One of the world’s greatest living horse teamsters Bruce Bandy has been decorated with the NSW Premiers Community Service Award for his dedication to his community over the decades.

Mr Bandy was presented with the award by Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke during the official opening of the Good Old Days Festival at Barellan on 3 October.

“Our volunteers are the backbone of each and every community, particularly in an electorate like Cootamundra with 177 small communities, it is the volunteers that keep the fabric of those communities strong,” Ms Cooke said.

“I have the opportunity as the Member for Cootamundra to nominate periodically people for one of the highest awards in NSW, the NSW Premiers Community Service Award.

“In the almost 10 years I have served as the Member for Cootamundra, this award has been given out on only four prior occasions.”

Ms Cooke paid tribute to Mr Bandy’s wife Bernadette and his family for their support and encouragement.

Bruce helped establish the Good Old Days Festival in 2010 along with brothers Colin and Paul and other volunteers, showcasing a team of 17 heavy horses pulling a wool wagon that year.

“The sustained leadership by Bruce of the Barellan Working Clydesdales is obvious – the number of hours preparing horse teams and working with the volunteers to pull this festival together each year is enormous,” Ms Cooke said.

“Bruce has been an integral part of the record-breaking horse teams including the 35-horse team in 2024, and the 62-horse team in 2025 with Alex Berzins and Steve Johnson.”

Ms Cooke acknowledged Mr Bandy’s commitment to ensuring the acknowledgement of the nation’s agricultural heritage and the Clydesdale’s contribution.

“Bruce is also heavily involved in raising money for Motor Neurone Disease starting the Barellan MND Tribute to the Teams Drive in 2011 and now exceeding $150,000 raised.

For those efforts, Mr Bandy was awarded the Narrandera Shire Council’s 2025 Disability Advocate of the Year Award.

“Bruce was involved heavily in the Barellan Show as president in the late 1990s and continues those efforts to this day.

“The Good Old Days Festival continues to grow each year welcoming new people and return visitors.

“It’s put Barellan on the map for its recognition of our culture and heritage, and has brought not just tens of thousands of visitors into Barellan over the past 16 years but has generated millions of dollars for this community and the broader region.”

Mr Bandy was humble in his acceptance speech, extending his thanks to Ms Cooke and his family along with fellow committee members and visitors for their support of the event across the years.