Darlington Point Australia Day
2024 Australia Day Awards recipients for Darlington Point
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR - TROY HEATH
Troy is regularly seen manning the BBQ at many events in Darlington Point. He was Darlington Point Public School P&C “Volunteer of the Year” helping with many fundraising activities, including sporting carnivals at both the school and zone levels, the school fete, Spring Festival – both for P&C and the Rural Fire Service. Troy has also volunteered to cook at Junior and Senior Rugby League games including the Group 20 Grand Final. He is also part of the “Support Crew” for the Riverina Redneck Rally raising funds for Country Hope and is always willing to assist whenever he is asked.
Troy is the Darlington Point Fire Brigade Group Officer, regularly attending fires, using his management and chainsaw skills to assist his community. As well as fires he has also been called out to many traffic accidents during the year, which at times have included fatalities – these incidents are tragic for all involved. Troy is also an advocate for RFS members all across the district as a representative of the Rural Fire Service Association.
YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR – JHARAL COE
Jharal was Vice Captain of Darlington Point Public School in 2023 and represented the school on many occasions, delivering the Acknowledgement of Country in Wiradjuri language at many of these official events.
Jharal was a member of the Marrambidya Dance Group made up of Indigenous youth. Through traditional dances the group tell the stories of their ancestors, their land and culture. They have performed at many events including NAIDOC celebrations, schools and the Waddi Cultural Centre opening. The group won the NSW Youth Action “Outstanding Work with First Nations Young People” Award at the Australian Theatre for Young People in Sydney in October. Jharal also plays Junior Rugby League for Coleambally/Darlington Point, represented Darlington Point Public School at Mortimer Shield and was selected in the Zone touch football team.
JUNIOR SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR - ZAVIAN MILES
2023 proved to be a very successful sporting year for Zavian. His list of achievements include representing Riverina at the State Championships for Rugby League and Rugby Union, representing Griffith for Riverina Touch Football in Albury and being selected to play touch football for Leeton Lightnings. Zavian was also the leading try scorer and was awarded best all-rounder for Coleambally/Darlington Point Roosters, received the encouragement award for Leeton Phantoms Rugby Union and was the Darlington Point Public School age champion for swimming, athletics and cross country. A true all-round sportsman.
EVENT/GROUP ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR - DARLINGTON POINT RURAL FIRE BRIGADE
The Darlington Point Rural Fire Brigade have in addition to their tireless commitment to responding to all types of fires, vehicle accidents and other emergencies, provided a very special service to the children of our town over several decades. On Christmas Eve 2023, Santa and his helpers delivered bags of lollies and festive cheer to all the children of Darlington Point. This service has become a tradition for many families in our town and has been carried on and enjoyed from one generation to the next for many years. Members of the Darlington Point Rural Fire Brigade continue to take time out of their busy Christmas schedules to give back to the community and children of our town.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR - TROY HEATH
Troy is regularly seen manning the BBQ at many events in Darlington Point. He was Darlington Point Public School P&C “Volunteer of the Year” helping with many fundraising activities, including sporting carnivals at both the school and zone levels, the school fete, Spring Festival – both for P&C and the Rural Fire Service. Troy has also volunteered to cook at Junior and Senior Rugby League games including the Group 20 Grand Final. He is also part of the “Support Crew” for the Riverina Redneck Rally raising funds for Country Hope and is always willing to assist whenever he is asked.
Troy is the Darlington Point Fire Brigade Group Officer, regularly attending fires, using his management and chainsaw skills to assist his community. As well as fires he has also been called out to many traffic accidents during the year, which at times have included fatalities – these incidents are tragic for all involved. Troy is also an advocate for RFS members all across the district as a representative of the Rural Fire Service Association.
YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR – JHARAL COE
Jharal was Vice Captain of Darlington Point Public School in 2023 and represented the school on many occasions, delivering the Acknowledgement of Country in Wiradjuri language at many of these official events.
