Australia Day

Nigel Korff

Nigel Korff has been a paramedic and volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) since 1985. His service includes 19 years with the NSW RFS Lower Hunter Aviation brigade and a member of the NSW RFS Remote Area Fire Team (RAFT) and Rapid Aerial Response Team (RART). He was selected for the inaugural NSW RFS Aviation Rescue Crew in 2014 and is now an instructor and assessor for NSW RFS Down the Wire operations. In 2022, Nigel was part of the helicopter rescue response for the Lismore floods, as well as a Rescue Crewman on NSW RFS Helitak 201 where he was involved in 17 winch rescues at Eugowra, contributing to Australia’s largest number of successive rescues performed by helicopters on any single day. The crew of Helitak 201 was awarded the Barry Marsden Memorial Award for Outstanding contribution to the preservation of life during a natural disaster by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots United Kingdom, with the awards being presented in London.

Diana Thorning

Diana Thorning has shared her kind-heartedness and talents with the Singleton community for many decades.

A foster carer to 15 children, Diana has provided emergency respite to children in need since 1997.

In 2011, after decades of membership, volunteering and fundraising for the Uniting Elizabeth Gates Village Auxiliary, Diana was named Auxiliary Secretary, a role she still holds. At the Auxiliary’s fete in 2023, Diana raised vital funds for the village by making and selling 200 jars of jam and pickles.

Diana has also been Secretary of the Singleton Branch of the Australian Red Cross since 2003. Here she oversees many functions of the service, including coordinating Singleton’s Red Cross Trauma Teddy program.

Since 2009, Diana has been the Vice President of Singleton Tidy Towns and was heavily involved when Singleton Tidy Towns hosted the NSW Tidy Towns Awards in March 2023, an event that brought around 200 visitors to Singleton.

Mick McCardle

Mick McCardle continually advocates for the needs of the Broke community and works tirelessly to support its residents in times of celebration and crisis.

After founding the Broke Residents Community Association (BRCA) in 2019, as President Mick has advocated and worked in partnership with Council to make significant improvements to the village including the development of the Broke footpath and cycleway project, and changes to speed limits to improve road safety.

Mick enthusiastically coordinates a range of community events including the monthly Broke markets, Winterfest and Christmas with the Neighbours. As an Army veteran, Mick partners with the Broke RFS to organize the Broke Anzac Day Memorial Service and Remembrance Day. Mick’s integrity of character and admirable sense of responsibility and community mindedness is further demonstrated by his contributions in the Broke 2022 flood recovery. He was instrumental in elevating Broke’s emergency readiness through fundraising appeals, supporting the establishment of the Broke Community-led Resilience Team (CRT) as Deputy, and campaigning for the new Emergency Warning System.

Mick’s role in coordinating events that brought the community together following the floods has been pivotal — from community BBQs to town meetings, Mick is determined to lead the Broke community on the pathway towards recovery. Mick’s leadership inspires those around him to step up for their community and be proud of where they live.

As a passionate advocate for community mental health, Mick also actively promotes and supports mental health organisations. 

Uncle Warren Taggert

Dedicated Aboriginal elder, Wanaruah Aboriginal Land Council Board Member and Wambo Coal Singleton Hall of Fame inductee, Uncle Warren Taggart has worked tirelessly to both preserve and share the rich history and culture of the Wanaruah, Wonnarua people, including conducting regular tours of the culturally significant Baiame Cave.

He is a long-time member of the Singleton Aboriginal Advisory Committee and has been instrumental in the organisation of NAIDOC Week activities as well as regularly delivering Welcome to Country at various events throughout the local government area.

Named the 2016 Elder of the Year (Male) at the Upper Hunter NAIDOC Awards, Warren is particularly passionate about educating children and authored a colouring book aimed at pre-schoolers, illustrated by his daughter Kerri-Ann. Warren also works tirelessly to keep people informed about his beautiful Wanaruah, Wonnarua country through social media, radio and TV interviews, university and TAFE talks.

Fred Turner

In hot and blustery conditions when the threat of bushfire escalates to reality, Fred Turner is among those heading towards the flames. The Rural Fire Service (RFS) Group Officer Hunter Valley has been a volunteer for almost forty years, starting out at Carrowbrook after taking over management of Lake St Clair.

Fred has since retired after 28 years overseeing the maintenance and operation of the lake, but his commitment to the RFS has only strengthened. 

He rose through the ranks to Group Officer, and now plays a commanding role in managing fires, usually from the bird’s-eye view of a helicopter. Fred has recently acquired an accredited air observer’s qualification, enabling him to direct the helicopter pilot using his own knowledge of the Singleton district.

If his job as Group Officer isn’t consuming enough, Fred has also found time over the last decade to dedicate to the Singleton Legacy Group (eight of those as Secretary), volunteers at the Australian Army Infantry Museum, is an honorary member of the Infantry Centre Sergeants Mess, and has been a member of the Singleton Lions Club and Singleton RSL Sub-Branch.