DUBBO RESIDENTS RECOGNISED AT AUSTRALIA DAY EVENT
Hundreds attended the Dubbo Australia Day event on 26 January 2024 with the hard work of community members recognised during a morning ceremony.
Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Mathew Dickerson welcomed residents to the event, followed by Dubbo’s Australia Day Ambassador Sam Cawthorn and Tatum Moore who gave an Indigenous address.
During the ceremony seven outstanding citizens were recognised as Dubbo’s 2024 Australia Day award recipients.
Molly Croft was announced as the 2024 Citizen of the Year.
At just 17 years of age, Molly has faced immense challenges through her battle with high-grade metastatic osteoblastic osteosarcoma since her 12th birthday. Despite the adversity, she has emerged as a beacon of hope and inspiration for many.
Molly's commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond her own struggles. She has shown unwavering determination in raising awareness and funds for cancer research, particularly focusing on sarcoma-related causes. Through initiatives like the Tie Dye Project, co-run by Molly, over $700,000 has been raised. Her efforts have not only contributed to vital research but have also created scholarships and opportunities for vulnerable girls to access netball.
Dennis Crimmins was announced as Dubbo’s Senior Citizen of the Year and Mia Richardson as Dubbo’s Young Citizen of the Year. Erifili Davis received recognition as the Cultural Person of the Year.
Daniel Barber was announced as the 2024 Sportsperson of the Year, Ella Penman is the Young Sportsperson of the Year and Mel Pocknall was recognised for his Services to Sport.
Clr Dickerson said it was a privilege to award each of the recipients and thanked them for their service to the community.
“I thank each of the Australia Day Award recipients for their service to the Dubbo community. Their skills, experience and hard work truly help to make this a great community to live in,” Clr Dickerson said.
CITATIONS – DUBBO AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR – MOLLY CROFT
Dubbo Regional Council and the Citizens of Dubbo acknowledge the contribution made by Molly Croft and congratulate her on being named Dubbo’s 2024 Citizen of the Year.
At just 17 years of age, Molly has faced the immense challenges of battling high-grade metastatic osteoblastic osteosarcoma since her 12th birthday. Despite the adversity, she has emerged as a beacon of hope and inspiration for many.
Molly's commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond her own struggles. She has shown unwavering determination in raising awareness and funds for cancer research, particularly focusing on sarcoma-related causes.
Through initiatives like the Tie Dye Project, co-run by Molly, over $700,000 has been raised towards sarcoma related projects. Her efforts have not only contributed to vital research but have also created scholarships and opportunities for vulnerable girls to access netball.
Her dedication to community service is reflected in her numerous accolades, including being the youngest ever speaker at Stand Tall 2023, where she addressed 10,000 kids on mental health awareness.
Molly's contributions extend to various organisations, including the Sydney Children's Hospital, here she serves as an ambassador for the "Movement of Many".
Molly's leadership extends to sports coaching, where she became the youngest-ever NSW Basketball accredited level 1 coach. Despite her health challenges, Molly continues to mentor and inspire others, whether it's coaching local netball teams, participating in charity events, or collaborating with businesses to create lasting relationships in the community.
Her involvement with various awards, councils and foundations showcases Molly's commitment to creating positive change. From being a founding member of "Country Hope Dubbo" to sitting on panels for the Federal Government's Department of Education, Molly consistently demonstrates her passion for making a difference. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Molly was awarded the Youth Community Service Award by the NSW branch of the Order of Australia Association and was invited to join the “Young Australian Leaders Association".
SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR – DENNIS CRIMMINS
Dubbo Regional Council and the Citizens of Dubbo acknowledge the contribution made by Dennis Crimmins and congratulate him on being named as Dubbo’s 2024 Senior Citizen of the Year.
2024 will mark 50 years that Dennis has been volunteering with the St Vincent De Paul Society in Dubbo. His volunteering work over the 50 years has been extremely selfless in his commitment to those less fortunate in our community.
