2024 Award Nominations NOW OPEN
Each year the people of the City of Wagga Wagga Local Government Area are invited to nominate fellow citizens for the Australia Day Awards. The aim of the awards are to recognise outstanding contributions to the local community in 2023 and/or contribution to the local community over a number of years.
Nominations are now open and must be received by midnight, Sunday 26 November 2023.
Nominations can be made across five different categories:
- Citizen of the Year - recognising individuals for their outstanding contributions to the local community, nominees must be 27 years and over on 26/1/2024
- Young Citizen of the Year - recognising individuals for their outstanding contributions to the local community, nominees must be 27 years and under on 26/1/2024
- Walk of Honour - recognising substantial contributions to the city and can be of any age, living or deceased
- Ted Ryder Sports Memorial - to acknowledge individuals who have significantly contributed to sport within administration and general service fields, not for sporting achievements
- Environmental Citizen of the Year - recognising individuals and/or organisations for addressing issues that effect the diversity and sustainability of our natural environment
Nominees will be assessed on the basis of information provided in the nomination form and attachments provided. Nominators are asked to take care in completing the nomination form and are encouraged to make contact with Council's Events Officer for assistance.
To submit a nomination please complete the nomination form online via the link below. If you wish to fill out a nomination in person please make contact with Council staff for further assistance.
2023 Australia Day Award Finalists
2023 Citizen of the Year - Allan Pottie
Alan is an inspiring leader who is the driving force behind Wagga Wagga’s Relay for Life, an annual community fundraising challenge raising vital funds for those impacted by cancer. Alan has led the event committee through the COVID-19 pandemic and significant weather events to overcome these challenges and successfully fundraised $125,000 over the last three years.
Alan donates his time to Cancer Connect, a support service as part of the Cancer Council, helping support cancer sufferers through their diagnoses. Alan has been named a Global Hero of Hope by the Cancer Council, a title only held by 36 people in the world.
Previous Citizen of the Year recipients
| Year | Recipient Name |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Aunty Isabel Reid |
| 2015 | Kerry Geale |
| 2016 | Joe Williams |
| 2017 | Dianne Jacobson |
| 2018 | Phil Hoey |
| 2019 | Alan Lean |
| 2020 | Lynne Graham |
| 2021 | Belinda Crain |
| 2022 | Deidre Tome |
| 2023 | Alan Pottie |
2023 Young Citizen of the Year - Maimuna Zaman
Maimuna is an active volunteer in many organisations and community groups throughout Wagga Wagga. Some of these organisations include the Ronald McDonald Charity House, where she takes care of guests and makes their stay as comfortable as possible, Wagga Wagga Rotary Book Fair, the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, and her local karate club where she voluntarily teaches children Karate.
Maimuna is a confident student with a friendly disposition that allows people in her community to feel comfortable around her. With her diverse volunteering experiences and positive attitude, she serves as a model student for her community to aspire to. By promoting and partaking in charitable events, such as Christmas Drives and Movember, Maimuna has helped spread awareness and raise money to contribute to these charities. Being involved in numerous school activities and clubs, like Senior Leadership and the Student Representative Council, she encourages others to be involved in the community and participate in school activities.
Previous Young Citizen of the Year recipients
| Year | Recipient Name |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Angela Burns |
| 2015 | Sally Tanner |
| 2016 | Hannah Kempton |
| 2017 | Isobel Cowell |
| 2018 | Francis Elliot-Rudder |
| 2019 | Matthew Lennon |
| 2020 | Meghan Graham |
| 2021 | Clare Lawlor |
| 2022 | Chloe Hinds |
| 2023 | Maimuna Zaman |
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.
View the Walk of Honour Plaque locations
2023 Walk of Honour Nominee - Aunty Isabel Reid and Aunty Kath Withers
AUNTY ISABEL REID
Aunty Isabel is a widely respected Wiradjuri Elder. She advocates for the First Nations community to be seen and present in Wagga Wagga. Through her advocacy work she has had a positive impact on the Stolen Generation survivors receiving redress and inspires all First Nations people by conducting herself with Yindyamarra. Aunty Isabel has forged her connections with business, Council and organisations that are still prominent today.
