Gordon Hill was named Cobar’s Citizen
of the Year for 2021 at yesterday’s Australia
Day Awards ceremony at the Cobar Memorial
Swimming Pool.
According to his nomination, Gordon is very
much committed to the Cobar community and
is always the first to put his hand up to help
anyone in need.
The award recognises Gordon’s work over
the past year in his many volunteer roles as a
member of the Rotary Club of Cobar, the Copper
City Men’s Shed, State Emergency Services,
Cobar Health Council and the Cobar
Community Services board.
“Throughout the pandemic, Gordon has
continued to service the community of Cobar
and keep community organisations going
through tough times and offering support
where possible,” his nomination reads.
Also in recognition of his community efforts,
last year Gordon (and his wife Therese)
were awarded Rotary’s prestigious Paul Harris
Fellows Award for their ongoing work and
support for the Rotary Club of Cobar Drought
Appeal.
The 2021 Young Citizen of the Year award
was shared by the Cobar Girl Guides group
who have displayed “true community spirit”
this past year.
The Cobar Girl Guides participated in the
Anzac Day and Christmas Street Parade community
events, held a dog wash fundraiser for
ROAR (Rural Outback Animal Rescue/
Respite), helped Cobar Shire Council with the
packing and delivery of Christmas hampers to
senior residents and also assisted in the judging
of the town’s Christmas Cheer/Lights
competition.
Barry Knight picked up the Bossie Mitchell
Services to the Community Award.
June 2021 saw the culmination of Barry’s
many hard years of work with the Cobar Miners
Memorial project officially opened.
Barry has been the driving force behind the
construction of the memorial and he continued
his fundraising efforts in 2021 to ensure a few
extra features could be included in the final
build.
He continues to have an ongoing interest in
its use and maintenance.
Also last year, Barry was instrumental in
helping to get the Cobar Little Athletics Club
back on track and his fundraising efforts have
helped the club to buy a great deal of new
equipment.
Barry also spent time last year helping to
coordinate a Cobar Roosters Rugby League
Reunion, which unfortunately could not take
place due to COVID restrictions.
Barry was also involved with a number of
community groups and has lent assistance to
various committees including: Tourism Advisory;
Iron Ringers; Brennan Centre; and RSL
Sub Branch.
The Cobar Business Association’s 2021
Christmas Street Parade and Gala Shopping
Night on December 3 collected the Community
Event of the Year award.
According to its nomination, the annual
street parade is an event that everyone in the
whole community can be involved in including
local businesses, sporting and community
groups and last year’s event attracted a big
crowd of spectators.
The Association’s annual Christmas Street
Parade & Gala Shopping Night has grown
over the years and with additional sponsorship
for the 2021 night, the association was able to
provide extra entertainment in the form of an
acrobatic troupe and music by a local band to
round out the night.
It’s the second year running the Christmas
Street Parade & Gala Shopping Night has won
the Community Event of the Year award and
the third time the association has won this
category having also been a winner back in
2015.
The 2021 Environmental & Sustainability
Award was collected by the Cobar Camels
Rugby Union Club volunteer group for their
efforts in running the Return and Earn facility.
The award recognises the innovative principles
and actions of the group in working towards
developing a more sustainable community.
Between January and December 2021, the
Cobar Return and Earn facility collected
600,000 cans and bottles for recycling preventing
tonnes of rubbish from going into
landfill.
