Master of ceremonies at Cootamundra 2020 Australia Day ceremony, Paul Braybrooks, congratulated the three award winners, Sam Gash, Bradon Lambert and Michelle Baldry.
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He read out citations for each, as follows:
"Our sportsperson of the year has been a member of: the under-14 junior rugby league team; the under-14 group 9 rugby league team; the under-14 Wagga Wagga Vipers representative touch team; the under-14 Southern Suns regional representative touch team; the NSW western under-15 rugby league team; the under-16 small schools rugby league team, and the NSW under-15 touch team.
"He has also been age champion for athletics at Sacred Heart, fourth in NSW Athletics in long jump, a member of Turvey Park under-14 AFL team, best and fairest for Cootamundra junior league, the highest point scorer for the group 9 area, referee for the Cootamundra junior league.
"And he's been assistant coach for Cootamundra Public School rugby league team, and is a member of the under-16 Canberra Raiders Howard Matthews representative squad.
"Our young citizen of the year is an extrmely unselfish young man always ready to assist anyone who needs a helping hand. He only needs to hear that somebody is in need and he'll do all he can to ensure that they get help.
"He goes to great lengths to be supportive, he's humble and never expects anything in return for his assistance.
"Previously a Scout, he is now a dedicated volunteer for the Red Cross in Cootamundra. He takes it upon himself to organise assistance for those people in the community who need a hand with day-to-day tasks - he's the first to put his hand up to do lawn mowing and other household tasks we all take for granted every day.
"To have such a young man willing to give up his time to assist other members of our community is a quality to be proud of - and still this young man has time to dote on his fiancé."
"Our citizen of the year has been a dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteer for in excess of 20 years, and has assisted with fund raising and awareness of the Red Cross for almost as long.
"She's been a devoted scripture teacher and a great supporter of the priests nuns and parishioners within the Catholic community.
She is also an active member of the Cootamundra Nursing Home committee, organising many successful fund raising events.
She acts as a case worker for St Vincent de Paul Society meeting clients and assessing their eligibility for financial support and providing emotional support and advice. She's been a valued member of the Wallendbeen Red Cross for 60 years, with 10 years as secretary and the past 13 years as president."
