AUSTRALIA DAY: 27 JANUARY 2017

Jim Troth a popular Molong Citizen of the Year

Molong Citizen of the Year and Community Group of the Year awards were presented during yesterday’s Australia Day celebrations at the Molong Recreation Ground.

The awards were announced by MC Bob Sullivan and presented by Phil Donato, the recently elected State Member for Orange.

A very popular winner of the Molong Citizen of the Year was James Troth.

Cabonne Council’s citation for James comprised:

— Member of the Rotary Club for 30 Years, acting as President on two occasions;

— President of the Molong Swimming Club for 12 years and made a life member of the club;

— President and coach of the Molong Junior Soccer Club and took a group of under 16 soccer players from the Western Division to Sydney for State Titles and were runners-up for NSW Country;

— On the committee for both the 125th and 150th celebrations at Molong Central School and has helped with the mock interviews of year 10 students at the school;

— Previously on the Board of the Molong Bowling Club for six years;

— Started both the Molong and Manildra Progress Associations and is still President of the Molong Progress Association;

— Helped to start the Molong Men’s Shed and the building of the shed.

The Molong Community Group of the Year was named as the Combined Probus Club of Molong, with a citation that read:

— Formed in Molong 17 years ago;

— Members attend meetings held monthly;

— Activities include guest speakers, day trips to local attractions, luncheons and games day;

— A welcoming club for the whole community, and particularly utilised by retired residents;

— The club is a not-for-profit organisation that distributes any excess funds raised to local charities.

The award was accepted on behalf of the club by Betty Watcham.

For Molong Online — and for quite a few others — the great shame of the day was the absence of an award for Molong Young Citizen of the Year.

We gather that this was because of a lack of any nominations rather than a decision that the town didn’t have any young worthy of such as award. Molong Online knows full well that the latter is not the case.

Perhaps its up to the organisers of the local Australia Day awards to look a bit harder.