Community & Business
29 January, 2025
Small shire, big achievements
Tenterfield’s Australia Day awards
What says Australia Day more than a cooked breakfast at the showgrounds serenaded by a traditional pipe band? Perfect.
Residents south of the border celebrated their high-achievers and beloved citizens in a glorious morning attended by an enthusiastic crowd. Mayor Bronwyn Petrie and her cohort of councillors welcomed awards recipients which included a 16-year-old athlete and an octogenarian GP.
Congratulations are in order for:
Sports Person of the Year Award
Lara Condrick - Lara is 16 years of age and has been a national competitor in Physical Culture since the age of eight. In 2024, Lara was made an associate with Tenterfield Physical Culture Club and officially joined the teaching team assisting the head teacher in demonstrating syllabus and in training, has a genuine affection and care for the students, and a commitment to the students, the club and the sport. In 2024 Lara was in top 15 for the Australian Finals in her age group held at the Sydney Opera House, representing her club with confidence and grace.
Emergency Services Volunteer Award or Group
Container of Dreams won as a humanitarian charity that extends a helping hand to those in the aftermath of disasters offering innovative micro-housing to individuals facing displacement; volunteers attend two days each week to build tiny houses for those in need; fostering resilience and community empowerment; conduct regular workshops aimed at equipping community members with skills and knowledge creating a foundation for self-sufficiency and growth; operate the Mobile Community Kitchen Disaster Response Unit. The Container of Dreams is based at Drake and members continue to construct tiny houses for fire and flood victims.
Community Event of the Year Award
Winner was Tenterfield Volunteer Support Group Charity Golf Day and Charity Auction's a winner
In 2024, $75,000 was raised on the day, reportedly the single biggest fund-raising golf day in NSW, a fantastic result for a small community. The Westpac Charity Golf Day and Charity Auction has been held annually over recent years, raising funds for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service provides life-saving aeromedical and rescue services in the NSW England and Northern Rivers regions and beyond.
The major sponsor of the event is Tenterfield's Townes group of companies, with special mention to Michael Townes and to Dean Hines, Manager of the Tenterfield Golf Club.
This charity golf day and auction raised 50% of the yearly total of funds collected which continues to grow each year. In 2024 the Westpac Helicopter Tenterfield Volunteer Support Group raised $150,000, with support from the Tenterfield community on a ratio of dollars raised per head of population within the community being the highest within the 30 Support Group areas, with total contributions since 2015 totalling $700,000.
Citizen of the Year
Nominees: Heather Goulding, Peter Jones, John Landers and Margaret Cooper, Catherine (Charlie) Mains and Dr Brian Pilgrim.
Winner was Dr Brian Pilgrim for longstanding and unwavering dedication to the health and well-being of the Tenterfield community; exceptional local contributions in the field of general practice; dedication to ongoing professional development and learning resulting in an exceptionally high level of care in the many areas covered by General Practice and Family Medicine; genuine care and concern for patients extending beyond the confines of his office practice; and efforts to improve his patients cardiovascular care - powerfully and positively impacting many patients and saving many lives. Dr Pilgrim is 80 years old, has been a GP for 48 years, currently working 66 hours a week. Dr Pilgrim was nominated by Dr Ryan Schrale, Consultant and Interventional Cardiologist, Toowoomba Cardiac Centre.
