Australia Day in Wagga Wagga

Nominations can be made online via our Australia Day Awards Nomination Form.

Hard copy nominations via our Australia Day Awards Nomination Form - Print Version (PDF, 196.2 KB) can be submitted in one of the following ways:

• Via email to australiaday@wagga.nsw.gov.au
• Via post, marked CONFIDENTIAL, Australia Day Awards, PO Box 20, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

Nominations must be received by midnight, Sunday 22 November 2026.

Nominations must be accompanied by supporting information providing a clear understanding of the nominee’s achievements and reason for nomination.

Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year must include a biography of the nominee.

• Nominees must be Australian Citizens and reside in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area.
• Individuals and organisations cannot nominate themselves.
• Members of the current Australia Day Community Committee are unable to nominate for any award.
• Walk of Honour nominees must have resided in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area for at least five years.
• Only the Walk of Honour awards can be granted posthumously.
• Sporting Associations may nominate one member only for the Ted Ryder Sports Memorial Award.
• Selection for the awards will be made based on service to the local community in any field considered appropriate by the Selection Committee and may also take into account acts of compassion, generosity, bravery, etc.
• Nominees must have contributed significantly to the local community over and above what is normally expected from their paid employment/business.
• If a nominee has received taxable income for work in a related area, please explain in detail why their nomination should be considered.
• Unsuccessful nominees may be re-nominated in subsequent years by filling out a new nomination form. Previous year’s nomination forms will not be accepted.

• All nominees who meet the criteria of the award will be notified and invited to attend the Australia Day Awards Ceremony to be held on Monday 25 January 2027 at the Riverina Playhouse where the successful Award Recipients will be announced.
• Award recipients will be selected at the discretion of the Selection Committee. If nominations for a particular category are unsuitable, the Selection Committee reserves the right to not select an award recipient or consider the nomination under another category.
• The Selection Committee reserves the right to obtain more information about each person from whichever source appropriate.  
  The decision of the Selection Committee shall be final, and no correspondence will be entered into on the subject of decisions made.

Aunty Mary Atkinson

Eilagh Rurenga

Jack Whyte

Joan Saboisky

Mitchell McDonell

Ariba Omar

Lachlan Mitchell

Kate Livio

Sarah Danckert

Carmel Wallis & Kaye Brian (Joint Nomination)

Judith Le Lievre

2026 Citizen of the Year - Aunty Mary Atkinson

Aunty Mary has shown outstanding dedication through her many contributions to the Wagga Wagga community over several decades.

Aunty Mary is a proud Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal Elder who has devoted 25 years to education and is a strong advocate for the First Nations community. Her upbringing, lived experiences, cultural traditions and heritage have played a vital role in strengthening local unity.

Previous Citizen of the Year recipients

2026 Young Citizen of the Year - Lachlan Mitchell

Lachlan is a Year 10 student at Kooringal High School who is passionate and deeply committed to protecting our environment.

Lachlan is an advocate for environmental change and is involved in many initiatives including South Wagga Rotary Youth Circular Initiative, Kooringal High School Environment Committee and National Tree Day. Lachlan also volunteers his time by running upskilling sessions, participating in environmental projects, and mentoring students.

Previous Young Citizen of the Year recipients

The Baylis Street Walk of Honour was instigated in 1998 to recognise substantial contributors to the City of Wagga Wagga

The award forms part of Council's Australia Day Awards - confirming Council's belief in the importance of recognising those members of our community who have given so much of themselves to our city.

Nominations open in conjunction with the Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Ted Ryder Sports Memorial awards in the second half of the year and the winners are announced on Australia Day.

2026 Walk of Honour Inductees

CARMEL WALLIS & KAYE BRYAN

Carmel and Kaye were jointly nominated and honoured for this award for their significant role as co-founders and the driving force behind ErinEarth, one of Wagga Wagga’s most important environmental and community education initiatives.

For more than 25 years, Carmel and Kaye have inspired countless groups and individuals to ‘walk lightly on earth’, and their influence will resonate for many generations to come.

Previous Walk of Honour recipients

2025 Ted Ryder Sports Memorial Award - David Dunn

David Dunn is a loyal, hard-working and reliable member of the Wagga Wagga community. David joined the Kooringal High School Science faculty in 1977 and fostered student involvement in the National Youth Science Forum and Rotary Exchange programs. Deeply passionate about soccer, David was instrumental in facilitating the Kooringal High School involvement in the Bill Turner Cup over many years and was appointed as the Riverina Area Manager. David’s football coaching from 1977 – 2012 enabled many Kooringal teams and Riverina teams as well as Lake Albert U-5 – U-17 teams to improve their skill levels, with David organising trips to weekend carnivals in Bathurst, Cowra, Forbes, Young and Canberra. David introduced the Shippard and Creed Shields for the local Wagga Open Girls and Boys Secondary school’s competitions and the Tiffany Selby and Brian Thomas medals for Best and Fairest players. This led to many positive outcomes including, the opportunity to develop team and individual skills without the added pressure and cost families to drive long distances from Wagga and inviting former Matilda and local champion Sally Shipard to meet local players. David received lifetime membership of Bill Turner School Football in 2018.

Previous Ted Ryder Sports Memorial recipients

2026 Environmental Citizen of the Year - Sarah Danckert

Sarah has made outstanding contributions to the local environment and is a passionate advocate for environmental protection.

Sarah established the local Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists chapter and has led a range of practical environmental initiatives as well as delivering school workshops.

Sarah has inspired many people to care for Wagga Wagga’s natural environment, protect biodiversity and create lasting environmental impact across the wider community.

Previous Environmental Citizen of the Year recipients