The 2025 Citizen of the Year Leonie Harley with husband John.

Gunnedah’s 2025 Citizen of the Year Leonie Harley has called on the business community to help save one of its long-running local organisations.

The community woman was recognised with the prestigious honour during last weekend’s Australia Day awards ceremony at The Civic.

“It was very unexpected but you don’t do it for the accolades, you do it for the satisfaction (and) it’s lovely to be appreciated,” Mrs Harley said.

The Citizen of the Year holds life membership at not one but four not-for-profit community organisations in Gunnedah including the show society, eisteddfod society, country women’s association and meals on wheels. She is also involved in the ladies show auxiliary, rescue helicopter support group, the northern branch of the stock horse association, cancer support groups and junior rugby league in Gunnedah, among others.

Although all organisations rely on volunteers to operate, Mrs Harley singled out the meals on wheels service – which she been a part of for more than 50 years – as needing more help than most.

“It’s a vital service in the community,” she said.

To ease the burden for its many elderly volunteers, Mrs Harley called on the business community to assist with the meal service.

“Business owners could join the roster and once a month one of their staff could do the run,” she said.

“It is the only way we’ll keep it alive, because like all charitable organisations, we’re vitally short of young people.”

Volunteer of the Year

Marie Hobson presenting Rosemary Flett with the Volunteer of Year award.

The 2025 Ozzie and Beryl Campbell Volunteer of the Year award winner was Rosemary Flett who thanked her support for their efforts.

“It feels wonderful (to be awarded) although I do appreciate all the help I’ve been given from family and friends, everyone who has helped,” she said.

The talented musician performs for older Australians across the Gunnedah district.

“I play keyboard and pipe organ in our church, and I visit Alkira, Apex Road, used to go to Boggabri, Go Co and the Singalongs,” she said.

“When I started I was playing for the elderly – now I’m up here with them.”

Mrs Flett said the music visits provide more than just entertainment for the mature-aged crowd.

“It is serving people – I’ve always believed the most important thing you can give children and more senior folk is your time,” she said.

“That’s what it’s really about.

“Sometimes they’re lonely and they love to see people who care.”

Mrs Flett said the enjoyment from her music has never waned and she vowed to continue her volunteering in the future.

“I love what I do and will do it while ever I can,” she said.

Eve Turner Trophy

Anne Luke presenting the Eve Turner Perpetual Trophy to Phil Gurewitz who accepted the award on behalf of his late wife, Moana.

The Eve Turner Perpetual Trophy was awarded to the late Moana Gurewitz [Shoobert].

Awarded each year to a retired person who has continued to dedicate their time and efforts to impart their knowledge and skills to others in the community, Moana’s award was accepted by husband Phil.

“This completely caught us by surprise,” Mr Gurewitz said.

“Moana would be delighted to receive such an award.

“I’m speechless.”

Gunnedah shire mayor Colleen Fuller said the award was well deserved for selfless service.

“Very excited about Moana, her and I were very good friends,” an emotional Cr Fuller said.

“So beautiful for her to win that.”

The mayor said a local scholarship will named in Moana’s memory – a woman who unconditionally gave much for her community.

“For someone who came to this country, worked hard and struggled to get where she did in life and to give, never asking anything from anybody, it was a real privilege to be her friend,” she said.

The Max and Mikie Maas Good Neighbour Award

The Max and Mikie Maas Good Neighbour Award was presented to Vince Tydd.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping people,” Mr Tydd said.

“Just the pleasure of helping someone is what I thoroughly enjoy.”

The award is presented to a person who is a quiet achiever, lives quietly out of the public eye but is well- known to family, friends and neighbours as someone who gives freely of their time to lend a neighbourly hand, without looking for anything in return.

Also recognised at the ceremony were Linda Lee and Kate Knight, who were awarded the Community Achievement Award; the Multicultural Women’s Association – which was presented the Cultural Achievement Award and McLean Care Alkira – the Environmental Citizen of the Year award.

