Shaun Faulkner doesn’t volunteer in Barraba for the recognition but says he certainly appreciates the acknowledgement of his efforts through being awarded Barraba’s Citizen of the Year last week.
Awards aside, Shaun says, “Someone just coming up and saying thank you is extremely rewarding.” Shaun’s Australia Day award is for the extensive amount of volunteer work Shaun has done for his hometown. Shaun has spent 15 years volunteering in various ways. This includes involvement in the Volunteer Rescue Association, the Lions Club Christmas celebration and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service volunteer group.
Local accountant David Kelly is a Board member of the Regional Advisory Council for the New England region of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, which encompasses Barraba, Manilla and Tamworth areas. Mr Kelly says he was very pleased to see Shaun’s contribution being acknowledged.
“Shaun is part of Barraba’s magnificent team of volunteers for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service who undertake fundraising. In the last couple of years the local group has contributed over $86,000 in donations.” David says Shaun makes a great contribution to life in Barraba, not just the Rescue Helicopter group. “Shaun’s also done a marvellous job of the Aircooled car rallies. It was just a shame that COVID knocked it on the head last year.”
Shaun has been instrumental in holding three annual car rallies for aircooled vehicles over the last four years. These events have run in conjunction with the Frost Over Barraba and have attracted large crowds of vintage car enthusiasts to Barraba. The rally was moved to a Spring date last year but did not go ahead due to the pandemic. Shaun is hopeful the “Art of Uncooled” rally will go ahead in Barraba in early October, complete with the enormously popular fireworks display.