The local Australia Day festivities begin this year with a free breakfast being served at Pinkett Hall from 8am, followed by free morning tea at Glen Innes & District Services Club in Glen Innes from 10:30am.
After morning tea, the morning at the Services Club continues with official ceremonies and award presentations from 11:30am.
There are a number of awards being presented on the day. Organisers have said that the calibre of the nominees was very high and that it was very difficult for the judging panel to decide on a winner in many of the award categories.
Citizen of the Year – Lindy Alt, Kay Arthur, Frances Cheshire, Howard Eastwood, Desmond Fitzgerald, Garry Foster, Lloyd Gawura Hornsby, William Rendell, Robert and Jenny Thomas, Noel Tratt and Dr James White
Young Citizen of the Year – Darcy Husband, Ella Lacey, Beau Macrae, Andrew Marchant, Skye McIndoe and Ella Trethewey
Community Event of the Year – Musical Production – Golden Age of Broadway (Glen Innes Arts Council)
Volunteer Community Organisation of the Year – Australian Standing Stones Parkrun, Glen Innes Westpac Rescue Helicopter Support Group, GLENRAC Inc & Glen Innes Rotary and Red Range Memorial Hall Committee
Emergency Services Volunteer of the Year – Lochlan Johnstone
Senior Sportsperson of the Year (Senior Sportsperson and Contribution to Sport) – Glen Innes High School Campdraft Team
Individual Junior Sportsperson of the Year – Imogen Biddle and Paige Floyd
Our Australia Day ambassador this year is Peter Herbert. Peter began his career writing and producing for Crawford Productions with television classics such as Cop Shop, The Sullivans, The Flying Doctors, and Acropolis Now. In 1991, he produced the inaugural Comedy Festival Charity Gala, which is now in its 28th year. Peter also produced The TV Week Logies in 1992 with Steve Vizard hosting and has numerous other credits in television and film.
Peter is currently Program Convenor and Head of Screen Business and Producing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and teaches courses and programs in Australia and in South East Asia.
