Cowra's Emma Tree wins Educator of the Year at inaugural 'Mummy' awards

The awards, which were announced earlier this month, celebrated the efforts of people and businesses who provide practical help to Central West families every day.

Mrs Tree said said it was wonderful to take home the award.

"[I'm] feeling very privileged to be recognised by my colleagues and the families of my students," she said.

"Grateful to work in such a loving and caring community."

Mrs Tree, who organised a World's Greatest Shave at the school and runs the popular "Top Things to do in Cowra" Facebook page, says the award was a positive thing she could give to Cowra.

"I have a strong connection to this community," she said.

"It's not recognised as such by the Department of Education, or my school, but just knowing that the families of the students I teach took the time to vote for me was really the best thing about it.

"I think feeling as though you're appreciated makes anyone feel wonderful, no matter who you are or what you do. So it did mean a lot to me."

Mum of the Year was won by Shona Millar; Business of the Year was taken out by Argyle Australian Saffron - owned by Angela and Brendon Argyle, while Libby Johnson won Angel of the Year.

Blayney's Penny Rohleder won Hero Of The Year, and Elsie and Henry Mahon from Parkes won Garden Of The Year with 'Zephranthe'.

Central West Mums' founder and creator of the Mummys, Amorette Zielinski, was delighted with the community response to the inaugural awards and looked forward to making them a regular staple of Mumsfest - which had to be postponed from this month to March 2022 because of COVID.

"Our Central West community has been through devastating drought, mouse plagues and COVID over the last few years, and this has an impact on our mental health and wellbeing, as well as on small businesses," she said.

"I guess, for the first year [of the Mummy awards], I thought that I would just start with six categories that I feel... families connect with every day, [as well as] categories that [would recognise]... volunteers and frontline, support workers."

Over the course of the six weeks that voting was open to the public, Ms Zielinski said the Central West community really got behind the finalists, casting thousands of votes.

"[It was] fabulous. I mean, I couldn't have predicted that it would turn out that way, and I'm really thrilled that so many people went online and voted," she said.

"All [the finalists were] deserving. The three finalists in each category were all amazing.

"I was just excited to see that the winners came from all different areas in the Central West because I really wanted these awards to give lots of people a voice and... be highlighted."

Tickets are on sale now through the Central West Mums' website for their next event, 'Mumsfest', which will be held on March 12 at the Greenhouse.

Send a letter to the editor by filling out the online form below.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: