Local Legends recognised at inaugural awards ceremony

This morning the inaugural Local Legends Awards took place at the Tamworth Memorial Town Hall. The awards recognise the invaluable contributions of community members, groups and organisations to the regional community. The winners of each award are:

Youth Volunteer of the Year Award: Tahlia Barwick – for her work on the Tamworth Regional Youth Council, Project Paper Hearts and youth mental health in rural areas.

Adult Volunteer of the Year Award: Dave Farrenden – Dave operates a regional weather social media page which keeps the community aware of key local weather events, dam levels, flood, fire, snow events as well as COVID-19 news.

Senior Volunteer of the Year Award: Denise Sullivan – for her tireless work volunteering at numerous groups and organisations including St Vincent de Paul, Meals on Wheels, St Edwards Catholic Parish South Tamworth. She is also a member of Parkinson’s Support Group and Tamworth Lioness Club (now Lions).

Seniors Award: James Peter Jordan – for his extensive work with ex-services groups and people within the Tamworth region.

Access Award (Individual): Catherine Rae – for her instrumental work developing and coordinating the Tamworth Wheelchair Sports Committee.

Visual Arts Award: Leonie Kelly – for her work producing international award winning short historical movie, “Mungo” and promoting local Gamilaraay indigenous language.

Performing Arts Award: Kristi Cini – for her community focus as owner, operator and dance teacher at The Studio – Classical and Performing Arts Tamworth.

Community Inclusion Award: Guru Nanak Mission Tamworth – for their work in the community, championing blood donation drives, appeals for local fire and emergency services, and providing 150-200 free meals or food boxes each fortnight to people facing challenges and isolation during the pandemic.

Sustainability Award: Rosemary Milson – for her endless work reducing, reusing and recycling. Rosemary is active in different sustainability groups, promotes water-wise native gardens, tree planting, recycling, volunteering and education.

Local Legend of the Year Award: Kristi Cini – for her work actively promoting sportsmanship, kindness and professionalism to her 230 students and their families. During the pandemic Kristi continued to deliver classes via Zoom and prioritise mental health and inclusion. Kristi puts her students’ mental and physical well-being first and her community involvement choreographing the Tamworth Musical Society’s successful production of Mamma Mia!

Gift of Time recognition: Gift of Time recognises the total amount of hours volunteered within a group or organisation and the total volunteer hours.