Cobar community recognises achievers
Wednesday January 29, 2009
Australia Day award winners Racquel Potter (Services to Sport), Allan ‘Afghan’ Fazulla (Citizen of the Year), Georgia Baker (Kerrigundi award), John de Bruin (Bossie Mitchell Award), Heather Knight (Community Event of the Year) with mayor Lilliane Brady and Australia Day ambassador Glenn Sargeant.
Cobar’s 2009 Australia Day ambassador Glenn Sargeant said in his Australia Day address on Monday that “we must let no barriers be unassailable and no aims too high”.
And it seems that Cobar’s 2009 Citizen of the Year Allan ‘Afghan’ Fazulla is someone who lives by that creed.
Mr Fazulla’s amazing 18 hour non-stop walk to raise money for cancer research at Cobar’s Relay for Life fundraiser in May last year was described as “an inspiration to all” and earned him the Australia Day award which was presented at the Cobar Memorial Swimming Pool on Monday.
Mr Fazulla was humble in accepting the award saying, “Thanks, but I don’t deserve it”.
He was one of 12 worthy nominations for this year’s Citizen of the Year Award.
Kyle Cartner was chosen as the Young Citizen of the Year for his high achievements, commitment and dedication to Army Cadets.
The Relay for Life fundraiser, which raised over $75,000 for cancer research, picked up the award for Event of the Year.
For his “countless hours of organising events and fundraisers with many different groups in Cobar” John de Bruin received the Bossie Mitchell Service to the Community Award.
Racquel Potter collected the Australia Day Award for Services to Sport for her many years of service and involvement in a number of junior sports including basketball, netball, swimming club and league.
Matt Egan was named Sportsperson of the Year (for the second year running).
“Matt has had another stellar year in golf in 2008,” his nomination read.
His titles included the NSW Open and Junior Sandgreens Champions; NSW 4 Ball Sandgreen Championship: Cobar Open; Club Champion and Foursomes Club Champion for 2008.
Twelve year old swimmer Georgia Baker collected the Kerrigundi Award as a state representative swimmer at the NSW Public Schools State Swimming competition and for her achievements of three bronze medals at the Northern Queensland games where she competed against swimmers from across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Mr Sargent, who describes himself as an “ordinary Australian bloke” said he was a “proud Australian” who was “ecstatic” to be in Cobar as the 2009 Australia Day ambassador.
He praised the refurbished pool complex saying, “nowhere in Sydney is there a facility equal to this”.
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