Jharal was a member of the Marrambidya Dance Group made up of Indigenous youth. Through traditional dances the group tell the stories of their ancestors, their land and culture. They have performed at many events including NAIDOC celebrations, schools and the Waddi Cultural Centre opening. The group won the NSW Youth Action “Outstanding Work with First Nations Young People” Award at the Australian Theatre for Young People in Sydney in October. Jharal also plays Junior Rugby League for Coleambally/Darlington Point, represented Darlington Point Public School at Mortimer Shield and was selected in the Zone touch football team.
JUNIOR SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR - ZAVIAN MILES
2023 proved to be a very successful sporting year for Zavian. His list of achievements include representing Riverina at the State Championships for Rugby League and Rugby Union, representing Griffith for Riverina Touch Football in Albury and being selected to play touch football for Leeton Lightnings. Zavian was also the leading try scorer and was awarded best all-rounder for Coleambally/Darlington Point Roosters, received the encouragement award for Leeton Phantoms Rugby Union and was the Darlington Point Public School age champion for swimming, athletics and cross country. A true all-round sportsman.
EVENT/GROUP ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR - DARLINGTON POINT RURAL FIRE BRIGADE
The Darlington Point Rural Fire Brigade have in addition to their tireless commitment to responding to all types of fires, vehicle accidents and other emergencies, provided a very special service to the children of our town over several decades. On Christmas Eve 2023, Santa and his helpers delivered bags of lollies and festive cheer to all the children of Darlington Point. This service has become a tradition for many families in our town and has been carried on and enjoyed from one generation to the next for many years. Members of the Darlington Point Rural Fire Brigade continue to take time out of their busy Christmas schedules to give back to the community and children of our town.
2023 Australia Day Awards recipients for Darlington Point
Citizen of the Year: Robert Gumbleton
Robert is a volunteer community transport driver and has been for well over 10 years. Robert goes above and beyond as a volunteer and is always helping the clients in other ways, including shopping for them and checking on their welfare. Robert started volunteering for Murrumbidgee Council Community Transport many years ago and has been the mainstay of the service. The service was transitioned from Council to Valmar Support Services and Robert has continued to volunteer for the new service, travelling thousands of kilometres each year to deliver clients to Griffith, Wagga and Albury for appointments. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Robert, he is happy to wait hours for people as he takes them from one appointment to another, helps them with their shopping and anything else they need. The service lost many volunteers with the change and also during COVID but Robert has continued to volunteer all this time and he is loved and respected by all those he assists.
Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Ivana-Rose Lawson
In 2022 Ivana represented Darlington Point Public School in zone and Riverina cross country, she represented in zone athletics, was zone under 11’s champion and qualified for Riverina. She has played NRL in school teams competing in Griffith and has participated in soccer gala days. Ivana was captain of the CDP Roosters under 11’s League tag and received the Coaches Award in netball playing for the Coly Blues Under 11’s. She is also involved in Little Athletics, swimming – making it to zone level and was DPPS age champion in athletics and cross country.
Ivy is a team player and is always encouraging others to achieve their goals. She puts 110% into everything she does.
Event/Group Achievement of the Year: Darlington Point Riverina Classic Catch & Release Fishing Competition
The Riverina Classic Fishing Competition raised $20,000 for Rural Outreach Counselling and released 5,000 fingerlings into the river in 2022, with 539 entrants in the event. The Competition will celebrate 10 years in 2023. Over $170,000 has been raised for local charities in this time and over 65,000 fingerlings have been released. The competition is now 100% photo entry, catch and release and has held DPI accreditation for many years. For the past four years the organisers have partnered with Rural Outreach Counselling to support their work with rural families. All the Committee members are also engaged in the Outreach’s mate Keeper program. The Competition organisers like to promote sustainable fishing practices as well as good mental health and what to do if you need help.
