Marcus and Simone Hayward of Ringarooma were recognised as Volunteers of the Year at the Dorset Australia Day award ceremony.
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The couple won the honour for the part they played in Ringarooma’s successful nomination for the Legendairy Capital program, which saw the town become the 2017 Legendairy Capital of Tasmania.
The Legendairy Capital program asked towns across Australia’s eight dairy regions to describe what makes them ‘legendairy’ and to nominate a project that would benefit their community.
Mr Haywood said the Australia Day honour was unexpected.
“We were both over the moon about it … humbled and grateful at the same time,” he said.
Mr Hayward was named DairyTas Young Dairy Farmer of the Year in 2017, but said the “best award” was winning Legendairy Capital as it involved the whole community.
Dairy Australia managing director Ian Halliday said they should be commended for their “mammoth” contribution to Ringarooma.
“Marcus and Simone were instrumental in coordinating the community and submitted a comprehensive submission which provided insights into how Ringarooma fostered community spirit and connectedness through adverse times,” he said.
“Ringarooma is a town with a strong vision, and incredible determination and resilience, where the community and the dairy industry strive to work together to enable the town to grow and prosper.”
As Legendairy Capital, Ringarooma received a $2500 community grant to renew the recreational areas of Ringarooma Primary School and also secured an additional $7500 to restore the school’s historic dairy.
Mr Haywood said they aimed to turn the former dairy into a calf rearing area, giving children from non-dairy backgrounds a chance to learn about the town’s renown dairy history.
“Each year there is a calf rearing contest at the local show but kids not from a dairying background don’t get the opportunity because they don’t have their own calves,” he said.
“This will give them the chance to rear and enter a calf under their own name.”