Meet Your Current Citizen & Young Citizen of the Year
Take the opportunity to get to know your Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year a little better.
Geoff Coombes OAM, Australia Day Ambassador, Ross and Helen Krause, 2022 Citizens of the Year, Francis Fifield’s daughter Katie Fifield, Alison and Peter Campbell, Cr Tony Quinn, Mayor, Greater Hume Council, front, Aimee Riley and Francis Fifield’s granddaughter, Maddison Wilson. (Francis Fifield could not attend) (Photo courtesy of Janene Whitty Photography)
Citizen of the Year - joint winners Francis Fifield and Alison and Peter Campbell
Mrs Francis Fifield
Fran Fifield commenced nursing in 1964 and retired in 2019 preparing to enjoy some LSL and travel. But in March 2020 she answered the call from the Australian Government for nurses to re-enter the workforce to help with COVID spending her time working for Murrumbidgee Local Health Service, working up to twelve hours some days COVID testing and a further 12 months of giving COVID vaccinations. Fran was able to advise locals about the rules around COVID, testing and vaccinations till her next retirement in May 2022. Fran considered this as doing the “best she could for country.”
Over her career of nursing Fran has met and made some amazing friends. Commencing her 4 year training at the Mercy in Albury, then her midwifery at SVMH in Melbourne. Fran returned to Henty in 1969 to be close to her family where she met and married her husband in 1970. Fran worked at the Henty Hospital from 1969 till 1991, when she commenced as a community nurse in the Lockhart Shire, until her position changed to Child and Family nurse for Lockhart and Greater Hume Council area’s till 2019, providing care for many families, sometimes into the second generation. Fran was also responsible for vaccinations of many babies, children and teenagers across the region, so much so she was often referred to as the “needle lady”. She is the epitome of the calm and capable bush nurse, who puts the care of her patients above herself. She has rocked any new babies to sleep, held the hands of the dying and climbed into ambulances to test potential COVID patients. In 1998 she coordinated the MMR vaccinations in some 23 primary and high schools. Fran was always contributing to her community actively working for the footy club canteen, the Henty School P&C at the Henty Field Days, she is treasurer of the church and a member of the Henty Lifestyle Centre. She continues to best an active LHAC member of the Henty MultiPurpose Service.
Fran is an example of an older Australian who has stepped up instead of winding down, to help our community deal with the COVID crisis. While most of Fran’s work has been in paid employment a significant amount of time has been in her own time continually being a source of information re health for young and old.
Mr Peter and Mrs Alison Campbell
Peter and Alison Campbell have lived in Henty since 2016 having farmed land west of Henty previously. They have been active members of the community and contributed significantly to many different organisations within Henty. Both have a clear understanding of what it takes for small communities such as Henty to prosper this has been showcased through their active participation, motivation for action, commitment, dedication and above all loyal and caring nature.
One of their most significant contributions to the Henty community came only recently when as a result of their own personal experiences, they recognised the need for respite care in smaller communities. In collaboration and working with the local health advisory committee, they embarked on the development and construction of “Avondale Place”. Avondale Place is a four-bedroom short term respite care centre and four two - bedroom assisted living units. Peter and Alison were the instigators of Avondale Place and gave a very generous donation to enable the project to proceed. Both Peter and Alison are engaged with a number of committees and clubs with a focus on the betterment of Henty. Peter is currently a Founding Board Member Avondale Place Trust, Board Member and Treasurer of Henty Community Club, Treasurer Henty Men’s Bowling Club and the Treasurer Uniting church. Previously he has been Chair of the Alma Park/ Pleasant Hills Landcare Group, Chair Eastern Riverina Land Care Network, Henty Rotarian, NSW Farmers Executive Council, Chair NSW Farmers Billabong Branch, Secretary/Treasurer Warratah Seed Co and in 2012 was chosen as NSW Farmer of the year. Alison is currently a Founding Board Member Avondale Place Trust, Henty Golf Club Committee, Member of Henty/Culcairn Uniting Church. Previously She has been involved with Henty Public School P&C (Life Member), Billabong High School P&C, Henty Catering Association, Board Member /Secretary Henty Community Financial Services (Henty Bendigo Bank), Alma Park/Pleasant Hills Landcare group and Drum Muster Inspector. Alison became known on the Bendigo Bank Board for her witty marketing jingles.
Peter and Alison’s recent contributions take on even greater significance considering this is being achieved whilst being the carer for their daughter Ainslie who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome (MECFS). Peter and Alison are considered pillars of the Henty Community and should be acknowledged for the hard work they do, ensuring the future prosperity and success of the Henty community and the generations to come through it.
Young Citizen of the Year - Miss Aimee Riley
Aimee has spent a lifetime in service to which every community group she has belonged to starting in her student years. Although only moving to be a resident of Greater Hume in the past eighteen months she has strong historical family connections to Jindera. As shown by her involvement in Greater Hume groups and Jindera in particular over the years her heart has always been in this area. It just took awhile to move into Greater Hume. Involvement in Relay for Life over a number of years and the St Vincents Food Appeal shows that Aimee has a giving heart and passion for community appeals. We highly recommend her for this award. Some of Aimee’s other achievements are:
- 2016 Elected to Jindera Netball Club Committee
- Performed at Jindera Carols 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
- 2017 Member Jindera 150th Committee
- 2018, 2019 Greater Hume Youth Committee
- Jindera Pioneer Museum 50th birthday committee
- 2019 Won Walbundrie Miss Showgirl and also a volunteer at Walbundrie Show
- Jindera Recreation Management Committee
- Elected to Jindera Pioneer Museum executive
- Production of Jindera’s 150th Anniversary Book
- 2020 Won The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl Zone final in Finley
- Elected to Hume Netball Executive
- Applied for and was successful at receiving a grant for new netball courts in Jindera
- 2021 attended Sydney Royal Show as a showgirl state finalist Agriculture Society Council of NSW as honorary showgirlElected as Jindera Netball secretary (currently on)
- Sang at GHC Australia Day celebrations at Walbundrie
- Hume Netball Representative Coordinator ( currently on)
- Applied for and was successful with a grant for new clubrooms at Jindera Recreation Reserve.
- 2022 Agriculture Society Council NSW next Gen executive group Group B delegate (This group is responsible for promoting and encouraging youth involvement in Agricultural Shows)
- Organised music for the Walbundrie Show
- Started applying for grants for refurbishment Jindera War Memorial on behalf of the Jindera Recreation Reserve Committee.