A lifelong commitment to rural and agricultural work and support has culminated in Robert 'Bob' Anderson being awarded the 2021 Upper Lachlan Shire Citizen of the year.
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Mr Anderson's achievements include receiving the perpetual Trophy for Outstanding Contributing to the Rural Industry, and numerous other awards and recognitions across a lifetime.
The Shire Citizen of the Year award was the climax of several awards presented at the Gunning and Crookwell ceremonies that marked Australia Day in the shire.
The 2021 Crookwell Australia Day celebrations took place on Memorial Oval before a restricted crowd in line with COVID-19 restrictions. Similarly, the Gunning celebrations were forced indoors at Gunning Shire Hall due to difficulty policing COVID restrictions at Barbour Park. But while numbers were slightly down, those present enthusiastically supported the events at each venue.
The Gunning celebrations began with a community barbecue hosted by the Gunning Lions Club. Acting MC John Shaw introduced the official party which included mayor John Stafford, general manager Colleen Worthy and special guest and ambassador, acclaimed theatrical director Sandra Bates.
Pastor Ellen Manwaring offered a prayer of thanks and Cr Stafford gave the official welcome and acknowledgement of country. In his opening remarks the mayor also emphasised the importance of the Australia Day Community Awards because of the recognition they offered individuals and groups who gave so much to their communities.
Australia Day Ambassador Sandra Bates continued the theme and highlighted the resilience, ingenuity and bravery shown by regional and rural communities in a time of great adversity.
Two Gunning area residents, Jessica McNamara and Adriana Toro Pinzon, became citizens in the Citizenship Ceremony during the Gunning event.
Andrew Warren acted as MC at the Crookwell event which also began with a barbecue - with Crookwell Rotary, Lions and CWA Clubs all pitching in to help. David Johnson and Dallas Atkins provided entertainment and Reverend Wayne Landford provided a blessing for Australia Day.
Cr Stafford and Mrs Bates addressed the crowd, again emphasising the special nature or rural community life and of the often unheralded work volunteers do in our communities.
The full list of 2021 Upper Lachlan Shire Australia Day awards was as follows:
- Shire citizen of the Year - Bob Anderson
- Young Citizen of the Year - Oscar Rose
- Sportsperson of the Year - Kayla Gann
- Young Sportsperson of the Year - Isaac McGregor
- Event of the Year - Gunning Arts Festival
- Taralga Citizen of the Year - Glenn Elliott
- Gunning Citizen of the Year - Rosemary Spiller
- Crookwell Event of the Year - Laggan Pig Races
