Delungra’s Citizen of the Year was Tony Bayliss, awarded for his selfless contribution to the community, help with all local events and helping local children with their horsemanship.

Tony can often be seen mentoring young riders on their horses along the main street.

He was unprepared for the announcement, and seemed to gather himself to take the stage and received the award from shire Australia Day ambassador Clary Castrission.

“Thank you very much for this,” he said in a trembling voice.

“Without the children who come riding with me, I wouldn’t get this at all.”

He thanked the district for accepting him and hoped he could continue doing the jobs he did for the town.

Afterwards, Tony admitted he was surprised by the announcement.

“If I’d known I would have kept the kids there, because it was due to them I got it, I suppose,” he said and agreed he was pleased by the recognition.

“Yes. Very. I got a bit emotional when I had to talk.”

Shae Raw was Delungra’s Young Australian of the Year for her work with the Delungra Rural Fire Service and her swimming achievements.

“I’ve been learning how to put out fires properly and roll up the hoses, and learning how to bowl them out,” she said, quietly proud of her award.

Ambassador Clary was accompanied by his wife Kavita Castrission.

Clary said it was his sixth year as an ambassador after he was a NSW Young Australian of the Year finalist, and he and Kavita loved the experience.

“Seeing different parts of the country in a completely different light,” he said.

He said he was struck by the welcoming friendliness of the small towns and the couple always come away from the experience buzzing with ideas.

“With the work that I do, going to India a lot of the time is being out in the villages, understanding the lives of people so I’m just fascinated by the lives of different people,” he said.

“So, being out here and understanding: what goes through the mind of a farmer? How does an economy the size of Inverell sustain itself? Where are the job opportunities? Where are the threats? What do the young people do?”

He said every global city seemed consumed by itself, but the community feel in regional towns was very different.

“And people are very willing to share their stories which we just absolutely love,” he said.

Kavita explained in India, like some small towns in Australia, neighbours were part of families, though it was a little different.

“That community feel is quite tight knit, but there is a tendency to live in each other’s pockets a little bit in India, which then leads to its own challenges,” she said and agreed a mix of closeness and freedom was ideal.

Clary added in a big city, you are surrounded by people but the connection of neighbours and community is often absent.

In Delungra, it feels like everybody does know about everybody, and they all poured into the road or lined the street for a full-fledged parade to start the day.

The parade was led by the Delungra police officer Senior Constable Paul Drozdzewski and trucks from the local RFS.

Australian Light Horse Association rider Charles Allen led the children who ride with Tony Bayliss, followed by the classic cars, motorcycles, the Inverell Volunteer Rescue Association model plane and decorated bikes.

Young Edward Baker who is seven, “I’m turning eight this year,” he announced, was in full Australian Day gear cheering on the sidelines.

Edward had a mullet cut dyed green and gold, a cockatoo t-shirt, and red, white and blue shorts.

He irrepressibly jumped up and down, waving a pair of flags.

“It’s a great place to live.”