Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall with Northern Tablelands 2015 Woman of the Year Colleen Graham.
TINGHA resident and community stalwart Colleen Graham has been named the 2015 Northern Tablelands Local Woman of the Year, Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced today.
Mr Marshall presented Mrs Graham with her certificate in Tingha late last week and said he was honoured to nominate her for the award in recognition of the work she does in the Tingha community.
“Colleen works extremely hard to raise the profile of Tingha as well as providing support and positive activities for the whole community,” Mr Marshall said.
“In 2013 Colleen was named Tingha’s Citizen of the Year which recognised the work she does leading an active committee of volunteers to stage the annual Tin Festival.
“As the main co-ordinator, Colleen has worked hard to resurrect the Tin Festival into a full day’s program with an evening function the night before. One of the highlights is the crowning of the Tin Prince and Princess from among the teenage members of the community.
“I’ve had the pleasure of attending the last few festivals and it’s wonderful to see what a dedicated group of people can achieve in a small community.
“Colleen, along with her husband Bernie, have reintroduced bingo to the community; sourced funding to undertake activities with the young people in Tingha, escorting groups of up to 70 children to day outings at places such as Green Valley Farm, ten pin bowling, movie nights and barefoot lawn bowls lessons.
“The work Colleen does with the youth of Tingha is incredibly valuable as it is provides options and opportunities for them that may not be readily available.”
Mr Marshall said Colleen and Bernie had recently premiered a movie that Bernie had made about Tingha and invited the whole community for the gala event in Inverell.
“Colleen is always thinking about her next project and I commend her, and Bernie, on their enthusiasm and passion for their community,” he said.
“Her work and generosity has made a huge difference to the small and isolated community and I am very proud to name her Northern Tablelands Local Woman of the Year.”