BATHURST'S history, past and present, was celebrated on Sunday as the city came together to mark Proclamation Day.
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The Flagstaff in Stanley Street, where 204 years ago Governor Macquarie proclaimed Bathurst a city, was the venue for the ceremony where the city's seven new Living Legends were announced.
Marie Billington, Barry James Cubitt, Andrew Fletcher, Ian Bruce McArtney, Dr John Joseph Sandra, Ian Warren and Millie Watson were announced as the 2019 Living Legends, adding to the 233 people already named since the project was introduced as a 2015 Bicentenary initiative.
Mayor of Bathurst, Graeme Hanger said the project acknowledged outstanding members of the community for their dedication, determination, personality, work and contribution to the city.
"Living Legends contribute to the wellbeing of Bathurst, benefitting the entire community and generating goodwill and this year's successful nominees reflect these traits," he said.
As part of Proclamation Day proceedings, the winner of the Bathurst Macquarie Heritage Medal, Lisa Davis, from The Church Block, Eglinton was announced.
Local heritage is a focus of the award, which offers a $10,000 grant for a major building conservation project on a heritage item or building, a major heritage interpretation project or as a scholarship grant for learning in heritage conservation and management of heritage ideas.
Mrs Davis, along with her husband Peter have breathed new life into an old church site at Eglinton, reigniting community connections through creativity and history. Their Church Block project supports the adaptive reuse of the former Muller Memorial Church, built in 1900, by creating a home for its history and ensure its preservation into the future.
Accepting the award, Mrs Davis said she was thrilled to receive the funding, which she said was a "huge boost to our little project" and thanked her husband Peter for his part in the project.
The ceremony then moved towards the Pillars of Bathurst garden, where 11 plaques were added as part of Proclamation Day commemorations.
The Pillars of Bathurst represent people in the community who have played an important role in the city's history throughout different eras. Each one has contributed to the story of Bathurst.
Those added to the Pillars in 2019 include Charles St John Mulholland, Donald McMillan, Mary Ann Roberts, Harriett Beard, John Eviston, Annie Bertha Parry, Robert William Peacock, Wolla Meranda, James Howe Newton, Thomas Denny and Charles James Beavis, along with Horace Colin Dean Beavis and Albert Edward Gregory.