A Canowindra couple who have devoted themselves to working for an array of organisations for more than 50 years have been named the town's Citizens of the Year.
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Anne and Mark Ward received their awards during Australia Day celebrations in Canowindra, which is also featured a citizenship ceremony where seven new Australian citizens were welcomed to Cabonne Shire.
Mark has been involved with and held executive positions for at least 40 years in organisations such as Apex, the Canowindra Showground Trust Committee, Jockey Club Committee, St Kevin's Men's Hostel in the 1980s, the Rivers Fire Brigade, Canowindra Squash Club, Canowindra Pre-School and the Belubula Landholder' Association.
He spent 25 years as a board member with the Lyndon House Drug and Rehabilitation Service, 10 as chairman. Mark has been a member of the Canowindra branch of the NSW Farmers and a founding member of the Men's Monthly Luncheon.
Anne has held various positions with the Canowindra Swimming Club, volunteered with St Vincent De Paul Society, Meals on Wheels and the 100-Mile Dinner, as well as being a founding member of the Canowindra Garden Club.
Anne was the director of the Canowindra Pre-School in the 1980s and early 1990s and since her retirement from a teaching role, she and Mark have been advisors to subsequent pre-school educators and the committee.
They have also held executive roles in various committees with St Edward's Primary School, as well as being strong supporters of St Edward's parish for 50 years.
Anne and Mark were founding members of the Read Triplet Trust, which was formed to assist a local family build an accessible house for their three wheelchair-bound children.
"Mark and I are very proud of the town in which we live and the people we share our lives with," Anne said.
"Volunteering riches and enhances your life and we enjoy being able to give back to this wonderful community that has been so good to us."
Australia Day celebrations were held at 10 Cabonne towns and villages, with Australia Day Ambassador Peter Herbert, Cabonne's Youth Ambassador Hudson Izzard and Mayor Kevin Beatty attending ceremonies in Mullion Creek, Cargo and Canowindra.
Mr Herbert, a noted television writer and producer, has been associated with iconic series such as The Sullivans, Cop Shop, The Flying Doctors, and Acropolis Now.
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