Dennis completes home welfare checks and assists to ensure those people can live in and maintain dignity in their lives. Dennis also visits patients in hospital, providing support and ensuring their needs are met, no matter how big or small. During this time, Dennis conducted a successful trucking business prior to his retirement and volunteered for school and church community events.
Dennis has coordinated the annual Christmas food hamper program and assisted with collections from business houses, volunteers, and community groups.
Not only has Dennis volunteered his time to the residents of Dubbo over the past 50 years, he was also involved in the 1990 Nyngan floods with the evacuation of their residents.
YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR – MIA RICHARDSON
Dubbo Regional Council and the Citizens of Dubbo acknowledge the contribution made by Mia Richardson and congratulate her on being named Dubbo’s 2024 Young Citizen of the year.
Mia's dedication to the Dubbo community is truly commendable and makes her a standout. Not only has Mia shown exceptional commitment to various community activities, but her selfless acts, such as shaving her head not once but twice for meaningful causes, showcases her compassion and dedication to making a positive impact.
Mia's involvement in volunteer work, coaching and representing Dubbo in basketball at both local and state levels demonstrates her leadership skills and passion for nurturing the potential of younger generations. Her consistent efforts in mentoring young basketballers at "Rookies" and serving as a junior assistant coach for the under 12's Dubbo representative basketball team highlight her commitment to fostering community spirit and teamwork.
Mia's active role as a referee for Friday night basketball, volunteering at the Junior Rugby League canteen and participating in events like the Tie Dye Project's annual weekend further emphasize her broad and continuous contribution to Dubbo's community fabric.
Notably, Mia's recent fundraising initiative, where she raised over $11,000 for sarcoma research, reflects her determination to make a difference in the lives of others and contribute to the greater good. This altruistic act underscores her sense of responsibility and genuine concern for those facing challenges, showcasing qualities that align with the Young Citizen of the Year Award.
SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR – DANIEL BARBER
Dubbo Regional Council and the Citizens of Dubbo acknowledge the contribution of Daniel Barber to the sport of Cycling and congratulate him on being named Dubbo’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year.
Daniel has competed against the very best in the world in the rough and tumble sport of professional sprinting. He has travelled to America for the Trexel Town Summer Games to compete. At the National and Oceania Titles, Daniel is breaking through at record speeds.
Setting the track alight in Brisbane with a time of 9.837 (73.2kmh) for the flying 200 meters, Daniel is officially the fastest cyclist ever to come from Dubbo and proving he is a powerhouse emerging on the super competitive world of track sprinting. Daniel will be riding second wheel for Australia in the Elite Men's Team Sprint at the 2024 Oceania’s Championships in February and if all goes well it will be a great opportunity for him to represent Australia further in his sport.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- 18/03/2023 Anna Mears Velodrome Track Aus Elite Keirin - Bronze
- 19/03/2023 Anna Mears Velodrome Aus Elite Team Sprint - Bronze
- 19/02/2023 Dunc Gray Velodrome NSW Elite Sprint - Gold
- 20/06/2023 America Trexel Town Summer Games Elite Sprint - Bronze
YOUNG SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR – ELLA PENMAN
Dubbo Regional Council and the Citizens of Dubbo acknowledge the contribution of Ella Penman to the sport of Athletics and Cross Country and congratulate her on being named Dubbo’s 2024 Young Sportsperson of the Year.
Ella has consistently demonstrated remarkable performances at both State and National levels for the past nine years in both athletics and cross country. Her achievements, including multiple championships and medal placements, underscore her exceptional talent and dedication to her sport.
Over the past 12 months, Ella has shown significant growth as an athlete, achieving notable results and demonstrating resilience in the face of competition. Her continual pursuit of excellence and her ability to set and achieve challenging goals highlights her commitment to personal development within her chosen sport.
