Murray Brown has been named Forbes' Citizen of the Year at the 2021 Australia Day Celebrations for his years of service to the Bedgerabong and Forbes communities.
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Forbes Shire Council's General Manager Steve Loane said in reading out the citation that Murray is an inspirational role model for the community, and has demonstrated community spirit and has very high expectations with everything he involves himself in.
"Murray dedicates much of his spare time to others including the many community groups he is a member of. He leads by example and it is not uncommon to see him behind the BBQ, selling raffle tickets, shifting equipment or just lending a hand, all for a good cause or someone in need," the citation reads.
Murray said receiving this award was totally unexpected and is a recognition of the people behind him.
"It's not just about me. Family is a big one that allows you to be involved in a lot of the organisations," he said.
"It is a wonderful community to live in. Living in Bedgerabong, there is a great community atmosphere out there," he said.
The school, the show, the racecourse, it's just a privilege to be a part of all of those different organisations."
"An award like this goes to the people behind the scenes that are always helping you as you aim and achieve in things and making things happen," Murray said,
"It's the people behind you, whether it's your family, whether it's the committees that you're involved with - they're the ones that make things possible because it's a team effort."
Murray said over the last few years he's had a big focus around the Bedgerabong community because that's where he grew up.
READ ALSO: Norm Haley named Forbes' Citizen of the Year
"I just enjoy helping where I can and taking on those roles and making things happen."
Murray has been involved in helping the Bedgerabong Public School P and C, the Bedgerabong Show Society and the Bedgerabong RFS.
"It's a community, people have to make it happen for those events to continue," he said.
Murray said some of the reasons he jumped on board to help the school P and C include that his kids went there, and that it is a brilliant school with staff that go above and beyond.
"That school, the showground - racecourse complex, they're just focal points of a small community and if you can maintain them and improve them for generations to come, it makes them proud too and want to look after it," Murray said.
You can read more about our Junior and Senior Citizens of the Year on page 4, with photos from around town on Australia Day on page 14.
