Brenda and Troy Knight (Services to Sport), Cobar Roosters Under 18s team (Kerrigundi Sports Award), John Collins (Citizen of the Year), Isaac Theakston (Young Citizen), John Peebles (Service to the Community), Cobar Show Society (Community Event of the Year) and Reece Josephson (Sports Person).
Local author and historian John Collins earned the community’s top gong when he was named the Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day awards celebrations at the Cobar Memorial Swimming Pool on Sunday.
John is a very community minded person who has donated his time and skills to numerous community groups, projects and sporting committees as well as historical research.
Over the past year John was the continuing driving force on the Iron Ring project which resulted in a monument being constructed and laid in place on the eastern approach to town.
John has also spent many volunteer hours at the local cemetery identifying lost graves and making markers for them. He also found time to publish his 4th book which is an invaluable document for Cobar’s history.
According to his nomination: “John is an inspiring role model to others and demonstrates good citizenship.”
Another excellent role model and local citizen, Isaac Theakston, earned the Young Citizen of the Year title.
Isaac is actively involved in the Cobar Community.
He volunteers his time and skills to a number of local community and sporting groups and “inspires others”.
Over the past year he has volunteered as a Baptist Church kids club leader, has served as vice president of both the CATS and Cobar Junior Soccer clubs and has helped to run the indoor soccer competition.
Isaac also lent his emcee talents to co-host the Christmas Carols event.
Isaac has proved he’s also a great ambassador for Cobar. He recently travelled to Mozambique and utilized his skills as an apprentice carpenter helping with building projects in the local community.
Entertainer John Peebles earned this year’s Bossie Mitchell Services to the Community Award.
It’s not the first time John has won this award. He continually models what it is to be a good community citizen and is always the first person to help or serve the community where needed.
Over the past year John has lent a hand (and his music skills and equipment) at numerous local community events and fundraisers.
He regularly volunteers to entertain Cobar’s seniors at the Brennan Centre and Lilliane Brady Village retirement home.
The 2024 Cobar Show was named the Community Event of the Year.
Against all odds, from various site developments to 50mm of rain on opening day, nothing was going to stop the 2024 Cobar Show from going ahead.
The Cobar Show Society committee worked tirelessly. They pivoted when things went wrong and came up with a new plan which was well received by the local community and visitors. The show was well attended and received excellent feedback.
Long serving Cobar Little Athletics Club committee members, Troy and Brenda Knight earned the Service to Sport award.
The pair have been the backbone of the club for a number of years.
Last year they continued to demonstrate excellent leadership and commitment to the club. The couple organised and assisted with setting up and packing up the fields for competition each week, provided additional coaching, attended carnivals and have helped to secure grant funding for new equipment.
Without their continued dedication to the sport, the club could have folded.
The Sports Person of the Year was talented rugby league player Reece Josephson
Reece has had a huge year which has seen him represent at all levels—locally with the Roosters Under 18s and First Grade sides in two grand finals, with his St Greg’s School representative team, playing with the Northern Tigers in the Laurie Daly Cup, his selection with the Country Team for a City versus Country match and he also gained a contract with the Canberra Raiders.
The Kerrigundi Sports award went to the Cobar Roosters Under 18s team which won the 2024 Castlereagh Youth League grand final.
This team’s fairytale story began with a crisis meeting at the beginning of the season as they weren’t able to field a team and finished with them hoisting high the winners trophy on grand final day.
The 2025 Environment and Sustainability award went to the Cobar Youth & Community Centre’s community garden project.
The project encourages community members, young and old, to get involved with maintaining the garden. It’s proven to have been a fantastic initiative that has brought great benefits to our community.