Aunty Isabel has devoted her entire life in the Wagga Wagga community striving for and advocating for the local Wiradyuri and First Nations community. She has achieved this through her work with Council’s Cultural Protocols, Council’s first Reconciliation Action Plan including the instillation of the Sorry Rock at Wollundry Lagoon.
AUNTY KATH WITHERS
Aunty Kath is a Wiradjuri Elder who has dedicated her life to supporting student education, families in crisis and her First Nations community. Aunty Kath has served as a carer for more than 100 children over several decades.
A renowned award-winning artist with her paintings and weaving displayed nationally. Aunty Kath’s creative practice includes print making, burning, weaving, and painting, often referencing her childhood growing up in ‘Tin Town’ and the Marrambidya Wetlands on the Murrumbidgee River in Wagga Wagga.
Previous Walk of Honour recipients
| Year | Recipient Name |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Ada Beatrice Webb |
| 1998 | Cedric Thomas |
| 1998 | William and Amy Hurd |
| 1998 | Robert John Hurst |
| 1998 | Henry Angel |
| 1998 | Edna Busse |
| 1998 | John Hurst Edmonson |
| 1998 | Yvonne Elsie-May Gilchrist |
| 1998 | Albert Louis Burgman |
| 1998 | Jane Lindsay Scott |
| 1999 | Donald Moreton Kendell |
| 1999 | Trixie and Margaret Read |
| 1999 | Colin Campbell Knott |
| 1999 | John Ansell |
| 1999 | Henry Ernest and Morris Henry Gissing |
| 1999 | Edgar Hugh Graham |
| 1999 | Carol Moffit |
| 1999 | Leyton Selwyn "Don" Joyes |
| 1999 | Rosina Mary Grosse |
| 2002 | William George Fitzroy Huthwaite |
| 2003 | Dr Bruce William Harding |
| 2004 | Robert Lancaster Brunskill |
| 2005 | Cyril Jones |
| 2006 | George Hilton Brown |
| 2008 | Brian and Joy Kahlefeldt |
| 2009 | Michael Kennedy OAM |
| 2010 | Brian Gerald Kennedy |
| 2011 | Bill Kerr |
| 2012 | Marguerite (Madge) Wallace |
| 2013 | June Dunn |
| 2014 | Marie & Dr William Thompson |
| 2015 | Henry "Arthur" Nixon |
| 2016 | John Brasier |
| 2017 | Jim Elphick |
| 2018 | - |
| 2019 | Cecil 'Bob' Scott |
| 2020 | John Mason |
| 2021 | Bill Jacob |
| 2022 | Richard 'Dick' Green |
| 2023 | Aunty Isabel Reid and Aunty Kath Withers |
2023 Ted Ryder Sports Memorial - Henri Moreels
Henri has demonstrated service as a Wagga Wagga Soccer player, referee, and held administration roles for over 60 years. He has also contributed to Wagga Wagga Basketball for over 30 years. Across both sports, Henri has dedicated his time to promote and encourage more junior referees in the Wagga Wagga community and encourages a culture of good sports and fair play.
As a highly respected member of the sporting community, Henri has been identified as a passionate and dedicated coach who is always ready to teach and mentor anyone who asks.
Previous Ted Ryder Sports Memorial recipients
| Year | Recipient Name |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Steven Kimball |
| 2017 | Anthony Paul |
| 2018 | Peter Lloyd |
| 2019 | - |
| 2020 | Geoffrey Jacobson |
| 2021 | - |
| 2022 | Brian Robinson |
| 2023 | Henri Moreels |
2023 Environmental Citizen of the Year - ErinEarth
Carmel Wallis and Kaye Bryan are the co-founders, the inspiration, and the driving force behind ErinEarth. ErinEarth aims to work towards a sustainable society founded on respect for the Earth, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace.
In 2023, ErinEarth celebrates a significant milestone – the Silver Jubilee of its establishment which resulted in the transformation of an asphalt tennis court and area of waste ground into a tranquil garden and home for many species of animals and plants native to the Riverina.
Carmel and Kaye have provided inspiring leadership through their ongoing commitment and development of ErinEarth for the benefit of the entire community.
Previous Environmental Citizen of the Year recipients
| Year | Recipient Name |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Ben Holt |
| 2021 | Edward Maher |
| 2022 | Rotary Club of South Wagga Wagga |
| 2023 | ErinEarth |