DUBBO DAY AWARDS CELEBRATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
The contributions of 10 community members to Dubbo have been recognised at the annual Dubbo Day Awards ceremony held at the Savannah Function Centre at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
The Dubbo Day Awards mark the anniversary of Dubbo’s gazettal as a village on 23 November 1849.
“Volunteers are such an important part of any community, and it is a great honour to be able to recognise and show our appreciation to the award recipients today,” Dubbo Regional Council Mayor, Mathew Dickerson said.
“This year’s award winners come from a variety of backgrounds and support a number of organisations within the Dubbo Community showing what a vast population we have with varied interests,” Clr Dickerson said.
Clr Dickerson said he was honoured to present the awards.
This year’s Tony McGrane Award recipient is John Robins.
Tony McGrane was dedicated to improving and enhancing Dubbo and the surrounding region.
Mr Robins is a very deserving recipient of this award which recognises people who go well beyond what is expected of them within their paid employment or career and make significant contributions to the community through their dedication to their jobs.
Mr Robins has been an active volunteer in the Dubbo community for many years and is currently one of Dubbo parkrun’s Run Directors, a role he has held for the past eight years.
Mr Robins also provides run coaching and run plans for participants in the Dubbo Stampeded and has conducted a number of free Love2Run clinics at Barden Park where he was also involved in starting up Dubbo Tracksesh.
He was a mentor for the Dubbo Senior College Talented Athlete Program and is also part of the leadership team at The Baptist Church.
Dubbo Day Award recipients:
Tim Morris: Tim is a passionate runner and small business owner who dedicates his time to the Dubbo Community across a number of activities, including but not limited to Dubbo Parkrun, Dubbo Tracksesh, Dubbo Stampede and Dubbo Senior College Talented Athlete Program. Over the past eight years, Tim has often volunteered multiple times a week - at Tracksesh on a Wednesday and at parkrun on Saturdays. Through his business, Podiatry in Motion, Tim also collects and donates pre-loved sports shoes to a local charity, Clontarf, through the Shoes 4 Planet Earth program.
Gerard Allen: Gerard has been a volunteer coach within the Westside Panthers Football Club for 15 years. He has contributed over 2,700 hours of his time building confidence and skills of young players in the local community, organising registrations, preparing and delivering training sessions and game day events. Gerard took pride in identifying individual merits and milestones and his devotion to the team and club has seen him receive many accolades including Coach of the Year and Club Supporter of the Year.
Musarrat Khan: Musarrat is a senior member of the Bangladeshi Community in Dubbo and one of the founders of the community group. He has helped in the establishment and maintenance of the community group providing leadership, support and direction. As a dedicated founder of the community group, he has worked tirelessly to bridge cultural divides and promote harmony among different communities, embodying the spirit of unity Dubbo Regional Council values. Despite his numerous contributions he remains a humble and quiet contributor reflecting the true spirit of community service.
Jenet Stewart: A founding member of the local Pink Angels Inc, Jenet has spent long hours establishing the charity. Jenet has also contributed to the Western Cancer Centre by being a Foundation Director as well as looking after the Communication and Public Relations by managing social media and their website. Jenet joined the Melanoma Institute Australia Dubbo Group to raise money and organised the inaugural March for Melanoma. Jenet supports Donna Falconer and her mission of raising Breast Cancer Awareness, travelling at times with Donna in the Groovy Booby Bus.
Debrah Davis: Debrah Davis joined the committee of the Dubbo Show Society in 2013. Debrah started off as a Steward in the Handicraft and Cookery Sections. Debrah became the Chief Steward of the Handicraft Section and the Pavilion Chief Steward in 2016. Debrah has always been ready to assist with organising the volunteers to help out across all aspects of the event. The pavilion displays are a testament to the dedication that Debrah gives to the Show Society and to the Dubbo Community.
Trish Gosper: Trish has been involved with the Dubbo City Ladies Bowls, now known as the Sporties, for the past 23 years. Trish is so caring of others that she freely gives her time whenever needed. As a CWA member Trish is always first to put her hand up to assist with functions and is always making everyone welcome. Trish also volunteers as an on-call driver for Meals, which means she can be called at very short notice to help someone get to an appointment or outing.
Carmel Carolan: Carmel started volunteering in the retail outlet of St Vincent De Paul in 2015 dedicating her time into the smooth running of the shop. When the shop relocated to Macquarie Street Carmel worked hard packing up and moving all the goods to the new premises. Carmel then worked many hours stripping and cleaning up the old premises. Carmel also took her turn in the Care and Support team and spent many hours assisting in this area. Carmel's passion is teaching religious education and she has spent many hours preparing lessons and gathering resources. Carmel is an active member of the St Brigid’s choir.
Thanasingh J Masilamani and Hitharanjini Masilamani: Mr and Mrs Masilamani, better known as the Singhs, are being recognised for their pioneering and invaluable contribution to the community of Dubbo. As one of the very first migrants to settle in Dubbo in the 1970s, the Singhs have left an indelible mark on the region through their selfless dedication and unwavering commitment to fostering multiculturalism and community spirit. One of the more remarkable achievements was their instrumental role in initiating the first Dubbo Multicultural Festival in the mid-1990s. Their tireless efforts in organising and implementing the Dubbo Multicultural Festival Food Committee from 1995 to 2008 significantly enhanced cultural understanding and harmony in the area. Moreover, the Singhs were among the founding members of ORISCON in 2001, further cementing their dedication to fostering a strong sense of community among migrants in Dubbo. Their exceptional organisational skills and commitment were again evident when they coordinated the visit of the Indian Consulate General to Dubbo for the opening of the Indian Rhino and Otter exhibit at the Western Plains Zoo, ensuring the event's success from start to finish.
Last Edited: 23 Nov 2023