Australia Day
2026 Australia Day Award Categories
- Citizen of the Year - recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the community, demonstrating leadership, dedication, and selfless commitment to activities that enhance the welfare and wellbeing of their community.
- Young Citizen of the Year - celebrates a young person who serves as an inspirational role model, showing leadership, innovation, creativity, and a selfless commitment to their community. The recipient may also have shown outstanding achievement in areas such as academics, culture or environment.
- Sports Award - recognises individuals, organisations, teams or groups who have made a significant contribution to local sport, whether through coaching, umpiring, sportsmanship, volunteering, officiating or athletic achievements. It may acknowledge accomplishments from the past year or a sustained contribution to the local sporting community over a number of years.
- Environmental Award - honours individuals, groups, schools, local businesses or organisations actively leading environmental initiatives or promoting litter reduction within the local community and making a meaningful impact on the Snowy Valleys environment.
- Arts and Culture Award - celebrates a significant contribution to the cultural or artistic life of the community. Including achievements in visual arts, music, performance, literature, heritage, film, or cultural preservation. The nominee should demonstrate creativity, innovation, and a positive impact on community engagement or cultural development. Consideration will be given to leadership, community involvement, and lasting influence in the arts or cultural sector
You can choose to submit your nominee for a Council (SVC) Award, a specific Town Award, or nominate for both.
Council Awards encompass the entire Snowy Valleys region, while Town Awards are more localised.
Town Awards are presented to deserving locals in the towns of Adelong, Batlow, Talbingo, Tumbarumba and Tumut.
NOMINATE YOUR HERO TODAY
Or download the hardcopy form: 2026 Austrlia Day Nomination Form(PDF, 256KB)
To ensure individuals are recognised appropriately for their contributions and achievements Council reserves the right to adjust or vary the award categories based on the nature of nominations received. Groups who run the Town Awards also reserve the right to assign nominees to town-specific categories as required.
Australia Day Ceremonies
In the lead-up to Australia Day, Council hosts an invitation-only Civic Reception to present the Snowy Valleys Council Australia Day Awards. Then, on 26 January, local Volunteer Groups bring thier towns together for their own Australia Day ceremonies, featuring local award presentations, entertainment, and family activities. While Council provides support, each town’s volunteer group sets its own schedule and ceremony details.
The 2026 Town Hosts are:
- Adelong: Adelong Progress Association
- Batlow: Rotary Club of Batlow
- Talbingo: Talbingo Community Association
- Tumbarumba: Rotary Club of Tumbarumba
- Tumut: Montreal Community Theatre Committee
About Australia Day
Australia Day is the biggest day of celebration in the country and the 26 of January is observed as a public holiday in all states and territories.
On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. It's the day to reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation. It's the day for us to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the future.
More information about Australia Day can be found on the Australia Day Council of NSW website: australiaday.com.
Past Snowy Valleys Council Australia Day Award Recipents
2025
- Citizen of the Year – Hannah Speers, Adelong
- Young Citizen of the Year – Hannah Rankin, Tumbarumba
- Sportsperson of the Year – Dylan Weir, Brungle/Tumut
- Environmental Citizen of the Year – Bindi Vanzella, Batlow
- Service to the Community – Cara Ironside, Batlow
2024
Snowy Valleys Council Region
- Citizen of the Year - Noel Berry, Talbingo
- Junior Citizen of the Year - Amelia Murray, Tumbarumba
2023
Snowy Valleys Council Region
- Citizen of the Year – Thomas Moss
- Service to the Community – Jen Vinge
- Sportsperson of the Year – Piper Duck
- Sports Team of the Year – Franklin Public School's Girls Basketball Team
- Achievement Awards - Mary Hoodless, Danica Peel, Terry Macgregor, Rodney McLachlan, Gemma-Loiuse Bremner, Janet Kendall, Lorraine Oliver, Erin Louise Nurthen, Robyn Hotston, Rodney McLachlan, Deirdre Greenhalgh and the Ournie Hall Committee, Robert Ironside, Toby Roots, Nate Annetts,Tumut Bulls Rugby Club.
2022
Snowy Valleys Council Region
- Citizen of the Year - Raymond (Dossie) Carr
- Young Citizen of the Year -Savannah Cooper
- Service to Community - Patricia Mangelsdorf
- Sportsperson of the Year -Thomas Roche
- Environmental Champion of the Year - Martin Canteros-Paz
- Achievement Awards - Jill Dodd, John Freeman, Lesley Barlee, Samantha Phillips, Kane Stewart, Monique Toppin, Debbie Gadd, Greg Hammond, Jon Burgun, Kevin Smith, LIz Crampton, Richard Kociolek, Jai Crampton, Monique Bullock, Steven Houting, David Maginnity.
