Always ready with a smile and a joke, Ann Clydsdale readily connects with a variety of community members on a daily basis.
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Best known for her work at Tourism Inverell, Ann was delighted to receive recognition, named the 2016 Communicator of the Year on Friday, October 14.
“The night was great. On my part it was fantastic!” she said.
“It actually meant a hell of a lot, because a lot of things we do is in the background, so you don’t see a lot of that.”
Ann has been a part of the tourism centre since its inception 33 years ago, and loves to spread the word about the virtues of Inverell.
An annual event hosted by Inverell Breakfast Toastmasters, Ann was touched by member Ann Mason’s nomination.
“It was lovely. Just to think that she thought enough of it, and to do that,” she said.
Along with her day to day work promoting and sharing knowledge of her hometown with Tourism Inverell, Ann was recognised for her passion as executive officer for New England North West Regional Tourism and her 24 years as a tireless member of the Sapphire City Festival committee. She is a founding member of popular children’s entertainment group Hound Dogs, and a busy organiser for events such as the Citizen of the Year, Australia Day and Inverell on Display.
“Ann is not someone who looks for recognition, but shares her love of Inverell with all she meets,” her citation read.
“It was really nice because then they read the citation out while you’re there, and you think, ‘Oh, I forgot I did that!’. It was lovely,” Ann said.
“They missed a couple of things, but that’s alright!”
Inverell High School captain Hannah Wales was also recognised for her open and friendly nature as Junior Communicator of the Year.
Hannah was praised for her strong background in public speaking and debating. She was well-received in the Rotary public speaking competition and recently selected to attend the National Youth Science Forum.
“She was humble and I think quite excited,” Inverell Breakfast Toastmasters member and Area 20 Director Margaret Payne said.