General News
22 December, 2025
BEST OF 2025: Citizen of the Year is Julie Sawley
First published 29 January, 2025. Julie Sawley was named Gilgandra’s citizen of the year.
Volunteering for the Gilgandra community and beyond for nearly 40 years, Julie Sawley was named Gilgandra’s Citizen of the Year at Gilgandra’s Australia Day celebrations on Sunday, January 26.
Julie’s involvement with the Gilgandra Evening Branch of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) spans 37 years, being an inaugural member of the branch and having held consecutive executive titles since the branches founding.
Gilgandra Shire Council general manager David Neeves announced this year’s nominees for Citizen of the Year during the Australia Day Awards Ceremony in Hunter Park.
The other nominees are Kylie Louie, Denise Gall, and Judy Shalhoub.
Julie has spent the past 11 years as Gilgandra CWA treasurer and now holds the position of secretary following the 2024 election. Her continuous efforts for the organisation have earnt her recognition from the CWA of NSW.
Julie’s volunteering extends beyond the Gilgandra CWA; just over the past 12 months, she has supported the Gilgandra community through tireless application to community events such as last year’s Australia Day Breakfast celebrations, ANZAC Day morning tea and the following march and service, organising senior citizen celebration gifts, and catering at no cost for guests at Dubbo Macquarie Home Stay.
Julie’s list of accomplishments continues, ranging from school presentation days, the Gilgandra Film Festival, CWA events, and beyond.
“It is remarkable people like Julie Sawley who represent the strength, resilience and relevant forward thinking that help to make the Gilgandra community a better place to Live Work and Grow,” said Gilgandra Shire Council general manager David Neeves when reading out the nominations for the awards.
“Julie demonstrates a spirit of friendship, co-operation and at all times encourages and nurtures respect amongst others. [She] represents the immense impact one can have on others. She represents the strength and resilience of women throughout our community who give unselfishly of time and talent to benefit others.
“Her quiet way of getting things done is admirable,” Mr Neeves said. Julie continues to assist with the refurbishing of the CWA Rooms along Warren Road, enabling the space to be used by more than just the Gilgandra CWA, but also for community usage projects such as Gilgandra Quilters and Patchworkers, Gilgandra Windmill Yarners, and seniors week.
She is an avid supporter of resolving the domestic violence crisis, climate change action, the breast screening van, and ending discrimination against women and children.
Julie’s impact on the Gilgandra community and region is profound. A generous and compassionate individual who reaches far beyond her own circle. “She has been involved with the church music group, singing for over 20 years during services.
She was instrumental in preparing and submitting a grant applicant for upgrade and refurbishment, including new kitchen and floor covering for ‘Feetham House’. Julie is a generous and compassionate individual, a member of the local Anglican Church family – but one who reaches far beyond into the wider Gilgandra community. Always displays genuine care and concern for others, offering a smile, a hug, giving her time with genuine concern.
“Thank you so much for the honour of this award and congratulations to the other nominees,” said Citizen of the Year Julie Sawley.
“Gilgandra is a volunteering town and we don’t have to be up here to be recognised as volunteers. They’re out there in the community, you all know who they are. Congratulations Gilgandra, it’s a wonderful place.”
