Ross & Cromarty Civic Awards
Over 28 individuals and 8 groups received recognition of the important contribution they make to life in their community last night at the 2005 Ross and Cromarty Community Awards Ceremony held last night (Monday 28th November, 2005) in Dingwall.
The Highland Council’s Ross and Cromarty Area Chairman, Councillor Carolyn Wilson, who hosted the Awards ceremony at Ross County Football Club said: "These annual awards give us the opportunity to recognise people from all walks of life who have contributed to the success and wellbeing of their local communities. Often people work quietly behind the scenes without fuss and the awards are the perfect opportunity to show our appreciation for all the hard work that goes in to ensuring the spirit of community is strong in its true sense throughout the whole area.
"It is an honour for me, on behalf of The Highland Council, to publicly thank the winners for their outstanding contribution to community life. These are people who quietly devote their time and endless energy to helping others. They carry out their important work without any recognition, yet the role they play is vital to community life."
During the evening one couple and ten individuals were presented with Service to the Community Awards including: Hazel Bailey (Milton); Edith Grigor (Rosemarkie); May Sutherland (Invergordon); Lorna Hailes (Balintore); Robert & Ann Holmes (Contin); Bill Taylor (Alness); Muriel Mackay (Muir of Ord); James Gordon (Portmahomack); Margaret Ross (Invergordon); Susan Tarr (Garve) and Alistair McCowan (Applecross).
Good Neighbour awards were presented to six people: Marie Campbell (Plockton); Hamish Gatt (Munlochy); Ted Bates (Marybank); Alexander Campbell (Muir of Ord); Billy MacDonald (Tain); and Fraser Gibb (Evanton).
A primary school enterprise in education project group and a young Fortrose man won the Young Entrepreneur Awards. Primary 4-7 pupils from Inverasdale Primary School produced a CD of songs and tunes written by local bards many of which had never before been recorded. The project proved a huge hit not just in CD sales but also in capturing and preserving an important part of the local community’s culture and heritage. Stehen MacNamara from Fortrose also won the Young Entrepreneur Award for his upholstery business that he runs in the Black Isle specialising in restoration of antique furniture.
This year’s Planning Award for Good Design went to Neil Sutherland Architects for two local projects – a family house at Laide, Wester Ross, and for Glachbeg Croft Educational Centre at North Kessock - which showcase the company’s ability to come up with exciting and workable designs incorporating locally sourced materials.
Two people received the Musical Achievement Award. Annie Kneafsey of Tain for piano teaching; and Ali MacGregor of Tain as one of the founders of the Tain Scottish Dance Band. Special Music Awards were made to the Kiltearn Fiddlers - a talented youth group which performs regularly at ceilidhs and festivals; and Fiona Mackenzie of Dingwall for winning the gold medal at the 2005 MOD.
The Achievement in Sport Award went to four people Kenneth Ross (Achnasheen) for winning his 6th cap playing in Scotland’s National Shinty Team; Grant MacKenzie (Evanton) for his angling achievements and coaching young anglers; Mike Sangster (Tain) for his commitment to golf coaching and Joanna Shepherd (Muir of Ord) for her achievements in Scottish Orienteering.
ILM in Alness won the Best Recycling Award for their business which recycles and sells white electrical goods and the voluntary Magpie Creative Recycling Project based at Evanton Industrial Estate also won a recycling award for their scrapstore where clean and safe domestic waste is utilised in creative arts workshops and training opportunities in the Easter Ross Area.
Best Community Project was awarded to Alex Gray (Gairloch) for the setting up of Two Lochs Radio; Carole Herd (Tain) for organising the Scottish Pipe Band Championships and the Taste of Tain events; Simon Calder (Ullapool) for his work with Healthways in setting up the market at Ullapool and establishing the Lochbroom & Ullapool Growers Group; and Marybank Play park Group for creating a great community asset by fundraising, planning, and building a new play park.
The award for the Promotion of Tourism in Ross and Cromarty went to Brian and Stephanie Ash from Sheildaig for the production of the Sheildaig Tourist Booklet.
A partnership between the Alness Initiative and BTCV won the Award for the Promotion of Healthy Living for providing the people of Alness with a Green Gym and an environmentally friendly way to get fit and stay fit.
The Promotion of Community Safety Award went to the West Alness Residents Association for all their work in the running of the Westend Community Centre Night Café – a drop in facility to give young people something positive to do with their time at the weekend.
The evening ended with the presentation of the Citizen of The Year Award which was presented to John Urquhart alias Johnny Bogan of Muir of Ord for entertaining people in the Highlands for over 50 years, making people laugh with his clever comedy routines and material which can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Drawing the evening to a close, Councillor Wilson thanked everyone for coming along. She said: "This evening we have heard about so many examples of dedicated people who voluntarily give of their time and talents to helping others, caring for our environment and improving our communities.
"Last but not least, I would like to thank our sponsors without whom this event could not go ahead including Ross County Football Club, Tain Pottery and Glenmorangie Distillery."
Below is the full list of 2005 award winners
Citizen of the Year Award: John Urquhart, alias Johnny Bogan (Muir of Ord)
Service To The Community Award: Hazel Bailey (Milton); Edith Grigor (Rosemarkie); May Sutherland (Invergordon); Lorna Hailes (Balintore); Robert & Ann Holmes (Contin); Bill Taylor (Alness); Muriel Mackay (Muir of Ord); James Gordon (Portmahomack)L; Margaret Ross (Invergordon); Susan Tarr (Garve); Alistair McCowan (Applecross)
Good Neighbour Award: Marie Campbell (Plockton); Hamish Gatt (Munlochy); Ted Bates (Marybank); Alexander Campbell (Muir of Ord); Billy MacDonald (Tain); Fraser Gibb (Evanton)
Young Entrepreneur Award: Primary 4-7 pupils from Inverasdale Primary School; Stephen MacNamara ( Fortrose)
Planning Award For Good Design: Neil Sutherland Architects
Musical Achievement Award: Annie Kneafsey (Tain); Ali MacGregor (Tain); The Kiltearn Fiddlers; Fiona Mackenzie (Dingwall)
Achievement In Sport Award: Kenneth Ross (Achnasheen); Grant MacKenzie (Evanton); Mike Sangster (Tain); Joanna Shepherd (Muir of Ord)
Best Recycling Project Award: ILM ; Magpie Creative Recycling Project
Best Community Project: Alex Gray (Gairloch); Carole Herd (Tain); Simon Calder (Ullapool); Marybank Playpark Group
Promotion of Tourism in Ross & Cromarty Award: Brian & Stephanie Ash (Shieldaig)
Promotion of Healthy Living Award: Alness Initiative & BTCV
Promotion of Community Safety Award: West Alness Residents Association