 

Lewis Donaldson presenting the Environmental Citizen of the Year award to Barb Riley and Nadia Winner, who accepted on behalf of McLean Care Alkira.

Junior Sports Person of the Year

Rugby union and rugby league player Jayla Suey was named Gunnedah’s 2025 Junior Sports Person of the Year.

The award recognises a member of the Gunnedah Shire community aged 20 or less, who has made a significant contribution in their chosen sport(s) in the past 12 months.

A front-row forward in both rugby codes, Jayla made last year’s Group 4 rugby league development squad and also played in the Central North U16 rugby union team which competed in the state championship in Coffs Harbour.

Jayla was in the Gunnedah Red Devils team which finished runner-up in the U16 rugby union grand final, and she was awarded best forward in her age group for the third successive year.

Jayla’s achievements went far beyond local and regional level, and she was unable to attend the Australia Day awards ceremony in Gunnedah due to the demanding nature of her sporting schedule.

The Gunnedah teen was incredibly excited to hear of her Australia Day award win, before she took to the field with the Sydney North team at the Waratahs Academy Games in Bathurst.

Sydney North reached the finals undefeated, but then trailed 22-0 at half-time before levelling the scores and then losing in golden-point extra-time.

Jayla’s commitments with the Waratahs came soon after she toured Japan as part of the Australian Raptors Rugby Academy women’s squad, which played against Japanese secondary schools and universities.

Rugby union achievements for Jayla last year included selection in the first ever Waratahs Academy Games, as well as selection in the Lloyd McDermott Sydney University team at the KARI Ella 7s rugby tournament.

Jayla also played for the Koori team in the Pasifika Cup, and represented Kamilaroi in last year’s Nations of Origin in rugby league and basketball.

Also last year, Jayla played rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the inaugural Lisa Fiaola Cup; an U17 competition which provides a crucial step for young women progressing to the elite level.

Jayla received offers to play in this year’s Lisa Fiaola Cup, but she was unable to take up any of them due to her selection for the Wanderers Australia U16 rugby league team which will tour the United Kingdom and France.

Additionally, Jayla was chosen in the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS) Future Stars program.

Sports Team of the Year

Gunnedah Shire mayor Colleen Fuller with Chloe Holmes, who accepts the Sports Team of the Year award on behalf of the Gunnedah Motorcycle Club.

The Gunnedah Motorcycle Club (MCC) picked up the Sports Team of the Year award at this year’s Gunnedah Shire Council Australia Day awards ceremony.

The illustrious achievement followed a huge 12 months for the club, which claimed three awards at the 2024 Motorcycling NSW awards night.

Gunnedah MCC was named Motorcycling NSW Club of the Year, with Daniel Wicks named Male Rider of the Year (Dirt Track) while Katarna Robinson was named Female Rider of the Year (Dirt Track).

Gunnedah MCC also hosted last year’s NSW senior dirt track titles, as well as the fifth and sixth rounds of the Australian Flat Track Nationals (AFTN).

Other highlights for the club last year included a 100-year anniversary meeting, and the induction of five life members.

This year’s Australia Day award win for Gunnedah MCC came after one of its members, Hugo Holmes, was named Junior Sports Person of the Year for Gunnedah in 2023 and 2024.

Gunnedah MCC is looking forward to another big year in 2025, as the club hosts the NSW junior and senior dirt track titles in June. This is the first year Motorcycling NSW has held a combined title.

Gunnedah MCC has also been awarded the final two rounds of the AFTN, again scheduled for November.

 

This year’s Australia Day Ambassador to Gunnedah was Patrick Warmoll – the managing director of Jack’s Creek beef. See more from the Australia Day award winners and this year’s Gunnedah ambassador in an upcoming edition of the Gunnedah Times.

The Gunnedah Shire Council Australia Day Awards were presented by the Gunnedah Shire Council Australia Day Working Group and assisted by the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council.

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