A GROUP of tireless volunteers and some talented young sporting stars were honoured during Australia Day celebrations in Murrurundi on Sunday.
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Murrurundi's Doing it for our Farmers walked away the big winners on the day, with the group's coordinator Justine Cooper named the town's Citizen of the Year, as well as the overall Upper Hunter Shire Citizen of the Year.
Justine Cooper and her band of dedicated volunteers have been side-by-side with rural families as they battle through the terrible drought, coordinating deliveries of water, groceries and other household products and offering them free of charge at the Pop Up Pantry located in Murrurundi.
"I'm blown away," Justine said.
"It means so much.
"The people that come in week by week - I couldn't do it without them."
Another volunteer that has been at the forefront of this work is Jenny Loasby and for that reason she was named the Achiever of the Year.
Jenny, who is also a volunteer at Murrurundi Museum, is overseas on holiday and was unable to accept the award in person.
To top it off Doing it for our Farmers was also named Community Group of the Year.
However Murrurundi and district's younger citizen's also had a chance to shine on the day, with the Blandford Relay Team running away as Young Achievers of the Year.
The team, who has had an extremely successful 12 months on the track and in the swimming pool, consists of Jack Rosa, Henry Hubbard, Isabella Teague, Archie Crowe and Laurence Roche.
The Blandford students overcame a number of hurdles to be named New South Wales' best small schools 4 x 100 metre relay team last year.
Scott McPherson, Liverpool Range RFS Level 2 District Officer, was also recognised during the ceremony for the ongoing efforts of local brigades during this season's unprecedented bushfires and special recognition was given to Murrurundi for their big wins in the 2019 Tidy Towns awards.
Murrurundi District Awards:
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Justine Cooper
ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR: Jenny Loasby
YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR: Blandford Public School Relay Team
COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR: Doing It for our Farmers