Two stalwarts of the Hunter's Rural Fire Service were named Citizens of the Year at Singleton and Cessnock, yesterday, recalling the efforts of the regions firefighters during last summer's bushfire crisis.
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Fred Turner, of Singleton, and Glenn Byrnes, of Cessnock - both long-standing members of the RFS combined with years of local volunteer work - were praised for their dedication to community, particularly during fire emergency of more than a year ago.
In Maitland, meanwhile, Dr Helen Tolhurst was bestowed the city's citizen honour for her efforts to establish health advocacy networks and support groups for locals suffering from Parkinson's Disease.
Dr Tolhurst, A GP of 18 years in Maitland, was diagnosed with the disease in 2019 and has since worked tirelessly to establish support networks for sufferers in the community.
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The Valley's mayors heaped praise on their respective award recipients, as they dually swore in a host of new citizens at COVID-safe ceremonies around the region.
Mr Byrnes was praised as an outstanding member of his community whose "guidance and leadership was vital during the 2019/2020 bushfire emergency," Cessnock City Mayor Bob Pynsent said.
Mr Turner was lauded for his decades of dedication to volunteer work in his community at Cessnock, on top of his committment to the RFS.
And Dr Turner was heralded by Maitland mayor Loretta Baker for helping "countless people in our community in her time as a GP, and through her inspiring energy, (to build) a support group that has assisted many local people who are living with Parkinson's."
Maitland City and Cessnock City councils also bestowed honours on young citizens Ally Meyn and Bethany Dwyer, recognising their dedication and service to their respective communities.
Crs Baker, Pynsent and Moore heard the oaths of dozens of new citizens during the celebrations yesterday, respectively swearing in 28 new Australians during a live-streamed event at Maitland, 14 at Cessnock, and six new citizens from India, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the UK at Singleton.
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"Australia Day has become a tradition to recognise those Australians among us who go a little bit further to make our community great," Cr Moore said.
"Australia Day is a great occasion to come together to celebrate what we all have in common as Australians, and to recognise the privileges and freedoms that come with Australian citizenship."
AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS IN THE HUNTER:
CESSNOCK:
- Citizen of the Year, Glenn Byrnes
- Senior Citizen on the Year, Les and Jane Goldie
- Young Citizen on the Year, Bethany Dwyer
- Maree Callaghan Award- Young Female Achiever, Isabelle Metcalfe
- Community Event of the Year, International Women's Day Charity Dinner at the Cessnock Leagues Club
- Environmental Award, Chris Jackson
- Community Award, Katherine Kennedy
- Community Award, Jennefer Wratten
- Community Award, Kadie Sondermeyer
- Community Award, Siara Nash
- Community Award, Jesse Knight
- Community Award, Emerson Worthington
MAITLAND:
- Citizen of the Year, Dr Helen Tolhurst
- Young Citizen of the Year, Ally Meyn
SINGLETON:
- Citizen of the Year, Glenn Byrnes
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