Ailish Dwyer
01 February 2025, 1:40 AM
Narromine Shire Council has honored its local heroes in the annual Australia Day Awards.
Citizen of the Year Award went to Viv Halbisch, for her decades of selfless service and dedication to the community through her involvement in the Narromine Lions Club, Meals on Wheels, Uniting Church, Narromine Show Society and more.
Mrs Halbisch moved to Narromine Shire in 1991 and has been volunteering with the Lions for decades. "When they read out all about you, you don't think that you do all those things, but you have. I've done it over the course of my life.
"It's a nice thing to do to give back to the community."
Other recipients of the 2025 Narromine Shire Council Australia Day Awards were:
Community Event of the Year
Narromine AeroClub for 'Top Gun on the Tarmac'
Senior Citizen of the Year
George Peters
Sports Person of the Year
Skye Morrissey
Children’s Champion Award
Karen Shearwood
2025 Australia Day recipients from Trangie. From left to right: Gary Fitzgerald, Di Martin (on behalf of Rhonda Betts), Gerry Tatrai, Michael Welch, Emma Flinn, Isabelle Dunbar. IMAGE SUPPLIED.
In Trangie, 2025 Citizen of the Year was presented to Mr Michael Welch, honoured for his support of local initiatives such as the Challenge facility and the Trangie District Recreation Centre.
Mr Welch, who has worked on the Retirement Committee board which helps seniors who are downsizing with the maintenance of their homes, described receiving the award as an honour.
"It's a bit of a shock, because there's plenty of other people who do plenty of work around the community," he said.
"But it's always good to give back to the community. All communities, everyone's got to do a little bit to help everybody out."
Other recipients in Trangie were:
Community Event of the Year
Trangie Central School Parents and Citizens for Open Garden Day
Senior Sports Award
Rhonda Betts
Senior Citizen of the Year
Garry Fitzgerald
Junior Sports Award
Isabelle Dunbar
Narromine Shire Council Mayor Ewen Jones said “It was wonderful to see so many residents of Narromine gathered at Dundas Park on Sunday morning, enjoying this special occasion.
"These events highlight the strength and unity of our community—something our Australia Day Ambassador Mr Garry Tatrai truly represents.
"Congratulations to all the award recipients, a warm welcome to our new citizens and a big congratulations to Narromine’s Citizen of the Year, Mrs Viv Halbisch.”