Photo: Some of the winners and nominees for the 2026 Australia Day awards join Ambassador Katryna Robinson (centre). Jamie Chaffey MP and 2025 Citizen of the Year Carol Stanley (second from right) on the stage at the Showground Pavilion on Monday.
“You don’t need to do everything to make a difference. You just have to do something.”
That was the message to Coonamblites from Australia Day Ambassador and national charity founder Katryna Robinson as residents gathered ahead of a scorching 46 degree Australia Day.
A crowd of roughly 70 people gathered under the giant fans of the Showground Pavillion, where Ms Robinson said doing something, however small, is always better than nothing.
“When everyone chooses something, the ripple effect is extraordinary, and that’s what that’s what matters about today.
“The people being recognized here, and the many who aren’t being recognized, are the reasons that our communities work. You volunteer, you lead, you support, you organize, you mentor, you advocate, you show up.
“Australia Day is one moment in time. Community is something we build every day.
“We build it in a way where we show up for others, in how we welcome people in and in how we choose to treat others when no one is watching.
“The impact you’re having, whether you’ll realise today or not, is real.”
Ms Robinson began her charity Every Little Bit Helps in Sydney in 2014 to provide personal hygiene packages for rough sleepers.
Since then, she said the volunteer organisation has gone on to deliver over 2.4 million person care items Australia-wide, including sanitary products, deodorant and toiletries.
She also presented the awards to winners from pool of 22 nominees across five categories.
There are usually six, but the Youth Citizen of the Year couldn’t be awarded because the sole nominee, SES and RFS volunteer Patrick Forbes, had already won it in the last five years, remmdering him ineligible under award rules.
However, organisers invited the recent Year 12 graduate to make a speech encouraging other young people to get active in the community.
“I’ve always tried to live by these values — helping others, taking responsibility, and contributing wherever I can.
“I’m proud to be part of a community that encourages young people to step up and have a voice.
“There will always be jobs in town, and if you’re a kid or a teenager who feels scared or ashamed about working. That’s okay. We’ve all felt that way at some point.
“But I highly recommend getting around your local shops, organisations and community groups, whether that’s volunteering or applying for a job.”
Coonamble’s 2026 Australia Day awardees and nominees were:
Citizen of the Year
Terry ‘Eccles’ Lees (winner)
Community Group of the Year
Coonamble SES (winner)
Community Event of the Year
A Night on the Town by Coonamble Show Society (winner)
Sportsperson of the Year
Tracy Baker-Holmes (winner)
Adda Craig (special recognition award)
Young Sportsperson of the Year
Brian Wallace (winner)
Editor’s note: There’ll be more on these winners in next week’s edition. Check out page 9 for some of the unofficial Australia Day highlights in Coonamble.