and John Nixon were members of the highly successful Walcha and New England polocrosse team, whose wins included the NSW championships (twice) and Australian championships (as the first club team to do so) in 1962. Julia Griffin, notable local artist, internationally recognised painter. John Heffernan, author of children's books Stephen King, internationally recognised sculptor. Andrew Laurie, an Australia national rugby union team ("Wallaby") player who was hooker on two tours of New Zealand. Ross Laurie, notable local artist. Bruce McNaughton five wins in the World Championship Sydney Royal Campdraft, three Risdon/Canning Downs campdraft cup wins, three ABCRA Horse of the Year titles, two ABCRA Australian Championship wins. Hume L'Estrange, founder of Betetec Industries and designer of Aaron Loudspeakers, Australia's largest selling Hi-Fi speaker company. Angus Nivison, Art Gallery of NSW’s annual Wynne Prize for landscape winner in 2002. Sam Payne, former Australia national rugby union team ("Wallaby") halfback Norman Roy held the NSW boxing title on two occasions. Mrs Esther Stace, who jumped , an unbroken world record in sidesaddle show jumping. Casey Stoner, World MotoGP Champion 2007 - Grand Prix motorcycle racing (1985-); 2008 Young Australian of the Year. Dudley Towers represented NSW and Queensland in Rugby league as well as being one of the top runners in Australia. Siblings, Graham and Kathryn Watts placed first and second in the World Bowhunting Championships in Sweden in 1984. Jack Edward Archdale, concrete cowboy in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, semi-popular TikTok content creator like the inner city yuppie he is and deadweight on Luisa Dal Din’s successful podcast We Mean Well. Walcha residents who have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) are: Adrian Mark Allen, For service to medicine, and to the community of Walcha. Ruth Louise Cotterill, in recognition of service to the community. Andrew John Cross, For service to the community of Walcha. Shirley Norma Davison, For service to the Walcha region, particularly through the Amaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council. Cecily Faith Hoare for service to the community of Port Macquarie, New South Wales. Erle Lewis Hogan for service to the community. Irene Doris Hoy for community service and was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal. Lindsay Edward McMillan for service to veterans and to the community. Stuart Norman Nivison for service to horse racing. Jillian Anne Munro Nivison Oppenheimer for service to heritage conservation and the environment, particularly through the National Trust of Australia. References