Awards
2014-15 NSW Heart Foundation & NSW Health – Health Towns Inaugural Winner (Tottenham & Tullamore)
Tottenham Community of the Year – 2012 Winner (Under 15,000 Population Category)
Congratulations to the Tottenham Community
In September this year the Tottenham Welfare Council was given an application form for the Community of the Year Awards only a few days before the closing date. Realising that Tottenham has had a remarkable period with six community projects virtually completed within the previous twelve months, it was decided to put together a rushed submission covering all of the projects.
Just two weeks prior to the presentation event, advice was received that Tottenham had reached the final three from applications across NSW and the ACT. The other two finalists were Casino and Dungog. We were encouraged to invite a ‘cheer squad’, especially from those who were more directly involved in the nominated projects as seats were limited due to having ten categories with three finalists in each category.
On Saturday evening 27th October, a number of Tottenham Community members attended the Gala Presentation Dinner. There was great excitement when the compere Daniel Gibson from Prime 7 announced that Tottenham had won the NSW / ACT Community of the Year Award.
The submission prepared on behalf of the Tottenham Community by the Welfare Council identified the six major achievements over the previous twelve months.
Firstly there was the refurbishment of the Airport exceptionally well co-ordinated with remarkable generosity by the Lions Club and magnificently supported by the Community.
Secondly was the vital recruitment of a full-time Doctor for the Community which was co-ordinated by the Tottenham health Council.
Third significant activity/project and initiated by the Health Council was the training of five local Ambulance Volunteer Officers to assist our single Officer Ambulance Station to provide an improved service.
The other three important Community achievements included in the submission were the opening of the new Kiosk/Sports Club House at the oval, the very successful Rural and Community Field Day organised by the Welfare Council to coincide with ‘The Year of the Farmer’, and finally an Environmental Tree Planting project as part of the ‘Keep Australia Beautiful’ in the Tidy Towns Competition.
The winning of the 2012 NSW/ACT Community of the Year Award is a great acknowledgement of the incredible effort that members of the Tottenham Community have voluntary contributed.
For winning the Award the Community received a ‘Cut Glass’ trophy and a Commonwealth Bank cheque of $5,000 that will be deposited into a ‘Doctor Recruitment’ savings account to be used in the future when required (not for a long time we hope). An opportunity to view the trophy and a ‘power point’ presentation showing the submission is planned – date and time to be advised.
Finally, big thanks to the many Community members who selflessly support all the organisations in Tottenham with your voluntary contributions that collectively have ensured that Tottenham enjoys outstanding facilities and services.
Co-ordinated by the Tottenham Welfare Council with assistance by members from organisations with projects nominated in the Awards submission.
Regional Achievement & Community Award
Winner Media Profile
Tottenham Welfare Council – 2012 Winner The winners of the NSW/ACT Regional Achievement and Community Awards have been announced. The Tottenham Welfare Council was named the winner of the NSW Department of Primary Industries Community of the year (population under 15,000) Award. The annual awards program is initiated by PRIME7 and supported by the Commonwealth Bank and recognises groups, business, individuals and communities who play a vital role in enhancing the social, environmental and economic prosperity of rural NSW and the ACT. The NSW Department of Primary Industries community of the Year 9population under 15,000) Award was developed to recognise high-achieving communities and organisations that have made a deference to regional and rural New South Wales. These communities and groups share a strong sense of community spirit, which plays a vital role in enhancing services, employment, tourism and connections.
Faced with loss of medical services Tottenham’s 950 people rallied together to establish the Tottenham Hospital and Health Service Centre in 2007. As a small regional community, members of the community had to endure a 90km journey to the closest town Nyngan to meet the Air Ambulance flown from Sydney should they need lifesaving surgery. In the last year Tottenham Lions Club supported by the entire community and Shire Council have refurbished the Tottenham Airport installing fencing, lighting and sealing of the major run way so that it was suitable for planes and medical aircraft to provide emergency air ambulances services. Locals raised $180,000 and contributed 2,000 plus volunteer hours, plus machinery to produce the airstrip, which was opened in April.
The Tottenham Health Council has also aided in training 5 locals as Volunteer Ambulance Officers, enhancing the local capacity to respond to emergencies and guaranteeing th continuation of the local ambulance service. After 4 years without a doctor in the community, the Health Council also recruited a highly qualified full time doctor from the UK following the establishment of a successful marketing plan to advertise the community and the opportunity internationally.
The winners were announced at the State Gala Awards Presentation Diner at the orange Ex-Service Club on Saturday 27th October 2012.
Congratulations to Tottenham Welfare Council, the winner of the NSW Department of Primary Industries Community of the Year (population under 15,000) Award category who received $5,000 thanks to the Commonwealth Bank.
The Awards are proudly supported by the Land Newspaper, Local Government and Shires Associations and Sirromet Wines.
For further information, photographs or interviews please contact the Awards Office on 1300 735 445