Nambucca Valley 2025 National Celebration Day Awards
The Nambucca Valley National Celebration Day Awards were hosted at the Nambucca Heads RSL on 25 January 2025. The event was a huge success with community coming together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and teams in the valley. We also welcomed 8 new Australian Citizens in a Citizenship Ceremony.
We also met Nambucca Valley Australia Day Ambassador Corey Payne, NSW Young Australian of the Year 2013 and former NRL Player. Corey is the Founder of the Future Direction Network which aims to inform, inspire and educate students from Western Sydney. He is a passionate advocate of further education and has been recognised for his work in this field on multiple occasions.
Congratulations to all award recipients and our new citizens!
If you'd like to nominate someone in our community for a 2026 National Celebration Day Award, please go to https://www.nambucca.nsw.gov.au/Community/Community-Info-Local-History/National-Celebration-Day
Photos courtesy of Mick Birtles Photography
Citizen of the Year - Carole Andersen
Pat Conaghan MP, Carole Andersen and Ambassador Corey Payne
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Young Indigenous Citizen of the Year - Tahlia Ogilvie
Pat Conaghan MP, Tahlia Ogilvie and Ambassador Corey Payne
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Young Citizen of the Year - Reegan Welsh
Pat Conaghan MP, Reegan Welsh and Ambassador Corey Payne
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Cultural Achievement Award - Carrolline Rhodes
Mayor Gary Lee, Carrolline Rhodes and Ambassador Corey Payne
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Junior Sports Team Award - Macksville Marlins
Mayor Gary Lee, Macksville Marlins and Ambassador Corey Payne
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Junior Sportsperson - Toby Batten
Mayor Gary Lee, Toby Batten and Ambassador Corey Payne
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Environmental Award - Darren Squibb
Mayor Gary Lee, Ken Miller and Ambassador Corey Payne - Absent (Darren Squibb)
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Services to the Community Award - Brenda Stanton
Ambassador Corey Payne, Brenda Stanton and Pat Conaghan MP
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Services to the Community Award - Michelle O'Keefe
Ambassador Corey Payne, Michelle O'Keefe and Pat Conaghan MP
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Services to the Community Award - Irene Mayon
Ambassador Corey Payne, Irene Mayon and Pat Conaghan MP
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Services to the Community Award - Rosie Squibb
Ambassador Corey Payne, Fiona Lorimer, Ken Miller and Pat Conaghan - Absent (Rosie Squibb)
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Services to the Community Award - The Ministry Team for Domestic Violence and Homelessness
Mayor Gary Lee, Jayne Welsh and Ambassador Corey Payne
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Good Neighbours Award - Maureen and Bill Shepherd
Ambassador Corey Payne, Bill Shepherd, Maureen Shepherd and Pat Conaghan MP
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Good Neighbours Award - Raymond Dufty
Ambassador Corey Payne, Raymond Dufty and Pat Conaghan MP
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Frank Partridge VC Memorial Scholarship - Jundamir Sultan-Georges and Amelia Keen
Pat Conaghan MP, Amelia Keen, Jundamir Sultan-Georges and Ambassador Corey Payne
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Ambassador Corey Payne and Mayor Gary Lee
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Music provided by Barry Noble
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Music provided by the Nambucca District Band
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National Anthem sung by Judy Love
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Citizenship Ceremony - 8 Conferees