I extend my congratulations to Thomas, Jen, Piper and the Franklin Girls Basketball Team members Alliena, Sophie, Ellie, Jaylee, Vicky, Alice, Maci, and Ella, for their outstanding contributions, commitment and valued work,” Cr Chaffey said.
“I also acknowledge and compliment all the nominees on their local achievements and dedication and thank them for their contribution.
“It is wonderful to see so many local people being recognised for the outstanding work they do for our community.”
The award dinner celebrations were made possible by funding from the National Australia Day Council’s Australia Day 2023 grants program.
Awardees and Citations
Citizen of the Year - Recognises individuals aged 30 and over who have made an outstanding contribution to the Snowy Valleys community over many years.
- Snowy Valleys 2023 Citizen of the Year – Thomas Moss Tom has volunteered more than 30 hours per week to the following organisations which support the local community: Murray Border Association of Vietnam Veterans, Legacy, Khancoban Golf Course, Justice of the Peace, Community Drive and Tom has assisted elder community members with house/property maintenance. Tom’s support of the regional and defence communities has been tireless and relentless for greater than 40 years. As an engineer, Tom proudly served the Australian Defence Force for a six-year period during the Vietnam War and the Papua New Guinea – Citizen Military. On leaving the ADF, Tom was employed by the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme and was subsequently promoted to the Township Maintenance Manager position at Cabramurra. During this period, Tom became actively involved with Legacy and became the Regional Coordinator to support 17 War Widows and their families. He fulfilled several legacy responsibilities. On retirement from Snowy Hydro Limited in 2002, Tom returned to Khancoban, where he continued his Legatee support to the region. Tom further volunteered time to the Khancoban Golf Course, Tumbarumba Shire Council and other community groups.
Citizen Achievement Awards were awarded to:
- Mary Hoodless
- Danica Peel
- Terry Macgregor
- Rodney McLachlan
- Gemma-Loiuse Bremner
- Janet Kendall
- Lorraine Oliver
Service to the Community - Recognises individuals or organisations who have made a noteworthy contribution to the Snowy Valleys community.
- Snowy Valleys 2023 Service to the Community – Jen Vinge Jen has been involved in the Jingellic Show, Jingellic Trail Ride, Jingellic Rural Bushfire Brigade and the Jingellic Hub. Her roles have included secretary Jingellic Show Society, secretary Jingellic Hub, secretary/treasurer Jingellic Rural Fire Brigade, president Jingellic Hub, local coordinator of the Sam McPaul Memorial, coordinator of camping, bookings, the licensee and maintenance of the Jingellic Showgrounds and multiple other local responsibilities. Jen has been instrumental in the redevelopment of the Jingellic Showgrounds and was the first female fire fighter for the Jingellic Rural Fire Brigade. During the bushfire, she assisted with establishing and coordinating the Jingellic Emergency Welfare Centre for 3 weeks, 24 hours a day in addition to defending he own property which was burnt out and during recovery, she single-handedly established the Blazeaid Camp and was an active member of the Jingellic Recovery Committee.
Service to the Community Achievement Awards were awarded to:
- Erin Louise Nurthen
- Robyn Hotston
- Rodney McLachlan
- Deirdre Greenhalgh and the Ournie Hall Committee
- Lorraine Oliver
- Robert Ironside
Sports Person of the Year - Recognises individuals who have achieved sporting success representing their club or association at regional, state level or above.
- Rodney McLachlan
- Toby Roots
- Nate Annetts
Sports Team of the Year - Recognises sporting groups who have achieved sporting success at a representative level for their club or association at regional, state level or above.
- Snowy Valleys 2023 Sports Team of the Year - Franklin Public School's Girls Basketball Team - Alliena Roddy, Sophie Jones, Ellie Cobden, Jaylee Byrne, Vicky Doon, Alice Shepherd, Maci Appleby, Ella Appleby. The Franklin Public School’s Girls Basketball team were the NSW PSSA Knockout Champions for 2022. This is an incredible feat considering 218 schools across NSW competed this year. This is an achievement the school has made previously with the boy’s team but never the girl’s. These girls demonstrate the very definition of what it means to play as a team. They never took a backward step even when facing defeat and would pull out the win. They are not only fantastic athletes, but brilliant ambassadors for their school and our wider community.
Sports Team Achievement Awards were awarded to:
-ENDS-