AN Oberon Showground Hall packed for Australia Day celebrations saw Jan Lanser announced as Oberon's Citizen of the Year on Sunday.
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The crowd was told Ms Lanser supports the community in many ways, including volunteering to organise catering at the Burraga Sheep Show and Country Fair and Burraga Seniors' Week function for many years.
She became involved with the community of Black Springs when the parish worked to reopen St Aidan's Church and has served as a harmonium player for fundraising, as a publicity officer and pastoral support volunteer.
Since 2015, Ms Lanser has been the pianist, musical arranger, coach and general organiser of the Accidental Ensemble, a group which has presented four performances raising around $6000 for local charities.
The crowd was also told Ms Lanser is on hand for any neighbours or community members in need of support and is known and respected across the community.
The other nominee for Citizen of the Year was Nadine Roach, who is the co-ordinator for Live Better in Oberon.
Young Citizen of the Year Baily Nielsen completed his HSC in 2019 at Oberon High, where he was school vice-captain.
He held the position of Youth Mayor for the Oberon Youth Council, spent time in Dubbo during 2019 at the Indigenous Access program, participated in the National Youth Science Forum, received the CSIRO Bronze Crest Award and is a local RFS volunteer.
He has been offered a place at Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga for 2020 in Veterinary Technology and hopes to eventually be a vet.
Other nominees for Young Citizen of the Year were Malcom Voerman and Kobi Hotham.
Mayor Kathy Sajowitz and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole both said all nominees should be proud of their achievements and their contribution which makes Oberon a better place to live for future generations.
Oberon's Australia Day ambassador, retired Australian water polo player Elysha O'Neill, paid tribute to all volunteers and nominees for the Oberon awards.
Ms O'Neill particularly wanted to thank all emergency service personnel who, she said, bravely fought the bushfires throughout NSW.
