When mayor John Davis announced aged care volunteer Barbara Bloomfield as Orange’s Citizen of the Year, she was visibly stunned, her hand coming up to her face in disbelief before she rose to accept the trophy.

“I don’t hide my feelings, I am who I am,” she said with a laugh. 

“I’m very humbled by it.”

Ms Bloomfield received her award for volunteering at Choices at Home, a program run by Orange City Council.

“Volunteer work is really enjoyable, you do it because you want to do it,” she said.

Young Citizen of the Year James Cashen said he had no expectations leading into Australia Day.

“Reading through the nominations, I knew there was some tough competition and so much talent in the mix,” he said.

Seventeen-year-old James received his award for helping staff and students at Orange High School (OHS) by running the OHS stage and technical crews, assisting with school projects and the development of programs to enhance extracurricular activities within the performing arts sector.

He also co-directed a road safety program called ‘Consequences’ and has been the NSW Rural Fire Service Relay for Life team’s leader.

James said he was inspired by 2016 Young Citizen of the Year Ashley Morrow.

“He said to me he needed a lift with the school show and I loved doing it,” he said.

He believed getting involved in an activity with friends was a great way to contribute and the reward at school was seeing struggling students find an outlet they were comfortable with.

“With the RFS, it’s when the fire goes out,” he said.

He hoped to continue his emergency service after he completes year 12 at the end of the year.

“I’m hoping to enter the police force, but we’ll see how it goes,” he said.

Australia Day committee member Reg Kidd was on the judging panel.

“It was probably the hardest I can remember in the 10 years or longer I’ve been judging,” he said.

He said with the community growing older and living longer, there was a real need for volunteers in the aged care sector.

“[Ms Bloomfield] epitomises the unsung heroes doing the things we can’t do,” he said.

Of James, Cr Kidd said when he was his age, he was riding his bike and going to the pool.

“It’s amazing to find out how many people are getting involved at a young age in things you never thought of.”