January 29, 2013
Toowoomba councillor John Gouldson travelled to Yarraman on Saturday to present the town’s Australia Day awards at a community brekkie held at Memorial Hall.
As well as three Shire awards, three local town awards were also presented.
The winners of the Shire awards were:
- Toowoomba Regional Council Citizen of the Year (Yarraman District) Ron Lucas, who is active in the local Lions Club and Yarraman Progress Association
- Sports Award (Yarraman District) winner, swimming coach Linda Smith, and
- Community Group / Event of the Year winner, Yarraman Progress Association for the 2012 Christmas Carnival.
Town winners were
- Young Citizen of the Year Delinah Rackley, who is secretary of the Yarraman Agricultural Society and described as a “model Yarraman young citizen”.
- Senior Citizen of the Year Helen Russ. Helen, her husband Steve and two children moved to Yarraman about 30 years ago. She has worked part-time at the Yarraman Library, was the school tuckshop convenor, secretary of the Yarraman Progress Association, Yarraman Ladies Bowls secretary and Burnett Ladies Bowls Districts secretary.
- Aileen Noble Volunteer Award winner Betty Miller. Betty has been a Yarraman resident for just three years but has become a willing volunteer in many organisations, including Heritage House, the Visitor Information Centre, Markets, Colours of Yarraman Art Show, Yarraman Christmas Carnival and Yarraman Progress Association.
The volunteer award remembers Aileen Noble who was a valued resident of Yarraman for more than 10 years.
She served, often as secretary and/or treasurer, of Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails, Yarraman Blue Light, Yarraman Progress Association, Yarraman Lawn Bowls, Yarraman Red Cross and Yarraman Memorial Hall. She also volunteered her time with the Christian City Church and found time for Yarraman Gold, a card-playing group. Sadly, Aileen died of cancer on April 20, 2007.
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Toowoomba Regional Council Citizen of the Year (Yarraman District) – Ron Lucas
His nomination read:
“Ron is an outstanding community man. Quiet, unassuming and happy to help out any member or community group. Ron gives tirelessly to the Yarraman community. All of Ron’s community work is voluntary. He is an active member of the Yarraman Over Fifties Group, the Yarraman Driver Reviver Group, the Yarraman Blue Light Association, the Yarraman Bowls Club, the Yarraman Hall Committee and the Yarraman Swim Club.
“When I say active I do not mean showing up to committee meetings and talking the talk. Ron is not that type of person. He is doer, a go-to man if you need something done. He is always the one cooking the barbecue, cutting up the onions, clearing the bins, cleaning the toilets.
“He is one of the most reliable and hard-working community men I have ever come across. No job is too small or too hard for Ron.
“He continually puts the needs of the community and others before his own.
“He has been a wonderful support in establishing safe environments for young people to gather and enjoy each other’s company through Blue Light Discos. He also provides a fabulous service to the wider community through his work with the Driver Reviver Van.
“Ron has been instrumental in continuing this life saving service in Yarraman by providing travellers with the opportunity to stop, revive and survive.
“Ron Lucas makes me proud to be an Australian and he epitomises the true Aussie spirit. He makes me proud to be an Australian because he embodies the character of a true Australian: hard-working, a non complainer, a quiet achiever, happy to help others and his community.
“Ron comes from a generation that should be celebrated; a generation that the younger people of our community can learn so much from.
“Ron is a backbone member of the Yarraman Community and a truly deserving winner of the Yarraman District Citizen of the Year Award.”
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Toowoomba Regional Council Sports Award (Yarraman District) – Linda Smith
Her nomination read:
“Linda has made a significant contribution to sports administration as an official and a coach in the Yarraman District over a number of years. Linda has excelled in her role as the learn-to-swim instructor at Yarraman Pool. She has personally taught hundreds of children in the District to swim and educates the children on water safety. Her patience and perseverance are qualities that make her stand out from the pack.
“However it is not only her role as Swim Coach that makes her worthy of this award. As a sports administrator, Linda has truly excelled and shown an amazing depth of community spirit.
“In July 2010, Linda took over as the President of the Yarraman Swim Club. At the time of taking on this role the Yarraman Swim Club had five registered swimmers and it became apparent the Club had significant financial and administrative issues.
“Linda personally audited the administration of the Club and established new business processes. She then set about rebuilding the Club by encouraging new membership and building the club back up from the grass roots. Her success in the area is evidenced by the increase in the number of swim club members. Yarraman Swim Club increased from five registered swimmers in 2010 to 40 in 2011 and 62 in 2012.
“In 2012 Linda was also instrumental in the establishment of the Yarraman Blue Light Swimming Scholarships. These scholarships, sponsored by the Yarraman Blue Light Association, allow children from the Yarraman District to participate in stroke development swimming lessons and membership of the Yarraman Swim Club. Linda initiated these Scholarships.
“In 2012, six Scholarships were awarded. These scholarships are awarded to children from low socio-economic backgrounds whom would not normally be able to participate in such activities.
“All of Linda’s role as a Sports Administrator with Yarraman Swim Club is voluntary. However her voluntary roles do not end there. Linda epitomises true community service. She does not give lip service to the idea, she is truly a doer.
“For a number of years Linda has been the President of the Yarraman Blue Light Association, actively promoting a safe and fun environment for school age children. She has also been the Secretary of the Yarraman Hall Committee for a number of years and also the Treasurer of the Yarraman State School P and C.
“Linda is an outstanding member of the Yarraman Community and a truly deserving winner of the Yarraman District Sports Award.”
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Toowoomba Regional Council Community Group/Event Award (Yarraman) – Yarraman Progress Association Inc / Yarraman Christmas Carnival
The nomination read:
“The Christmas Carnival in 2012 was a credit to the Yarraman Progress Association. It has always been a key event for the local community in bringing the people of Yarraman district together for a day of fun.
“The Carnival had something for everyone, with rides, food, drinks, raffles, music and lots of laughter. Other organisations joined in to make the day special.
“We had the re-emergence of the ham wheel, which brought back fond memories for the older people, and had new appeal for the younger generation.
“Young talents Gabby and Wade Wooler, with their whip-cracking skills, wowed the crowds.
“As always, Santa made a special appearance with Blazer the Bear, in their special transport provided by the Yarraman Fire Brigade.
“The fireworks display was a spectacular sight, with many positive comments heard after the event.”
