January:

Billy and Tania White, pictured with Hamish Thomson from Ray White Deniliquin (left) and Deniliquin Business Chamber president Paula Rutter (far right), won the Deni Lights Up Best Residential Display for 2023. Announced early in the New Year, the Best Business prize went to Soul Pattinson Chemist and the People’s Choice was won by Karen and Robert Martin.

Tony Wallace, Andrew Jefferies and John Conallin release yellowbelly figerlings purchased thanks to the 2023 Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge. A record release, the $30,000 purchase represented the highest fingerling order placed with the NSW Government run Narrandera Fisheries Centre at the time. From the same event, the group also released $8000 worth of eel tailed catfish and $4000 in mature Murray cod in 2023.

More than six years after land for the project was secured, and many more years of discussion about the need for a retirement village in Deniliquin, Edward River Village’s first villas became available for sale.Two of the first six units were ready, with the remaining four expected to be completed by April. Further stages of construction at the village - which spans 2.2ha and is planned to accommodate 32 villas plus communal spaces - are to be triggered once all six units are under contract.

Blighty farmer Lindsay Marshall was presented with the 2024 Lex Bunn Memorial Award at International Dairy Week 2024. He is pictured with 2023 recipient Mark Patullo. The award is presented for an outstanding contribution to the dairy industry over many years. It is specifically for those who contribute to the industry but do not seek recognition, and was introduced to the IDW schedule by Brian Leslie in 2002. The award is voted on by previous recipients. Photo courtesy of International Dairy Week.

Anthony Michael was named Edward River Council Citizen of the Year, with his nomination noting his career as a teacher, involvement in the Deniliquin Show dairy competition and involvement in other community and sporting groups. Other award winners were: Young Citizen of the Year - Madeline Weir; Sports Award – Maureen Fitzmaurice; Junior Sports Award – Baxter Cowley; Arts & Culture Award – Edward River Art Society; Junior Arts & Culture Award – Gracie Allitt; Community Event/Initiative of the Year – Fleming Partners Community Fundraising Day; Community Group of the Year – Country Education Foundation of Edward River Region; Environmental Citizen of the Year – Roseanne Farrant. Photo by Bobby Murphy.

After five decades of service to the Moama Fire Brigade, Graeme Teasdale was named Murray River Council Citizen of the Year. Other award winners were: Young Citizen of the Year - Jobe Unwin; Sportsperson of the Year - Damien Cocks; Young Sports Person of the Year - Lara O’Callaghan; Community Group of the Year - Moulamein Rural Fire Service; Community Event of the Year - Tooleybuc Piangil District Action Group’s 2023 S@#t Box Rally event; Arts and Culture Award - Golden Rivers Theatre Group. Photo by AIden Briggs. Photo by Aidan Briggs