Hunter locals receive Australian of the Year honours.

Seven locals to the Hunter region have received awards for outstanding contributions to the community.

Local recipients include:

• Mrs Lee-Anne Watts OAM of Scone for service to local government, and to the community of Scone. She is a former Mayor of Upper Hunter Shire Council and the manager of the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre since 1995. She’s also a professional marriage celebrant.
• Mr Edgar Jackson OAM of Cessnock for service to aged welfare, and to the community of Cessnock. He is the former CEO of Cessnock Hospital and Northern Coalfields Community Care Association.
• Mr Gavin Fry OAM of Lorn for service to the arts. He is an author and publisher, who also has experience as a museum director and university lecturer.
• Mr Robert O’Toole OAM of Raworth for service to the community through support of survivors of childhood abuse. He is the co-founder of the Clergy Abused Network and former survivor reporter with NSW Police’s Strikeforce Georgiana.
• Mr Bruce Townsend OAM of Raymond Terrace for service to the community of Raymond Terrace. He is a former president of the Raymond Terrace Lions Club and former treasurer of St Vincent de Paul Society in Raymond Terrace.
• Mrs Jill Stuart OAM for service to community health in the Hunter Valley. She is the co-founder of the Hunter Branch of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
• Mr Graeme O’Brien AFSM of Singleton for distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service. He joined the Westbrook Darlington Rural Fire Brigade in 1971 and has since served as a secretary, treasurer and captain. In 2001, Mr O’Brien was appointed as group captain, a position he held for 18 years until his retirement from the role.