The new legends, Brian Atkinson, Christopher Bacon, Anne Bromfield, Geoffrey Brown, Mary Cuppaidge, John Maynard, Betty Wardman, Tony Wells and Ronald Wood, join a 200-long list of other notable Bathurst citizens.

In his address at the official ceremony, Mayor Gary Rush said each of the new Living Legends were unique individuals with a long history of serving their community. 

“It‘s not so much about what you have achieved, albeit all of you have achieved, but it’s about the people you are, it’s about the personalities that you have and it’s about your interaction with your fellow community members,” he said.

Cr Rush went on to say that Bathurst as a city has many things to boast about, including its financial situation, its heritage and its wealth of events, but on Sunday it had the opportunity to boast specifically about its people. 

“When we are able to present and have a function like this, isn’t it great to think that we live in a community whereby we want to acknowledge individual members of our community, and I think that in itself says a lot, that we actually take the time to recognise our fellow residents and community members for what they have done for this community,” he said.

The newest Living Legends were presented with a plant and a special artwork created by Greg Hyde.

The painting depicts Bathurst’s Flagstaff surrounded by trees and the Macquarie River, with nine autumn leaves floating in the wind that represent each new Living Legend.

Mr Hyde created a special artwork for the original 200 Living Legends in 2015 and will continue to create unique pieces for new inductees in the future.

Nine liquid amber trees have been planted on the cemetery side of Bradwardine Road and will receive plaques recognising each new legend by the end of August.

In speaking with the Western Advocate, new Living Legend Mr Atkinson said he was humbled to be recognised in such a way alongside eight other remarkable Bathurst people.

“I know most of them quite well,”  he said. “They all make their own contributions in all different fields.”

Mr Atkinson himself was awarded the status of a Bathurst Living Legend through his ongoing work in the community since arriving in 1976, namely being part of the Bathurst Junior Chamber of Commerce and volunteering at Miss Traill’s House.

“My daughters kept saying ‘how did you you get that?’ and I said ‘you’ve got to be old and you’ve got to be living’,” he joked about the honour.

Mr Atkinson looks forward to showing his family the tree that has been planted in recognition of him on Bradwardine Road.