They were presented with their awards at the Communicator of the Year dinner on Friday night at the Riverside Function Centre, traditionally organised by the Inverell Toastmasters Breakfast club to begin the Sapphire City Festival.

On the night, the Sapphire City Festival queen and princess entrants were presented to the public as well.

MP Adam Marshall was also in the audience and briefly took the podium, showing that some are natural talents at public speaking.

Others have to work harder for it, and that just proves the importance of an organisation like Toastmasters, giving its members the opportunity to improve their communication and leadership skills, and building their confidence. 

Toastmaster Ross Scoble said this year’s open winner Peter Caddey was chosen for several reasons.

Not only was Mr Caddey’s voice well-known from his work at the radio station 2NZ/Gem FM, and his performances in local bands such as the Hound Dogs, he was very involved in the community, as president of the Inverell Theatre Group, with the Chamber of Commerce, through his passion for martial arts, with the Sapphire City Festival and playing Santa at local Christmas parties. 

In his role as manager of tourism and marketing at the Inverell Tourist Centre Mr Caddey represents Inverell in an extremely positive way, Mrs Scoble said.

Peter Caddey started his thank-you speech by saying he was lost for words, but he wasn’t really of course. He is too good a communicator for that.

Visibly touched and quite emotional by the honour Mr Caddey said he was very proud to receive the title, “doing what he loved doing”.

Coming from an Inverell home he said he felt blessed that he had been able to do everything he wanted to do. 

He had loved his work at the radio and if the opportunity to start at the tourism office had not come along, he would probably still be doing that.

But in his current position Mr Caddey has now more media available to promote his town.

“The sky is the limit”.

 Mr Caddey thanked his family members for their support and said he loved them dearly.

Modestly he said he only tried to use God’s gifts to the best of his ability, and that’s why he did what he did.

In the direction of Adam Marshall he jokingly said that with the expenditure of the electoral boundaries in sight, Mr Marshall was welcome to pick up a relocation guide at the tourism centre.

“Inverell is the centre of the Universe,” he said.

Local Toastmaster Margo Worgan explained why 18-year-old Sam Saunders was given the youth award.

“Well-rounded, community-minded, motivated, compassionate and polite,” were superlatives she used to describe him.

She said that Sam, who was elected vice-president of the Student Representative Council in year 11, not only initiated and charity work himself, he also encouraged his peer students in doing the same and gain valuable experience.

For a wheelchair basketball fundraiser Sam was greatly recognized by the media. He was also the only male student organising the year 12 charity for breast cancer and prostate cancer research.

Sam, who had been nominated by a friend’s mother, said he was not expecting to win.

“I didn’t think I would be recognised,” he said. “It is amazing, I am real happy.”

With the funds he raised – more than $14,000 – for the different charities, Sam said he had already been able to make a difference, but he said that by encouraging others he had also seen a change in attitude of several fellow students.

“People became involved who usually were never involved,” he said proudly.

On the question of why he himself was so involved, he said: “If there is the opportunity to help, you should take it with both hands.”