Awards and recognition

Crown Lands acknowledges the incredible contributions of volunteers, community boards and local councils in managing Crown reserves.

With over 34,000 Crown reserves across NSW, including showgrounds, parks, sporting venues and community halls, the dedication of more than 1200 Crown land managers is truly commendable.

There are around 2,500 volunteer community members on Statutory Land Manager boards involved in Crown reserve management across NSW.

Crown Lands Service Recognition Awards acknowledges individuals who have provided decades of service in the management of Crown land for their local community. Awards are delivered at 10-year intervals, for as long as the member continues as a land manager.

In 2024, around 900 individuals were acknowledged for their long-term service volunteering on a Crown land management board. Over 170 individuals were acknowledged for over 30 years as a member of a land manager board and around 20 individuals acknowledged for over 40 years on a land manager board.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper: “The NSW Government is focused on building better communities, but we cannot do that without the invaluable help of volunteers across the state who put their time and effort into managing public infrastructure on Crown land reserves.”

NSW and ACT Community Achievement Awards

The NSW/ACT Community Achievement Awards is a state-wide annual awards program organised by Awards Australia. The Department sponsors award categories for Crown land management.

The Community Achievement Awards (CAA) are designed ‘to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions that individuals, communities and businesses make throughout NSW and the ACT. These awards aim to recognise their success and achievements by giving back to their communities and making NSW and the ACT a better place.’ 

Information about the awards program, including a list of current and past award winners NSW/ACT CAA, is available on the Awards Australia website.

Crown Land Management Excellence Award – Calarie Recreation Reserve land manager

This land manager board has worked tirelessly to improve facilities at the local Calarie Hall at Forbes in the Central West. The reserve is a versatile venue, hosting weddings, community meetings, and youth programs like ‘Boys to the Bush’ while also providing an evacuation space in emergencies. Under the committee’s management, solar panels and accessible bathrooms have been installed, making the venue more environmentally friendly, self-sufficient and accessible. Their commitment to improving facilities at the reserve ensures Calarie Recreation Reserve remains a central meeting place.

Individual Excellence in Crown Land Management Award – June Dangar

June is the current Treasurer of the Armidale Showground Reserve Land Manager and committed to preserving the heritage of Armidale Showground. While Board chair, June helped facilitate the restoration of two historic grandstands, preserving the site’s precious history and ensuring Armidale Showground can continue to be a premier event location. June also oversaw installation of lighting upgrades to allow the showground to be used for longer hours as a multi-purpose space. Finally, June used her impressive technology knowledge to enhance community engagement through social media channels, attracting more campers from far-and-wide to come and stay at the showground.

Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award – Tweed Shire Council

The Council has done a superb job transforming the idyllic Jack Evans Boat Harbour into a revitalised and dynamic community space. Spanning 11 hectares, the Jack Evans Boat Harbour Precinct fosters both passive and active recreation. The area includes a play space, a youth recreation area with a skatepark and basketball court, and a covered picnic precinct with accessible barbeques and seating areas. The space celebrates and honours the local Goorimahbah people through construction of Indigenous public art poles. The space is designed to connect the nearby Tweed CBD to the Tweed River, providing the community with a dynamic and diverse public space that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

There were 12 finalists across the 3 Crown Lands awards’ categories from the state’s Far West, South-West, New England, North Coast and Central NSW regions.

Individual Excellence in Crown Land Management Award finalists

Debbie Coddington of Temora – Debbie is the driving force behind maintaining the historic Bectric Recreation Reserve. Constructed in 1904, Bectric Hall is the last standing pisé (mud) hall in Australia. Thanks to Debbie’s relentless hard work, the hall has been restored for its centenary and the facility has gone from strength-to-strength, including hosting the annual Bectric Rocks music concert that brings together local country artists and poets.

June Dangar of Armidale – Under June’s astute and collaborative leadership, significant capital improvements have taken place at Armidale Showground, including the restoration of the showground’s historical grandstands. Her commitment to enhancing accessibility, community involvement, and the preservation of historical features have significantly contributed to the Showground’s success as a vibrant and inclusive community resource.

Cheryl Krutli of Broken Hill – Cheryl has helped turn the Broken Hill Regional Events Centre and Racecourse into a thriving outback community resource. This sprawling 80-hectare multipurpose facility is a community hub that frequently hosts weddings, conferences, social club picnic days and school activities. Under Cheryl’s tenure on the board, the site’s primitive camping facilities have been expanded to allow more campers to stay at the site, which helps accommodate tourists who attend well-known events like the annual Mundi Mundi Bash.

Meg Low of Oberon – As the Chair of the Oberon Showground Land Manager, Meg has been instrumental in helping the showground host both big and small events. Meg excels in liaising with community groups and enhancing the camping experience and works tirelessly to promote the showground.

Crown Land Management Excellence Award finalists

Armidale Showground Reserve Land Manager – A dedicated group of volunteers manages this multipurpose site that includes a main pavilion, a showring, exhibition centre and other spaces such as dedicated camping facilities. Over the past 12 months the volunteer board has sourced funding to renovate its facilities, including a grandstand.

Calarie Recreation Reserve Land Manager – the volunteers of this community centre in Forbes have ensured it remains a thriving hall that benefits the entire community. Under the board’s management over the last 12 months, solar panels, a fully functional camp kitchen with external electric BBQ and a new accessible bathroom have been installed, ensuring the facility is primed to host local events.

Kempsey Showground Reserve Land Manager – the volunteers at this 10-hectare multi-use facility have kept the showground at the heart of the Kempsey community. The showground hosts about 430 events and activities each year, as well as offering primitive camping. The volunteers have driven infrastructure improvements, including refurbishing an on-site cottage, improved lighting at the main hall and improving access to onsite amenities.

Kendall Community Centre Land Manager – the active volunteer board manages the three buildings that are located on the Kendall Community Centre – the Kendall Hall, The Rural Transaction Centre and Bookends. The six-person board has ensured the centre is a thriving space for people of all ages and has improved facilities by installing solar panels and increasing battery storage.

Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award finalists

Broken Hill City Council – The council has built an exciting new inclusive playground at Queen Elizabeth Park, which includes an upgraded amenities block, new car parking, new barbecues and picnic tables, seating, new large and small dog parks, renovated historic rotunda, refurbished canteen, and a fully operational historic Penrose Park picnic train. The park is powered by wind and solar energy and used by a wide array of community groups.

Clarence Valley Council – The council has revamped the local Corcoran Park including by constructing a new accessible dog park. The dog park is located on a former landfill site, but through careful management the area has been remediated into a thriving space for owners to watch their pets play. The project included an accessible nearby picnic area and a pontoon to increase river access.

Port Macquarie Hasting Council – The council has rejuvenated Westport Park by expanding its Livvi Playground to include waterplay, which is a disability friendly design for people of all ages. The park now has upgraded shade sails, a picnic shelter, connecting paths and landscaping, and parking at the local boat ramp was also improved.

Tweed Shire Council – The council oversaw improvements to the Jack Evans Boat Harbour Precinct, which serves as a recreational and tourism hub for the Tweed City Centre. The council spearheaded development and implementation of the Goorimahbah – Place of Stories Inclusive Playspace. This initiative included construction of a youth recreation area, including a skate park and half-court basketball facility, a new picnic and barbeque precinct, and revitalisation of the swimming area.