What a great pity it is that Wagga has missed out on any national Australia Day award winners.
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This city has scores of people who would be eligible, but it appears none were nominated for any Order of Australia medals.
That indeed is a great shame and perhaps therein lies the problem.
The nomination process is complicated and is often left up to various individuals and voluntary groups to submit names and application forms to Government House.
Wagga City Council is in the process of setting up a new people's panel initiative and maybe this could its first task.
The panel could come up with a list of names deserving of such an honour.
Members could then sift through the nominations before submitting a list to the Governor-General for his consideration.
This process would ensure Wagga never misses out on an honour's list winner again.
On a far brighter note congratulations must go to Wagga's local Australia Day award winners.
Kerry Geale is our Citizen of the Year while Sally Tanner is our Young Citizen.
Arthur Nixon will be the next person named on the Baylis Street Walk of Honour.
Steve Kimball took out the Ted Ryder Sports Memorial Award while Sally Shipard and Barry O'Hagan have both been inducted into the Wagga Sporting Hall of Fame.
All these people, plus the other nominees, have all made significant contributions to our city and the question must be asked just where would we be without them?
Most are volunteers who give up their time freely, while others such as Sally Shipard have reinforced Wagga's standing as the sporting capital of country Australia.
Without doubt Australia Day is a great occasion and to see it celebrated here with great pomp and ceremony is due recognition to its status.
The city council, and others, are to be congratulated for presenting the day in such a festive spirit.
Many activities have been organised for locals to attend so well may we say Advance Australia Fair.