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Heritage Volunteer Award Recipients 2006

The following individuals and organisations from across NSW were presented with a NSW Government Heritage Volunteer Award by Mr Frank Sartor, Minister for Planning, at a ceremony held at Parliament House on the 16th November 2006.

Award Recipient	Citation	Nominator
Dianne Burgoyne	After a career as a teacher and university lecturer, Dianne took a change of direction in 1993 and applied to become a volunteer guide with the Historic Houses Trust, starting out at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. Dianne became a highly respected member of the team, and became known for her high standard of interpretation which helped to enhance the visitor experience. She also developed a monthly newsletter aimed at building a communication network between all the Historic Houses Trust volunteers called "Guide Lines".	Historic Houses Trust Place: Sydney
Jon Breen	Jon Breen's knowledge of the heritage of Sydney's water supply is unsurpassed. In addition to a 40-year career with Sydney Water as a civil engineer, Jon undertook major heritage projects and can claim credit for saving and conserving significant movable heritage items, documents, plans and personal papers for the archives that provide the definitive account of the development of our water infrastructure. Jon's heritage assessment and subsequent presentation to the Institution of Engineers, Australia, on Cataract Dam in 1995 were instrumental in having Cataract Dam declared a National Engineering Landmark.	Sydney Water Place: Sydney
Billie Crawford	An active member of the Macleay River Historical Society for more than 20 years, Billie has been involved in heritage studies research, interpretation and oral history projects for the Kempsey museum and for Kempsey Council. She is a familiar voice on local ABC radio. Billie has conducted a series of oral history interviews on the district's 'Famous Women' and for Kinchela Boys Home reunion, among others. Billie has developed a local research centre at the Kempsey Museum and Cultural Centre and is a valuable resource for local writers, schools, government agencies and university researchers and anyone interested in researching family history.	Kempsey Shire Council Place: Kempsey
Judith Dunn	What began as a passion to conserve Parramatta's neglected cemeteries more than 20 years ago has led Judith Dunn to become the first lady of Parramatta's heritage. Her enthusiasm and energy inspired many others to become involved in the conservation of these historical cemeteries as places of historical and cultural value. Judith has co-ordinated the publication of books on St Patrick's, St John's, Mays Hill and the All Saints cemeteries and runs her own tour company specialising in heritage and history sites in the Parramatta district. A teacher on tour guiding at TAFE, Judith engages her students with the practical issues associated with tourism in significant heritage sites.	Royal Australian Historical Society Place: Parramatta
Hilma Ellis	For the past 20 years Hilma Ellis has been a valued and dedicated volunteer with the Friends of Grossmann House in Maitland. This Victorian Regency house built in 1871 has been beautifully conserved by the Trust and features a spectacular antique rose garden. Hilma has an extensive knowledge of the history and heritage of the property and shares this enthusiasm and passion in her role as a volunteer guide. She is also a generous donor and great supporter of the Friends of Grossman House in their many activities.	National Trust of Australia (NSW) Place: Maitland
Jill Finch	Born and raised in the Prospect district, Jill Finch has always enthusiastically supported local heritage conservation projects and is one of the original band of volunteers who came together more than 30 years ago to save the historic St Bartholomew's Church and cemetery. Her hard work and dedication also led to the newly named Prospect Heritage Trust finding a home and museum within the grounds of the Prospect Reservoir. Her role as President for more than a decade has included arranging regular speakers, bus tours to places of historic interest and working with other local history societies to celebrate the heritage of their region.	Prospect Heritage Trust Place: Prospect
Maureen Goddard	Maureen Goddard has brought her passion for Australian history to her role as group leader and program organiser of the Focus on History group within the Baulkham Hill's Leisure Learning Centre. Focus on History was begun almost 20 years ago by a group of local residents interested in discovering the heritage of their community. Each week the group visits churches, cemeteries, heritage properties and other historic places throughout the Sydney metropolitan area and, once a term, makes two or three tours to significant cultural heritage towns such as Morpeth and Gulgong. The popularity of Focus on History has led to more sessions being created to cater for the demand and some of the members are enrolling for their 11th and 12th years!	Focus on History Group Place: Baulkham Hills
