Moree local Tian Harris, who has worked as a volunteer for at least nine different organisations, has been named the 2024 Northern Tablelands Local Woman of the Year.
“I was quite overwhelmed when I found out that I was the winner,” Ms Harris said.
Ms Harris said she had not realised that she had been nominated for the award until Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall called and told her she had won.
“To be nominated is an honour in itself but to be named the local Woman of the Year is amazing,” Ms Harris said.
She said she spent most of her time as a volunteer to support those in need, and to inspire others, like the younger generation, to do the same.
“I love Moree and the Shire,” Ms Harris said.
“Moree is a very giving town and if you give back to the community, they will give back to you,” she said.
Ms Harris has volunteered through Gwydir Family History Society, the Lions Club, Moree View Club, Moree on a Plate, Moree Historical Society, the NSW Dickens Society, the State Emergency Service, Weemelah CWA, and the Westpac Helicopter.
She is also deeply connected with the community through working for Tourism Moree for eleven and a half years, and the Moree Plains Shire Council for three years.
Ms Harris developed several local projects such as the Moree History Walk, the Mobile Library Van, and the ‘Moree Council Then & Now,’ Exhibition of last August.
Ms Harris said she felt privileged to be born and raised in Moree for the many opportunities she had received, like community engagement events which recognised women.
She said Moree had a lot of local icons, many of them women who had inspired her.
Ms Harris credited her countless colleagues from the many organisations she had contributed to over the years for their leadership and mentoring.
However, the support at home from her grandmothers, Madge Magarry and Peg Harris, Mum Julie Harris, sister Jessie Harris, and niece Bridget Harris-Livet has been her biggest support, guiding her, and shaping her character.
Julie Harris said she was so proud of her daughter, and her dedication to Moree which had been recognised through several local awards.
Mrs Harris said Tian had twice won Moree’s Australian Citizen of the Year and had twice received non-Indigenous awards from the local Aboriginal Community for her support.
Mrs Harris said Tian had always eagerly participated in various community projects, whether it was local history tours or the development of an Aboriginal Elders Day.
The NSW Woman of the Year Awards Ceremony will be held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, at 7.30am this Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Ms Harris sincerely thanked Mr Marshall for nominating her for the award.
Ms Harris will attend the Awards Ceremony in Sydney with Mr Marshall and her father Kent Harris.
To find out more about the NSW Woman of the Year Awards Ceremony, go to: https://www.nsw.gov.au/awards-and-events/nsw-women-of-year-awards
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