URALLA volunteer Beverly Stubberfield was named her town’s Citizen of the Year on Australia Day.
Mrs Stubberfield is the secretary of the Uralla branch of Red Cross and has co-ordinated the town’s Thunderbolt Festival for several years.
However, it was her extraordinary work as the secretary of the Uralla Rivercare Group which boosted her nomination.
Mrs Stubberfield’s late brother Tim Calvert founded the Uralla Rivercare Group.
Last year, the group was highly commended at the Northern Inland Innovation Awards.
“I was completely shocked when they read my name out,” Mrs Stubberfield said.
“My husband knew about it just before the ceremony, but I had no idea.”
Beverly and Bruce Stubberfield run Espresso Cafe in Uralla and her husband closed the cafe to enable them to attend the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Rita Williams was named Guyra’s Citizen of the Year after a special awards night on Saturday at the Guyra Bowling Club.
Ms Williams was acknowledged for her contributions to the Guyra Show Society and the War Memorial Hall.
The guest speaker was UNE chancellor John Watkins, who was also acting as head of Alzheimers Australia NSW.
Young Citizen of the Year was Ellie Noon for her participation with the Country Women’s Association, Guyra Show Society and The Hub.
