MORE than 60 staff members at Moree District Hospital were this week recognised for their decades of service to NSW Health.

Hunter New England Local Health District launched the Years of Service Recognition Program this year, with service pins awarded for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years of NSW Health service at a special morning tea celebration on Tuesday.

The program’s objective is to genuinely thank staff for their commitment to NSW Health and their dedication to providing safe, comprehensive, and compassionate care to the community.

The refreshed program replaces the previous program that recognised 25 and 40 years of service, when members of staff were awarded a Parker pen and certificate.

Across the Hunter New England Local Health District, more than 8400 pins were presented in the 2025 program.

Hunter New England Local Health District culture and staff experience project officer Maria Karmaniolos said 67 staff at Moree received the special service pins.

“We have 13 staff (in Moree) receiving 40-year pins, which is amazing,” Ms Karmaniolos said.

“This represents a lot of years of commitment to our health service and community and we’re very lucky to have such passionate and dedicated workers across all departments at Moree Health Service.

“It takes lots of people and roles to run a health service and everyone’s roles are important. This is about recognising everybody for their individual and collaborative contributions,” she said.

Moree, Boggabilla and Mungindi community health manager, Lee Clissold, who was awarded for her nearly 20 years’ service to NSW Health, said the introduction of the refreshed years of service recognition program is a positive step by HNELHD.

The awards recognise the dedication and commitment of its workforce.

“When we look at how many people received awards just in Moree this week, that is a huge amount of years that people have dedicated their professional lives to NSW Health, to helping people and serving their communities,” Ms Clissold said.

“Moree is very lucky to have a large number of staff who have worked at the Health Service for many years – they bring exceptional experience, skills and dedication.

“Working in health is not always easy, but we have staff at Moree Hospital who always go above and beyond to keep our services running.

“These awards recognise each person’s individual contribution, but it does so alongside knowing that we are a team and we all have important roles in delivering healthcare at Moree Hospital,” Ms Clissold said.

Moree’s elite 40-plus years’ club with NSW Health includes Shayne Quirk, Donna Brown, Helen Wilson, Karen Gulson, Heather Mooney, Frank Crump, Marianne Verhuel, Helen McNamara, Lloyd Matthews, Anne Lemmon, Sue Thrift, David Quirk and Kate Kelly.

Years of Service Recognition Program Moree recipients

10 Years (up to 19)

Camilla Cutcliffe, Lydia Berghan, Sarah Hair, Kelly Lawton, Mathew Boadle, William Hamilton, Sally Woods, Deborah Butcher, Mellisa Counsell, Sarah Wells, Lyn McNair, Robyn Ticehurst, Sarah Proudfoot, Amy O’Neil, Julieanne Cain, Ashley Bell, Annie Duke, Brianna Duncan, Sally Laurie, Jann Tuart, Cath Cannington, Michael Warwick, Linda Chaplain, Lee Clissold, Tahlee Sabine, Wendy Withers, Sally Lavery, Sharlene Williams, Ganesh Balaiyer Seetharaman, Ruth Stuart Cherie Warrener, Tanya Girard, and Kay McKenzie.

20 Years (up to 29)

Leeanda Cain, Lyne McQueen, Rachael Hennessy, Fiona Lysaught, Fiona Murphy and Denise Haines.

30 Years (up to 39)

Sharon Nash, Doris Davis, Bronwyn Cosh, Sandra Hollands, Kym Brown, Maureen Rainger, Sandy Scotton, Debbie Swan, Joanne Hollands, Narelle Davis, Pingla Mureau, Kim Northey, Jennifer Hamilton, Teresa Boughton and Grant Heffernan.

40 Years (up to 49)

Shayne Quirk, Donna Brown, Helen Wilson, Karen Gulson, Heather Mooney, Frank Crump, Marianne Verhuel, Helen McNamara, Lloyd Matthews, Anne Lemmon, Sue Thrift, David Quirk and Kate Kelly.

(Images Supplied)