In a special ceremony held in Deniliquin last week, Mrs Dalton presented a series of Community Recognition Statements to people from the Edward River, Murrumbidgee, and Berrigan Shire council areas.
The Community Recognition Statements congratulate or acknowledge the achievements of people or groups in the community which recognise charity work, retirement or honours and awards.
Mrs Dalton initially introduces each recipient to NSW Parliament in short sittings throughout the year.
She then visits communities to highlight the good work further and to present certificates to those honoured.
Recipients honoured last week included Murrumbidgee Council Mayor Ruth McRae, Finley Regional Care, the Finley-based Southern Riverina Wellbeing Collaborative and Tocumwal Vietnam War veteran Alf Grayson.
From the Edward River Council area, Community Recognition Statements were presented to Karen Bobledyk, John Beer and Rivah Taylor.
Mrs Dalton’s speeches to Parliament for each of the Murrumbidgee and Berrighan Shire recipients are as follows:
Cr Ruth McRae
I would like to recognise Cr Ruth McRae for her commitment to local government and the Murrumbidgee community.
Ruth has been a councillor for more than 19 years, elected as mayor of Jerilderie Shire Council in 2014, then re-elected as mayor of the amalgamated Murrumbidgee Council in 2017 where she has remained since.
She entered public office to represent Jerilderie and the wider region. This stemmed from her interests in education, early education, health, disability access and services, aged care, sporting clubs and water.
Cr McRae has a genuine passion and is motivated to do the best she can for the community.
She is happy to work with whoever can best assist her communities, not letting politics get in the way of this.
Last year, Cr McRae was awarded with an Order of Australia Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours List for her long-standing dedication to local government and the community.
Cr Ruth McRae is to be commended for her determined approach to local government.
She is an inspirational leader in the community who is well deserving of her achievements.
Finley Regional Care
I would like to recognise Finley Regional Care who were presented with an Outstanding Regional Community Care Provider award at the prestigious Enablement Awards ceremony in Melbourne.
The Enablement Awards were created to celebrate and reward excellence, innovation, and exemplary achievements in the disability care sector in Australasia.
The award recognises Finley Regional Care’s shining example of an organisation that goes above and beyond to enrich the lives of the aged and wider community.
The hard-working team of nurses, caregivers and administrative staff provide an array of services including residential care within its Alumuna lifestyle village and the delivery of home care packages.
Finley Regional Care’s Finley Medical Centre provides a vital service for residents of Finley and many local towns in the region.
This is a fantastic resource with visiting specialists and other allied healthcare workers visiting regularly.
I express my admiration and appreciation to the staff and board members of this wonderful organisation and wish them continued success into the future.
Alf Grayson
I would like to recognise retired soldier Gary ‘Alf’ Grayson for his service during the Vietnam War and congratulate him on his honour marking Vietnam Veteran’s Day (in August 2023).
Alf enlisted at just 15 years-old and was sent to Vietnam at 19.
He served as a radio technician in various communication sites throughout South Vietnam.
Throughout this difficult conflict, Alf and his comrades provided critical communication support between battlefield locations.
This was often from highly visible dangerous locations making them easy targets.
His good friend lost his life during a mortar attack.
On his return to Australia, Alf continued to serve in the Australian Army, retiring after 20 years later as Warrant Officer First Class.
He now describes himself as a retired soldier.
I express my sincere appreciation for Alf’s lifetime dedication throughout his career.
Your commitment does not go unnoticed, and our community is grateful for this significant lifetime service.
Southern Riverina Wellbeing Collaborative
I would like to commend the remarkable efforts of the Southern Riverina Wellbeing Collaborative for their consistent dedication and commitment to mental health awareness and suicide prevention in our community.
For the second consecutive year, the Collaborative brought together community members from various local towns to participate the Finley Walk Fundraiser in 2023.
Participants completed up to five laps of Finley Lake, covering approximately 9km, symbolising the nine Australians lost to suicide every day and raising $340.45 in support of Lifeline.
The Collaborative's commitment extends beyond this event, offering free mental health first aid training, informative speakers, forums, and initiatives that foster community connections.
Their dedication, in partnership with organisations like Lifeline Australia, Headspace National, and NSW Health, underscores their pivotal role in promoting mental wellbeing and safety.
Together, they remind us of the strength that comes from unity and compassion, inspiring us all to prioritize mental health awareness and support.
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