TCDA Principal Miss Kellie Named Tamworth's Local Woman of the Year

On Thursday 5 March 2026, in the Grand Ballroom of Sydney’s International Convention Centre, Tamworth City Dance Academy Principal Kellie Singh was formally presented with her certificate as the Tamworth Electorate’s Local Woman of the Year, one of approximately 94 women recognised from electorates across the entire state of New South Wales.

The NSW Local Women of the Year Honour Roll is an annual program that runs alongside the NSW Women of the Year Awards, celebrating outstanding women in local communities. Each recipient is selected by their local Member of Parliament as a recognition of the contributions they have made to their electorate. For Kellie, that selection came from Tamworth’s State MP Kevin Anderson.

“Miss Kellie has left an incredible mark on her many students throughout her many years of teaching dance in the region,” said Mr Anderson. “With her husband Paul, Kellie and the Tamworth City Dance Academy have become a pillar of our community.”

Kellie receives her certificate from Tamworth MP the Hon Kevin Anderson

A Ceremony Worthy of the Occasion

The event was emceed by Leigh Sales AM, the acclaimed ABC journalist and longtime presenter of 7.30, and opened with a Welcome to Country by Councillor Yvonne Weldon AM. Alongside the Local Women of the Year recognitions, the morning's major awards included the NSW Young Woman of the Year, NSW Community Hero, NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence, NSW Regional Woman of the Year, and NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year, a program that collectively honours the breadth and depth of women’s contribution to life in New South Wales.

Kellie was accompanied by her husband and TCDA Studio Manager Paul Singh, and by State MP Kevin Anderson. The ceremony was a rare opportunity to see so many remarkable women from communities across NSW gathered together in one place.

Three Decades of Building Community

Kellie’s recognition reflects more than thirty years of dedication to dance education and to the young people of Tamworth. She and Paul relocated from Sydney in 2007, opening Tamworth City Dance Academy and committing to an adoptive community they have made entirely their own. In the years since, thousands of local students have come through TCDA’s doors, with Kellie guiding not just their development as dancers but their growth as people.

As Kevin Anderson wrote in acknowledging the award: “The academy has fostered countless dance superstars, while ensuring that they give back to the community and make our region a vibrant place to live.”

The Northern Daily Leader echoed those sentiments, noting that “giving back to the community is a key part of learning to dance with TCDA” and that Kellie “firmly believes in building great citizens.” TCDA’s long running partnership with the Cancer Council NSW through the annual Dance for Cancer fundraiser (which has raised over a million dollars over the years) stands as perhaps the clearest expression of that belief in action.

What This Award Means

Speaking on 88.9FM with Scotty McLaren on Friday morning, Kellie reflected on what drives her commitment to the Tamworth community. “We love our town and our community,” she said. “Living in communities such as Tamworth there’s a real opportunity to effect change and see the results on people’s lives.”

For Kellie, the award is also a validation of TCDA’s deeper educational philosophy. “It’s not just about giving back but about empowering the next generation to be community leaders,” she said. “We always say that dance is the vehicle but life is the lesson, and I see this award as acknowledging this motto and how our dancers are gaining incredibly worthwhile life skills.”

The recognition has resonated widely across Tamworth. Prime 7 News aired an interview with Kellie following the ceremony, and the response across both media and the broader community has been a warm reflection of how deeply this honour has been felt.

A Reflection of the Whole TCDA Family

Awards like this are never truly individual. Behind every recognition of Kellie’s work stand the teachers who share her vision; Miss Lily, Miss Jaydah, Miss Leyna, Miss Dee, Miss Mia, and Miss Bridie, and the families who have trusted TCDA with their children’s formative years. They stand for the thousands of students who have walked through our doors, some of whom have gone on to become teachers themselves, continuing the cycle of mentorship that defines this academy.

Most of all, this award belongs to Tamworth. It is a reflection of what a community can build together when people show up for each other, year after year.

We are enormously proud of Kellie, and deeply grateful to Kevin Anderson for his thoughtful nomination and continued support. Congratulations, Miss Kellie — this one is well and truly earned.

To learn more about TCDA’s programs and philosophy, visit www.tamworthcitydance.com.au or contact Kellie directly at kellie@tamworthcitydance.com.au.