Armidale Regional Council has recognised a collection of exceptional Armidale individuals and organisations this Australia Day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Citizen of the Year
Lyn Poulter was awarded Citizen of the Year for her decades of service to the community, from running craft groups for young girls with eating disorders and discos for children to holding a fund-raising motor show for many years.
Ms Poulter has been an active member of the Armidale Classic and Specialist Car Club for more than three decades, organising numerous events and worked with her husband Mike to run a local motor show for 11 years. The show raised funds for Armidale Hospital facilities, emergency services and Camp Quality, which then become her major focus.
She has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Camp Quality and filled many roles at the organisation’s family camps, which provide fun and respite for young people with cancer and their families. Her lengthy list of service to the community also includes running hydrotherapy sessions at the Armidale Hospital for 26 years.
Ms Poulter also teaches embroidery to young girls with eating disorders to help them through their stints in hospital and runs craft activities for aged care facility residents.
She recently took on Giggle Discos at Armidale City Bowling Club, for children aged 5 to 13.
Young Citizen of the Year
The Armidale School graduate Sam Thatcher was awarded Young Citizen of the Year with outstanding arts, sport and academic achievements. He is both a rugby union representative player at State level and an accomplished choir singer, performing in local and national choirs.
He achieved a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award last year, after earning a silver award in 2015.
In 2017, he also received the Australian Defence Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award.
Mr Thatcher has volunteered in various roles at Australia Day celebrations for the past 12 years and has been Commander of Ceremonial Guard at Anzac Day services.
He has completed a number of endurance events to raise funds for medical services and research.
Community Services Award
Helen King’s committed service to Red Cross has spanned much of her life, since joining Junior Red Cross in 1943.
She joined the Armidale/Wollomombi branch in 1992 and held every executive position, earning a number of honours for her service.
Ms King is always part of the branch activities, distributing Trauma Teddies, organising market days, selling raffle tickets and helping to coordinate the Blood Bank.
Sports Award – Junior
Track sprinter Amelia ‘Milly’ Mazzei had an amazing 2017 in Para competition.
Contesting 100m, 200m and 400m events for Under 16 competitors, she recorded exceptional results at State and national events.
Milly won silver and bronze at the NSW Youth and Juniors Championships, then backed it up with fine performances at the Australian Athletics Championships, placing sixth in the 200m and 10th in the 100m.
At the Special Olympics Junior National Games, she won gold in the 400m, and silver medals in the 200m and 100m.
Contribution to Sport and Recreation
Julie Pearson has long been the backbone of the Armidale Physie Club, a dance group dedicated to ensuring local girls and women are fit, health and empowered for life.
She got involved as a competitor when she was four years of age, representing the club at many national competitions.
Ms Pearson has gone on to be one of its teachers for the past 25 years, as the club has grown in numbers and standard.
Art & Culture
Neil Horton has been President of the Armidale Drama and Musical Society for more than 10 years, serving as Director, Producer, set building, stage hand, actor or singer at almost every production during that time – often assuming multiple roles.
He one of the driving forces behind the society’s productions and his depth of knowledge is a major asset.
Mr Horton is also Vice-President of the Armidale Playhouse, working to refurbish the venue to become a usable theatre space for the community.
Community Event of the Year
Light Horse Brigade Centenary Commemoration has been recognised as the Community Event of the Year.
A special service at St Peter’s Cathedral commemorated the centenary of a World War I battle in Turkey that helped turn the course of the war in the Middle East.
The regimental church service on 4 November 2017 marked 100 years since the Gaza Defeat, when the 4th Light Horse Brigade charged the Turkish trenches at Beersheba.
The militia was reformed after WWI as the 12th Light Horse (New England Light Horse) with its headquarters in Armidale. The regiment was disbanded during World War II and reformed in 1948.
A special guidon – a small pennant carried by mounted cavalries – was given into the custody of St Peter’s Cathedral in 1990.
The centenary service was organised by the 12th/16th Hunter Rivers Lancers, led by museum curator Doug Lennox.
Mayor’s Award
Kidney transplant recipient Nicki Scholes-Robertson completed a 525km ‘virtual walk’ from Armidale to Sydney.
Unable to obtain the necessary road safety permits to complete a planned fund-raising walk between Armidale and Sydney, Ms Scholes-Robertson completed most of her 525km walk in and around Armidale.
Her three-week Rambling for Renal trek raised more than $21,000 for the Renal Unit at Armidale Hospital and the Transplant Institute at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Ms Scholes-Robertson has also run regular meetings and provided support for people diagnosed with kidney disease, as well as addressing school, community and sporting groups.