Australia Day

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Percy Knight with
Australia Day ambassador Peter McLean.

For the first time in the history of 'Australia Day' celebrations, Condobolin held it's major function and Australia Day awards presentation with an early morning breakfast in Memorial Park. It was well attended by around 200 people, both young and old, who lined up for a great breakfast cooked and served up by members of the local branch of the Men of League and tea or coffee supplied by the Condobolin Quota Club.

Proceedings commenced with the flag raising and singing of the National Anthem. Councillor Kim Jones as MC for the morning welcomed everyone to the first breakfast in the park and said that council encourages each community within the shire to organise their own Australia Day celebrations. "Today across the shire there will be events to celebrate Australia Day and to allow each community to identify and reward their local heroes. In addition to Condobolin, Tottenham, Lake Cargelligo, Tullibigeal, Burcher and Fifield are all holding events and some of those will be attended by our guests, including our Australia Day ambassador Peter McLean and Glenn and Collette Schuil, representing our friendship council Penrith City," Kim Jones announced.

Citizen of the Year for Condobolin was awarded Percy Knight. Percy Knight is the CEO of the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation and has shown outstanding leadership in the development and construction of the recently opened Wiradjuri Study Centre and the implementation of the native title agreement improving the quality of life for indigenous members of the community and all Condobolin residents. His vision has given the Condobolin community the opportunity to have a unique centre, offering education, training and cultural support. The employment generated by this venture and the other ventures run by the WCC under Percy's guidance continue to stimulate the local economy and to help bridge the gap. Percy was born and bred in Condobolin and as a younger man excelled in sport, reaching the top of his chosen field of rugby league by playing in the NRL first grade competition for Balmain and the Canberra Raiders.

Chairman of the Condobolin Australia Day Committee, councillor Graham Scott said that the award of Citizen of the Year to Percy Knight was a first in Condobolin. "He is the first local aboriginal to receive this award and it is richly deserved. His nomination ticked all the boxes. The Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation has created employment for up to 80 people in its various enterprises. About 80 percent of these were long time unemployed, in fact many were unemployed for ten years or more and it has allowed these people to gain some self esteem and respect which reflects back on the whole community. Percy's vision and determination saw the opening of the unique Wiradjuri Study Centre last September and the centre's programs of education, training and employment will benefit Condobolin for generations to come," Graham Scott said.

There was also a change in the Young Citizen of the Year award this year, as it went to a group and not an individual. It was awarded to 'Team Bullet'.

This group of students from Condobolin High School established a reputation for excellence in the development of a scaled model F1 racing car. The project demanded skills from the students in concept, design, manufacture and marketing, using the motor sport industry as the stimulus. Mitchell Coote, Alexander Howarth, Nathaniel Smith, Gregory Kuhn and Lachlan Porter made up the team, which culminated with a fifth placing in the Australian Championships held at Eastern Creek raceway. They were all great ambassadors for the town and the shire.

The Community Service Award for 2012 was awarded to Keith Hartin. Keith was recognised for over 50 years of community service in various organisations including President of the Condobolin RSL Sub Branch, Chairman and director of the Condobolin RSL Club, Condobolin Bowling Club Director, Condobolin Sports Club Director and treasurer of the Condobolin branch of Men of League. Keith is responsible and has successfully organised and managed the Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services in Condobolin for many years

The Community Event of the Year was the naming of the local rugby league oval as the 'Pat Timmins Oval', which was organised by Condobolin's Men of League. The newly established Condobolin branch of Men of League held a very successful event, which was attended by over 200 people from all over the state at the naming ceremony and followed by a commemorative dinner at the Sports Club.

Nolls on ‘Family Confidential’

LOCALS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION:
Damian, Shannon and Adam Noll.

'Family Confidential' returns for its second season, begining February 2, Thursdays at 8pm on ABC1 inviting you into the homes of six of Australia's most powerful and intriguing families. This series includes: The Nolls (singer Shannon and family), The Courtenays (of author Bryce Courtenay), The Dingos (actor Ernie, wife Sally) , The Holmes à Courts (billionaire widow Janet and sons Peter and Paul), The Jacobsens (entertainment legend Kevin) and The Casellas (founders of Australia's wealthiest family wine company with the Yellow Tail label). They all share the hidden price of their success and explore the impact that fame and notoriety have had on their lives. The result is a rare insight into some of our most significant national figures, while also reminding us of the profound and complex relationships that lie at the heart of every family.

The Noll family describe themselves as, "an ordinary family who've faced the extraordinary". Shannon Noll, a multi-platinum recording artist, shot to fame in 2003 as the runner-up on the first series of Australian Idol. In just eight years, Shannon had ten consecutive Top Ten singles in the ARIA charts, the only artist in Australia ever to do so and, now with sales in the millions, he's one of Australia's top-selling performers. Yet Shannon's success hides a family tragedy.

Shannon grew up on the family's 100-year-old farm, in Condobolin NSW, with his two older brothers, Damian and Adam. The brothers never doubted they would inherit the farm, after all, the Nolls had been farming for five generations.

They worked the land by day and entertained crowds by night, performing in their rock and roll cover band in country pubs, Shannon singing, Damian on drums and Adam on guitar.

Then a freak accident in 2001, which killed their beloved father, catapulted the Noll brothers into a series of events that would define them as men. The brothers had a 4,500 acre farm teetering near bankruptcy, and worse, they faced a drought of biblical proportions. The pressure brought out the worst. Without their father to guide them, physical fights and bloodshed replaced the brothers' once tight sibling relationships.

When Australian Idol called for contestants it was a welcome distraction. But Shannon's success in the contest contradicted the heartbreaking reality that Adam, the eldest, had forced the family to face. With heavy souls they agreed to sell the farm that had been their family's mainstay for five generations. As Shannon's career took off, he was forced to drop his brothers from his band. But in a new twist of chance Adam and Damian have found their own musical voice and have recently been discovered by the business manager of the Wiggles, who is keen to launch them as country music's next big thing.