A lifetime of supporting just about every organisation in his hometown of Pilliga has earned Snow Draper the 2013 Wee Waa Lions Senior Citizen of the Year Award.
Seventy-five guests cheered when Snow’s name was announced at the Wee Waa Lions Club’s annual senior citizens’ luncheon at the Wee Waa Bowling Club on Wednesday.
Lions member Peter Lowder said Snow had contributed to too many initiatives to list.
“Snow’s always been known as the mayor of Pilliga and (this award) is very well deserved,” Mr Lowder said.
“He’s certainly held that community together.”
A surprised Snow was delighted to receive the honour.
His wife Heather is also proud.
“He did deserve it,” she said.
“Over the years, he has put a lot of time in to things, well every organisation really.”
Two of their children, a granddaughter and three great grandchildren also made a surprise visit to the luncheon.
Snow has lived in Pilliga for most of his life, aside from a few years spent with his father at a saw mill after his mother died.
He left school around 14 or 15 years of age and worked with his cousin on a property before taking up a
40-year career shearing in the Pilliga district.
Snow then did maintenance jobs in and around Pilliga for Narrabri Shire Council for 13 years, finally retiring in 2010.
His community involvement has seen him support Pilliga’s tennis, cricket, fishing and bowling clubs, public school, rural fire brigade, fund raisers for the Cancer Council, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Church of England, community centre and more.
He even lends a hand to the CWA.
Snow is often seen at the Pilliga hotel on a Friday night selling raffle tickets for charity.
“Everything that’s on, we help where we can,” Heather said.
Seniors’ Week activities in Wee Waa were organised by the local Seniors’ Week committee with support, including catering and funding, from groups such as Wee Waa Community Care Service, Wee Waa High School, Lions Club, the ‘Wednesday ladies’ and the ‘Wee Waa Senior Citizens’ Club.
The week started with a bus trip to Tamworth last Monday and included a fingerfood luncheon and
sing-a-long at Weeronga Hostel on Thursday.
It finished with a barbecue lunch at the Community Care Services office on Sunday, which was moved from Karinga Village due to bad weather.
Grandparents’ Day activities were also held at local schools throughout the week. Seniors’ Week committee secretary Julie Dowleans said it was a great week with plenty to keep residents busy.