Narrandera Landcare volunteer Glenn Currie and Can Assist supporter Neil Seidel shared the Narrandera Shire Citizen of the Year award at the Australia Day awards ceremony at the town’s Australia Day celebrations yesterday.

Glenn came to Narrandera nearly five years ago and wanted to join a community group. He chose Narrandera Landcare as planting trees seemed like a worthwhile thing to do.

At the time Landcare was in need of leadership after the passing of long time President Terry Smith. Glenn demonstrated outstanding quiet but confident leadership, attracting and organising volunteers from the wider community, not just mainstream Landcare adherents.

He has organised a number of community tree planting days and other events such as the wildflower/wattle walks and bird surveys, activities at the Narrandera Community Garden as well as spending significant time attending to maintenance and development of the community garden. Under Glenn’s leadership a small nursery with native seedlings has been developed at the Food Garden which is helping keeping costs down and allowing funds to be spent elsewhere.

Glenn has been involved in school environmental projects such as tree planting and workshops at the Narrandera Wetlands.

He has also been generous with his time seeking grant funding opportunities including management and acquittal for various projects.

Glenn also assisted with publicising events and these efforts resulted in high participation by members.

His co-winner Neil Seidel is a very humble person who seeks no accolades for his support - he was nominated by the members of Narrandera Can Assist.

Neil has quietly achieved significant financial contributions to Narrandera Can Assist and his service to the community is notable. Funds raised and donated as a result of his efforts enabled the Narrandera Can Assist Branch to continue supporting people financially with their expenses after a cancer diagnosis.

He demonstrated leadership in organising sponsors to donate and participate in fundraising events.

His involvement came about following a conversation in East Street when Neta Close, President of Narrandera Can Assist, was asked to meet him outside Narrandera Jewellers.

From that conversation Neil ran with the idea which has now become an amazing fundraiser. Neil started the now well known The Header Drivers Convention which he has organised for approximately 11 years to become a fund raiser for CanAssist.

As a volunteer and not a member of Can Assist he has raised over $20, 000 each year by engaging sponsors. He also organises a ‘thank you’ evening for sponsors.