Nominations are now open for the 2026 Australia Day Awards, offering an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the remarkable individuals and community groups who go above and beyond to support, enrich and improve life in the Moree Plains Shire.
“With so many worthy ambassadors within the Moree Plains, these awards provide a chance to acknowledge our community champions, those who generously volunteer their time and skills without seeking recognition yet continue to make a lasting and positive impact on the lives of others,” said Mayor Cr Susannah Pearse.
“I would like to strongly encourage the community to get behind our dedicated locals and nominate individuals and groups for the 2026 Australia Day Awards,” stated Mayor Cr Susannah Pearse.
Moree Plains Shire Council is currently calling for nominations for:
– Citizen of the Year (+25 years)
– Young Citizen of the Year (aged 14-25 years)
– Community Event of the Year
– Community/Volunteer Group of the Year
– Sports Person of the Year (+18 years)
– Young Sports Person of the Year (-18 years)
– Volunteer of the Year
Council has also announced its Australia Day ambassador, Bruno Efoti.
Bruno Efoti is a passionate mental health advocate and founder of Tradies In Sight, a not-for-profit organisation supporting the emotional well-being of tradespeople and their families. Born on the island of Foa in the Kingdom of Tonga, Bruno migrated to Australia in 1994 to study theology and later settled in Dubbo with his wife JoAnna. Together, they have fostered 27 children and raised their adopted son, Reuben, with a strong commitment to service and community.
After years working as a carpenter, Bruno witnessed firsthand the silent mental health struggles facing many tradies, particularly during the drought years of the late 2010s. Recognising a critical need for support, he retrained as a counsellor and, alongside JoAnna, established Tradies In Sight to provide practical, stigma-free mental health support.
Since opening in 2021, the INSight Shed in Dubbo has welcomed more than 2,000 visitors, offering safe spaces for connection through weekly events, apprentice wellbeing programs at TAFE, and partnerships with local mental health services. Bruno’s simple yet powerful approach, using food, fire and conversation to build emotional resilience, has earned strong community support and recognition, including nominations for Australian of the Year – Local Hero.
The 2026 Australia Day Award nominations are open until 5 pm, Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
Complete online or for a hardcopy head into Council’s Customer Service, Level 2, 30 Heber Street, Moree.
Nominate via completing and submitting the online form >> Australia Day Awards 2026
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=YwbZy3t7OUuYaMbX9Lk4WLo-3UJKF9JGm2sFXVdxls9UNDJXSFlJTkVESDhNQlFHMzFDNU5ITERaUC4u&route=shorturl
Keep an eye on Council’s website and Facebook page for further event information.
“Let’s come together to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions that make our community stronger,” said Cr Pearse.
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