Leo Anic takes top honours

A hidden gem, known to few and often the subject of perplexed glances, Morundah took centre stage at the Federation Council Australia Day Awards, proving that even the most discreet towns can pack a punch when it comes to community spirit.

The iconic Paradise Palladium, which stands on lands traditionally owned by the Wiradjuri people, provided the perfect backdrop for the awards ceremony, with around 300 people travelling to the most northern town in the shire to be part of the special day.

The event kicked off with a Welcome to Country by proud Wiradjuri woman Aunty Bonita Byrne from Narrandera who spoke of her family, background and how proud she was to be an Australian. This was followed by Graham Byrne performing “Wiradjuri” with his guitar in hand.

Morundah’s own councillor David Fahey OAM also extended a warm welcome to the crowd.

“Thanks for making the trip, I know it’s a long one because I usually go the other way myself,” he said.

“And welcome to the Paradise Palladium Theatre- it is a completely community-owned, built, financed and operated theatre- and it’s a community place with many events throughout the year.”

In his welcome address, Federation Council Pat Bourke praised all the nominees from across the shire for exemplary dedication to their local communities.

“Today we celebrate our people, the people of Federation Council who go above and beyond in their respective areas to ensure our communities thrive and grow,” he said.

“The commitment to our communities shown by our nominees is truly heart-warming, and these people, along with many others throughout the Federation Council region, make me so proud to be mayor of this great region.”

The Community Group of the Year award had an overwhelming eight nominations in the category, with Howlong Community Progress Association Inc and Country Women’s Association of NSW Oaklands Branch being named joint winners.

Both groups were acknowledged for their dedicated efforts in benefiting their respective communities.

The Howlong Community Progress Association Inc, in existence for three and a half years, initiated a Community Emergency Response Team, significantly reducing emergency response time. The group’s monthly meetings contribute to various community outcomes, and they have participated in events such as the Annual Cleanup Australia Day.

The Oaklands Branch of the Country Women’s Association, formed in 1949, has been actively involved in community events and projects. Their preservation efforts for the endangered Oaklands Diuris orchid received recognition in NSW Parliament, showcasing their dedication to environmental conservation.

The Local Achiever Award and Young Citizen of the Year was awarded to Dylan Forge, a name synonymous with talent and community engagement.

Dylan was recognised for his outstanding contributions that transcended Federation Council’s borders.

Dylan was also the inaugural Federation Council Youth Mayor, which led him to oversee several community projects, including the Memorial Plaza Interactive Mural, Colour Run, Howlong Lowe’s Square ping pong table and the Sanger Street Piano.

Having represented the region overseas in Scotland, Ireland, Malaysia and Singapore with bagpipe playing, Dylan was successful in 2023 in becoming a world champion bagpipe player with his former school, The Scots School Albury Pipe Band.

Dylan also played in The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo last year, which involved him playing 25 shows in front of 9,000 people each night.

Other committees groups Dylan has been involved in include the Skate Park Advisory Committee, Corowa Pool Advisory Committee, Corowa Leos and St. Mary’s Corowa Altar Servers.

Against some very strong nominations including the late Marj Saines and Sam O’Donoghue, Leo Anic emerged as the Citizen of the Year,

Mr Anic was recognised for his pivotal role in establishing initiatives like Friday Night @The Station and The Men’s Table, along with his emergency and crisis support work as the first Amaranth Ambassador, showcasing his commitment to community welfare.

Mr Anic’s dedication to promoting local businesses and documenting community events through his camera and social media also earned him recognition. His video work in the Snowy Valley’s bushfire recovery area led to Amaranth Foundation’s nomination for the MPHN 2023 Primary Healthcare Awards.

Additionally, Mr Anic recently assumed the role of Town Crier during festive season celebrations, further highlighting his multifaceted contributions to the community.

Australia Day Ambassador Anupam Sharma captivated the audience with an inspirational address, encouraging Australians to “reflect, respect, and celebrate” on this significant day.

Mr Sharma, a prominent filmmaker, speaker, and author, shared his rich experiences in the filmmaking industry with the gathered community.

Named as one of the 50 most powerful and influential Australian film professionals by Encore magazine, Mr Sharma is the founding head of Films and Casting TEMPLE, an international production and consultancy firm based at Fox Studios, Sydney. His extensive career includes leading a team of film professionals and contributing to over 290 projects in Australia, India, China, the United States, and Denmark over the past 21 years.

“Australia is a great country, a great community, as evidenced by the large number of people here today to celebrate Australia Day,” Mr Sharma remarked.

He highlighted the evolving nature of Australia Day celebrations, emphasising its inclusivity for all Australians, regardless of their background, whether they arrived a century or merely days ago.

“This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our relationship with this great land, a great country, and a great community, which we all form—whether we are Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, atheists—culturally diverse countries from over 170 countries. This is an opportunity to celebrate and salute the resilience of the first inhabitants—the only humans in Australia Day who are not migrants.”

In a poignant moment, Mr Sharma read the thought-provoking poem “The Paradox of Our Time.” The verses resonated deeply with the audience, prompting reflection on the challenges and triumphs that define the Australian experience.

One Australian citizenship was conducted, in respect of Corowa resident Lucy Rebham, formerly of the United Kingdom, in this the 75th anniversary of citizenships.

Dylan Forge closed the ceremony with the Australian National Anthem, as he has become known to do, blowing away everyone in the room with his outstanding vocals.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, a free community lunch comprising beautiful roast lamb rolls, with local lamb provided by Michael and Jacinta Dore, was offered, and plenty on the pavlova by the Morundah Bush Entertainment Committee.

The Moodemere String Quartet provided beautiful entertainment as guests soaked up the fine day.