The locals of Harden braved the hot sun at Newson Park on Australia Day at 8:00 am to enjoy breakfast and entertainment before the awards ceremony which acknowledged the best of our community. It was a festive occasion with many hard-working locals being awarded for their efforts and a wonderful speech from Ambassador Promila Gupta OAM.

In her speech, she said: “Australia Day is a day of National Pride and celebration for Australians, it reflects on the nation’s history including Indigenous heritage and European settlement while also highlighting contemporary Australian achievement and multi-culturalism. “The day encourages unity and sense of belonging among Australians of all backgrounds.”

Award winners on the day were:

Citizen of the Year – Maureen Watts

Senior Citizen of the Year – Jeffery (Knocky) Stevens

Special Community Award – Keith Ward and Kate Ward

Towncare Award – Rita O’Connor

Maureen and Bob Watts arrived in Harden in 1979. Maureen was President of the VIEW Club in 1982, 1983 and 1986. Maureen was involved in organizing 3 fundraising Balls for the local Hospital and also helped with the presentation of the Debutants. Maureen supported Bob in his time as a Rotarian with Youth Exchange and hosted overseas visitors. Maureen was also on the Committee of Advance Harden-Murrumburrah and assisted with the organisation of the Harvest Festival and Christmas Carnivals. She has also been a volunteer driver for Flexible Care and donated needed items to the Women’s Refuge in Galong.

Maureen has also checked on and helped elderly neighbours, including Jan Spokes to sort out paperwork and the cleaning of the Senior Citizens building which will soon become the meeting place for the Hospital Auxiliary. Maureen is the current President of the Harden Hospital Auxiliary. Before Christmas, Maureen decorated her much-loved retriever dog and took her to the Nursing Home to give the residents a lift.

Our Senior Citizen of the year Jeffery Stevens is the primary curator and maintainer of the Jugiong Golf Course – a role he has undertaken on an entirely voluntary basis for more than a decade. This role involves using tractors, mowers and other equipment to keep the course in playable condition throughout the year and in all types of weather.

Jeffery also undertakes associated maintenance of the Club’s equipment and contributes to the Club’s planning and management. His passion for maintaining the course has its basis in his wish to benefit both the local community and visitors.

Jeff grew up in Jugiong and feels a deep connection to the area with several generations of his family having been Jugiong residents. Jeff also helps to look after Mr. Polimeni and Neil Reid.

We spoke to Mr Stevens about the award and why he maintains the course. “I was a truck driver all my life and I can’t stand being still so I go up there and do it. It was also because of my late nephew Lui, he used to like playing golf and he used to like riding his motorbike out there. It brings back memories every time I get up there.

That’s why I do it. “It’s quite relaxing when I get up there to get away from everything. I left school when I was 13 and worked in the shearing sheds and driving tractors.

I enjoyed my years as a truck driver, it was the best years of my life. The rules and regulations just forced us older blokes out of it in the end.”

He stopped driving in 2016 after the passing of Lui.

Lui Polimeni, Jeffery’s nephew passed away in 2016 and has inspired him to volunteer at the Jugiong Golf Course.

He was told to come to the ceremony since his niece, Jenny, had told him she was going to win an award and surprised him. “I was dumbfounded. I got congratulations from my old mates. They’re all in Darwin, Perth and Sydney, some of the best blokes you’ll ever meet. It was really good.”

Alan and Sina Banks were Boorowa’s Citizens of the Year, Phillip Mitchell was Young’s and Jamie Britt and Chelsea Sullivan took it out for Wombat.

Jack Murray