The three judges had a very hard task deciding who was to be the winner of the Rural Achiever Award from the three excellent candidates.

The judges commented that the three candidates were “just wonderful and really inspiring young people”.

“With kids like these three in the district we don’t have a problem,” one of the judges commented after the judging, which took place in Dalgety on Tuesday evening.

“They are all so committed to country life and their community, and they are all potential leaders.”

Over supper in the Buckley’s Crossing Hotel, the judges said the three candidates had some wonderful ideas on how to keep young people from leaving country towns and heading for the cities.

“We were blown away by the quality of these young people,” they said.

Tim, who is 26 years old and born and bred on the Monaro, is a dedicated horseman with his own successful equestrian business.

Tim said it was very exciting to have won the award.

“I am honoured to be the first winner and I would like to congratulate Dalgety Show Society on taking this excellent initiative.”

Over the past few years, Tim has been the ring announcer at many country shows, including the Royal National Agricultural Show of Queensland (the Ekka).

Last week he was the ring announcer and showjumping expert commentator at the Canberra Royal Show. You can hear Tim announcing at the Dalgety Show this coming Sunday.

Tim is also the promoter of the very successful Snowy Mountains Showjumping Festival held annually over five days in January at the Cooma Showground.

He is also the equestrian coach at Snowy Mountains Grammar School and teaches the equestrian programme for Jindabyne Central School.

All three candidates for the Dalgety Show Rural Achiever are involved in various aspects of the Dalgety Show.

As the judges said, “with young people such as these three in the Snowy River Shire, our future is assured”.