Michelle Kilburn, representing the Haberfield Association Inc.	The Haberfield Association was formed in 1979 by a group of residents to fight unsympathetic development in their local area and to push for statutory protection of the historic Federation suburb as a conservation area. Their activities since then have not only led to improved planning processes and heritage management practice in the local area, but have also resulted in the inclusion of Haberfield on the Register of the National Estate and on Ashfield Council's LEP as a conservation zone. (Accepting the award on behalf of the Haberfield Association is a resident and one of the hardest working members of this distinguished group, Michelle Kilburn.)	Susan Jackson-Stepowski Place: Haberfield
Kathleen and Val Hamey	When Val and Kathleen Hamey 'retired' to Balmain 21 years ago, they immediately became involved with the local historical association. They have been on the Committee ever since, Kathleen as History Convenor and and Val as Treasurer. Kathleen is the public face for the Association. She manages most of the publications including the newsletter 'the Peninsula Observer' and several pictorial histories of local places. She conducts walking tours, maintains the archives and photo collections and mounts exhibitions for Heritage and History Weeks.	Leichhardt City Council Place: Balmain, Sydney
Tina Jackson for Lou Klepac	The name Lou Klepac is highly respected in the arts community. An arts scholar, historian and publisher, he has been a significant and valuable member of the National Trust S. H. Ervin Gallery Committee for more than 21 years. During this time Lou's support for, and commitment to, the Gallery Committee has been remarkable. Lou has also prepared a number of catalogues for the various exhibitions and has generously committed not only his time but also financially to the work of the Trust. Lou's guiding intelligence and extensive knowledge of arts enables the Trust's S. H. Ervin Gallery to remain a leading showcase of Australian arts culture featuring lively exhibitions that cover a diverse range of historical and contemporary themes. Lou was unable to join the ceremony as he was attending the opening of an arts exhibition in Canberra of which he was curator. Executive Director of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), Ms Tina Jackson, accepted the award on his behalf.	National Trust of Australia (NSW) Place: Sydney
Harry Marshall	Mr Marshall was unable to attend the ceremony at Parliament House. However, a few weeks prior to the event Chair of the Heritage Council, Michael Collins, visited Mr Marshall at his nursing home in Deniliquin to present him with his award. About 60 people attended a morning tea for Harry, including his extended family and his many friends in the community. Following his retirement in 1979 Harry Marshall decided to fill in his time by cleaning up a small section of the Deniliquin cemetery. Soon this became a 24-year campaign extending to the whole cemetery. He then decided to start mapping the location and documenting all the sites and has managed to identify numerous unknown graves and a major part of the Chinese cemetery. Mr Marshall has identified well over 90 percent of the graves and recreated his own unique registers for them. Thanks to Harry, graves can now be found quite easily, saving family and researchers many hours of time. His name has been given to a road in the cemetery, Harry Marshall Drive, and in 1990 he received the Civic Award as part of Deniliquin's Citizen of the Year Awards.	Deniliquin Shire Council Place: Deniliquin
Suzanne Monro	Suzanne Monro has given the National Trust Women's Committee 16 years of dedicated service, conducting house inspections and co-ordinating fundraising activities. Sue's management of the Tuesday house inspections is always done efficiently and with good humour and tact. Without her persuasive ability to get house owners to say 'yes', many of the inspections would not have occurred. In 2004 the Trust awarded Sue the Voluntary Service Medallion in recognition of her continuous service and dedication to the National Trust.	National Trust of Australia (NSW) Place: Sydney
Enid Muir	Enid Muir has been a stalwart of the Manning Valley Historical Society for the past 13 years fulfilling many valuable and time consuming tasks. She has served as a vice-president of the society for many years and has been involved in a range of activities including rostering, fundraising, organizing bus trips, dinners and cake stalls. She has also been actively involved on the workshop committee for more than a decade which means a lot of hands-on work - cleaning, dusting and polishing all the items on display. One of her many achievements has been setting up special displays for the Heritage Festival Beef Week, Anzac Day and other special events.	Manning Valley Historical Society Place: Manning Valley
Steve Norton	As president of the Canal Reserve Action Group, Steve Norton has been at the forefront of a successful and challenging community campaign to seek permanent protection and conservation of the 19th century Lower Prospect Canal. The group was formed 12 years ago to represent the views of the general community on the future of the 65-hectare canal site following its decommissioning as a water canal. Working closely with both National Parks and Holroyd City Council, the group successfully campaigned to have the site developed as a cycleway and community recreational space. Steve still carries out regular maintenance work at the reserve for Bush Care and participates in National Tree Day events.	Holroyd City Council Place: Holroyd
Gerard O'Brien	As Chair of the Friends of May's Hill Cemetery, Gerry O'Brien is committed to the conservation and promotion of this significant 150 year-old heritage item. The cemetery documents many of the Holroyd district's pioneering families including several local identities associated with the nearby Presbyterian and Baptist churches. Gerry has been at the forefront of all the Friends' activities since the group was formed in 1995. In conjunction with Holroyd City Council, the Friends are working towards the long term rehabilitation, security and conservation of this community asset. In association with Council's consultant archaeologist, the Friends have compiled a list of more than 100 cemetery monuments that are currently under going repairs and conservation. The Friends also conduct regular tours and open days at the cemetery which attract many visitors each time.	Holroyd City Council Place: Holroyd
John Normyle for Julie Pearson	Originally from Thredbo, Julie relocated to Dalgety nine years ago and became enamoured with the town's history. She bought Dalgety House as a heritage project and bed and breakfast concern and supports other owners of heritage properties to carry out conservation works. As well, Julie is the driving force behind the Dalgety Heritage Walk and brochure and is now on the board of Tourism Snowy Mountains. Julie could not join the ceremony (she had a heritage project commitment at home in Dalgety!) but her good friend and mentor John Normyle accepted the award on her behalf.	Snowy River Shire Council Place: Dalgety
George Rose OAM	Uncle George Rose - also known as 'Bandit' -- is the senior male Elder of the Yuwaalaraay language group and the Speaker on behalf of the Dharriwaa Elders Group Incorporated. Born at the Angledool Mission in north-western NSW, Uncle George speaks several traditional languages of the region. Uncle George has been a tireless worker on behalf of Indigenous cultural resource management and promoting the advantages of reclaiming traditional language. Using cultural mapping software, significant places are being recorded on an Aboriginal sites register with links to oral histories and incorporating references to native vegetation and animal resources and their uses.	Heritage Office, Department of Planning Place: North-western NSW
David and Suzanne Suttor	David and Suzanne Suttor have continued a family tradition spanning seven generations to promote and conserve the grave site of the Aboriginal warrior, Windradyne (Win-dra-dine) that lies on their property, Brucedale, near Sofala. Windradyne led the Wiradjuri people in a sustained resistance campaign against the colonial authorities during the early 1820s. When Windradyne died in 1835 he was buried on the Suttor property with full clan honours. The grave was marked by living trees incised with traditional information known to Wiradjuri. The Suttor family were active participants in the listing of Windradyne's grave on the State Heritage Register earlier this year.	Heritage Office, Department of Planning Place: Sofala
Emeritus Professor Peter Webber	Professor Webber retired from the National Trust Board in 2002 after 10 years of dedicated service. He chaired the Education, Properties and Architectural Advisory Committees and also represented the NSW National Trust on the Australian Council of National Trusts as Deputy Chair. As a former NSW Government Architect and NSW Planning Commissioner, Peter has had a long involvement with planning and conservation issues in the urban environment. At the University of Sydney one of his highest priorities was developing educational programs in urban design and conservation. Peter continues to be involved in the Trust committees and is currently Chair of the Properties Committee.	National Trust of Australia (NSW) Place: Sydney
Barbara Willis	Barbara Willis has been a member of the Bankstown Heritage Committee since its inception in December 2000 and is long time member of the Bankstown Historical Society. She has played a prominent role in several events for National Trust Heritage Week including the opening of The Homestead at Georges Hall, the Merle Peters History Writing competitions, Bankstown's Plaques Program among others, and with her husband Ken Willis, organizing Heritage Tours of Bankstown.	Bankstown City Council Place: Bankstown
Heather Winch	Heather Winch is one of the founding members of the Dharug & Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society formed in 1983. With her wealth of knowledge about the history of the area, including the heritage of the Old Great North Road, Heather has helped harness the energy of the Society's 130-plus members to help raise awareness of their area's heritage items. Heather has also encouraged other society members to conduct research and record oral histories of the older inhabitants of the Lower Hawkesbury area.	Dharug & Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society Place: Lower Hawkesbury