Armidale Regional Council has won this year's Government Award category of the Australian Human Rights Awards, announced at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney on Friday, December 13.
Armidale Mayor said, basically, council partnered with Settlement Services International to relocate the Ezidis refugees from Syria and northern Iraq.
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"There has been over 450 Ezidis who have come to Armidale, and really the community has to get full praise for this, not just the Armidale Regional Council," he said.
"We've got a very multicultural community and it has been advocating for refugees for a very long time."
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Cr Murray said Armidale was home to 57 different nationalities.
"So, very welcoming for refugees. This is really a community award," he said.
"I was surprised by this win, but it does indicate the good work the council staff has been doing with the community.
"And we cannot take any of this award away from the Ezidis themselves. They are involving themselves in this community as much as they can."
Cr Murray said there were Ezidis stalls at Culture Fest and some were members of the RFS.
"They want to be part of the community, and that in itself is one of the major reasons they have really been adopted by the Armidale community," he said.
"They are seen as being involved, being in the community. So, it's kudos to both sections of our community."
Cr Murray said he took a lot of pride from the award.
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