2021
Snowy Valleys Council Region
- Citizen of the Year - John Cruise
- Young Citizen of the Year - Aaron Tuilau, Edward Smith & Arthur Smith
- Service to Community -Dr Tarek Sari
- Sportsperson of the Year - Jacob Ambrose
- Achievement Awards - Adrian Cass, Christine Male, Dave Crooks, Dr Tarek Sari, Emma Toohey, Kerry Kelly, Indiana Everingham, Aaron Tuilau, Edward Smith, Arthur Smith, Geoff Molineaux, Khancoban Emergency Services & Community Members, Malcolm Baker, Megan Schumer, Nigel Grant Contracting, Rudy Kopecny, Sounds of the Mountains Radio Station, Steve Matthews, Talbingo Community, Ted Clarke.
2020
Snowy Valleys Council Region
- Citizen of the Year - Jan Locke
- Young Citizen of the Year - Rory Phillips
- Service to Community - Tumut Takes 2
- Sportsperson of the Year - Megan Castle
- Sports Team of the Year - Tumut Blues Group 9 Premiership Team
- Achievement Awards - Lucy Henderson, Neil Hamilton, Doug Gee, Jasmine Robinson, Patricia Mangelsdorf, Jan Locke, Rachel Brown, Jasmine Cremona, Talbingo Supermarket, Dr Tarek Sari, Talbingo Talkabout Committee, Phyllis Darragh, Kimberly Towse.
2019
Tumbarumba Region
- Citizen of the Year -Rod Gollan
- Senior Citizen of the Year -George Martin
- Young Citizen of the Year - Amy Eggleton
- Community Group of the Year -Cycle Tumbarumba
- Community Event of the Year - Tumbarumba Public School 150 Year Celebrations
- Sportsperson - Charlie Bergin
- Special Achievement Awards -Garry and Dianne McLelland, Phoenix Richards, Trevor Jones, Mary Hoodless, Karen Miles, Tumbarumba Campdraft Club, Rex Dennis, Fred Weule
Tumut Region
- Citizen of the Year - Keith Dawson and Hugh Packard
- Young Citizen of the Year - Daniel Hibbens
- Service to Community - Joy Beruter
- Senior Sportsperson of the Year -Geoff Naylor
- Junior Sportsperson of the Year -Grace Whyte
- Sports Team of the Year - Tumut High School Yr7/8 Boys Netball Team
- Achievement Awards -Leanne Turnbull, Bob Qarmby,Lori Webb, Lily Rosetta, Ronan Crain, Clare Miller, Doug Martin, Suzann Post, Jean Graham, Keith Dawson, Emma Murray, Daniel Hibbens, Adelong S&C Volunteer Group, Teagan Fava, Lori Webb, Amanda King, Leanne Turnbull, Jack Ryan Committee, Fiona Matthews, Hannah Speers, Rowena Carey, Moira-June Avery, Tumut 13s Representative Netball Team
2018
Tumbarumba Region
- Citizen of the Year -Tony and Susie a’Beckett
- Senior Citizen of the Year - Margaret Wolter
- Young Citizen of the Year -Charlee Blencowe
- Sporting Award -Ian Morey
- Community Group of the Year -St Vincent de Paul
- Community Event of the Year - Tastebuds - Open Garden Section
- Special Achievement Awards - Peter Marshall, Bill McClellan, Jeff Sheather, Sam Harrison, Tracey Fair, Lucy Henderson, Judy & George Szymoniczek, Glenroy Heritage Reserve Volunteers
Tumut Region
- Citizen of the Year -Dave Eisenhauer
- Young Citizen of the Year -Josh Veitch
- Service to Community -Osman Darwiche
- Senior Sportsperson of the Year -Bruce Giles
- Junior Sportsperson of the Year -Catelin Crawford
- Sports Team of the Year - Tumut Public School Mixed Netball Team
- Achievement Awards - Jackie Nicholes, Bruce Giles, Osman Darwiche, Colin Akers, Leah Ferguson, Greg Kabar, Andrew James, Lions Club of Tumut, Dave Eisenhauer, Tara Arnall, Tumut Public School Girls Basketball Team
2017
Tumbarumba Region
- Citizen of the Year - Ed and Jacki Lauder
- Senior Citizen of the Year -Albert Jones
- Young Citizen of the Year -Jemma Lorimer
- Sporting Award -Tumbarumba Bowling Club's No.5 Pennant Team
- Junior Sporting Award -Lily Murphy
- Community Group of the Year -Tumbarumba Multi-Service Outlet Volunteers
- Community Event of the Year -All Saints Deb Ball
- Special Achievement Awards - Theresa McIntyre, David Hammersley, Bruce Wright,
Tumut Region
- Citizen of the Year - Graeme Sturt
- Young Citizen of the Year - Cooryna Ackroyd
- Service to Community - James (Robin) Reid
- Senior Sportsperson - Brayden Elliott
- Junior Sportsperson - Jack Gould