2022 Australia Day Awards recipients for Darlington Point
Citizen of the Year: Gavin GilbertGavin has been involved in organising the Riverina Redneck Rally since 2017, which has to date raised $1.5 million for Country Hope. He was also the main organiser of the Redneck River Run, with this year’s event raising another $7,460 for Country Hope. Along with his wife, Tammy, he spends months of each year organising these events, which are not only a source of valuable funds for Country Hope, but also build friendships and comradery.
Young Citizen of the Year: Armani Coe
Armani was captain of Darlington Point Public School in 2021 and represented the school on many occasions, delivering the Acknowledgement of Country in Wiradjuri language at many official duties. Her achievements also include representing the school in many sporting events, the debating team and receiving the prestigious Citizenship Award for 2021. Her respectful and happy nature made her a great ambassador for the school and town.
Young Sportsperson of the Year: Tamsin Hughes
Tamsin played in the Darlington Point/Coleambally League Tag team and in her first year was awarded Best and Fairest. She was also the leading try scorer for the team, as well as equal fourth try-scorer and equal fifth point scorer in Group 20. She is an all-round sports person who has participated in representative swimming, touch football and league tag.
Acknowledgement of Dedication and Services to the Community: Phillip Wells
Phil was a Councillor on the former Murrumbidgee Shire Council since 1999 and then Murrumbidgee Council since the merger in 2016. After serving the community in this role for over 22 years, he chose not to stand at the recent local government elections. Phil has always worked hard to promote and advocate for the town of Darlington Point and the Council area. He was Mayor of Murrumbidgee Shire Council from 2004-2014 and served as Deputy Mayor in 2000-2004 and 2015-2016. He represented Council on many committees, both with Council and the region. He has been involved in several businesses in Darlington Point and is a well-respected member of the community.
2021 Australia Day Celebrations
- Citizen of the Year: Maria Teusner
- Junior Citizen of the Year: Dylan Goodsall
- Event/Group Achievement of the Year: Gavin and Tammy Gilbert, Riverina Redneck Rally
2020 Australia Day Celebrations
- Citizen of the Year: Tegan Volleberg and Annie Mitchell (tied)
- Young Citizen of the Year: Shania Hughes
- Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Thomas Fattore
- Sporting Team of the Year: Darlington Point/Coleambally First Grade Rugby League Team
- Event/Group Achievement of the Year – 2RG Sunshine Club – Darlington Point Branch
Pictured (Back) L-R Australia Day Ambassador Warren Potent, Group Achievement of the Year 2RG Sunshine Club Sue Porter, Citizen of the Year (joint) Tegan Volleberg, Mayor Ruth McRae. (Front) Sporting Team of the Year Darlington Point/Coleambally First Grade Rugby League Team Cindy Eldridge, Citizen of the Year (joint) Annie Mitchell and Young Citizen of the Year Shania Hughes. Absent: Junior Sportsperson of theYear, Thomas Fattore.
2019 Australia Day Celebrations
Darlington Point Public School Captains: Mahalia McLean and Brock Coe. And below with Peter Van Hees.
There were no nominations for the 2019 Darlington Point Australia Day Awards.
2018 Awards
- Citizen of the Year - Mr Steven Ford
- Event/Group Achievement of the Year - Riverina Redneck Rally
- Young Sportsperson of the Year - Miss Lexi Heath
- 2018 Sporting Team of the Year - CDP JRL Mini League Tag (Coach - Rebecca Norris)
Young Sportsperson of the Year, Lexi Heath with Ambassador Prue Watt, OAM
Related Pages
Australia Day Awards
Murrumbidgee Council proudly takes part in the annual Australia Day ceremonies in Jerilderie, Darlington Point and Coleambally.
Coleambally Australia Day
The Coleambally Australia Day Committee organise an Australia Day celebration which includes the presentation of various awards to recognise the tremendous contributions of individuals and groups in the community.
Jerilderie Australia Day
The Jerilderie Australia Day Committee organise a celebratory evening at Luke Park for Australia Day and present various awards to recognise the great contributions individuals and groups make to our community.