Ella's achievements at prestigious events, such as the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships and the Australian U20 Athletics Championships, where she secured silver and achieved a Youth Commonwealth Games qualifying time, showcase her ability to compete at the highest levels of her age group. Ella's inclusion in the Western Region Academy of Sports High Performance Squad, along with being named the Chair's Nominee for Excellence, speaks for her recognition within the athletic community for her commitment, attitude, and achievements.
Ella's active involvement in her local community sets her apart. From assisting the Dubbo Athletics Club to running athletics clinics for local schools and collaborating with organisations like LANSW, Ella has demonstrated a strong commitment to giving back and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Ella is also involved in running speed sessions for Dubbo Touch Representative Teams, demonstrating leadership and a willingness to contribute to the broader sports community.
SERVICES TO SPORT AWARD – MEL POCKNALL
Dubbo Regional Council and the Citizens of Dubbo acknowledge the contribution made by Mel Pocknall to the sporting community of Dubbo and congratulate him on being named as Dubbo’s 2024 Services to Sport Award winner. Mel is a community minded citizen who has contributed on many levels.
For more than 60 years, Mel has given generous service to sport and the community through his sports photography. He is compassionate and always sensitive to the athletes and their families. These qualities are reflected in the history capturing images featured every week in Dubbo Photo News.
What is often unseen is the time Mel takes to capture the pathos of sporting exultation and disappointment, a truly remarkable tribute to his passion and world rated skill.
Mel is a former television cameraman who spent decades filming rugby league for TV as well as taking still photographs for Dubbo Photo News.
Over his long and colourful career, Mel has pulled on footy boots, strapped on cricket and hockey pads, slid into go-karts, partaken in driving, and riding a wide range of motor vehicles and bikes. He's also even mounted a galloper and sat in a harness racing gig, to capture the best possible shots. He has swung a golf club and tapped croquet balls with his mallet, been show-jumping and chased greyhounds and swum, cycled and ran with triathletes. Mel often prints and frames the photos he has taken and gives them to the athletes.
Mel is the epitome of a sports journalist, saving thousands of words with his inspiring snaps.
CULTURAL PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD – ERIFILI DAVIS
Dubbo Regional Council and the Citizens of Dubbo acknowledge the contribution to the cultural community in Dubbo made by Erifili Davis and congratulate her on being named as Dubbo’s 2024 Cultural Person of the Year.
Mostly known for her film work, Erifili's short films have boosted the cultural careers of many young creatives, with her short films selected and screened all over the world, competing with thousands of international entries. She has produced 11 short films with more currently in production.
Erifili creates opportunities for the local community to participate in creative and cultural projects, whether they be a hobbyist or professional. Erifili proactively looks for ways to encourage and include underrepresented groups in her creative and cultural projects - specifically youth and First Nations people.
In 2023 Erifili's short film, Fell Purpose was selected to screen at the prestigious International Mobile Film Festival in California, and has won five awards at other international film festivals. Erifili is involved in Dubbo Filmmakers Inc, being Secretary and Treasurer, and is the President of the Wesley House Players, which is a volunteer run theatre groupÍž President of Creative Assembly, which is a not-for-profit organisation providing a central platform to advocate for and celebrate creative and cultural practitionersÍž and Owner of Studio 138, a multipurpose creative studio that supports creatives looking for a small, simple space for their own creative endeavours.
For the last three years, Erifili has facilitated Voices of Women to include Dubbo in their national touring schedule.
This involves organising local actors, dancers, and technicians to be part of the performances. In 2023, one young First Nations actor was selected to travel to Sydney to present her Voices to Women performance. This opportunity would not have happened without the company touring to Dubbo, which would not have happened without Erifili. On top of all Erifili's achievements, she is an active volunteer in the creative space volunteering for Under Western Skies, DREAM Festival Lantern Parade and One Eye Film Festival.
It is this tireless dedication to the Dubbo cultural scene, along with her various volunteer roles, that makes Erifili a worthy winner of the 2024 Cultural Person of the Year Award.
Last Edited: 29 Jan 2024