Ballarat mother, Allanah Crameri was named Ballarat Citizen of the Year for 2025 at the City of Ballarat Australia Day Community Awards on Thursday night.
Noah Quick was also named the Young Citizen of the Year and the Ballarat Christmas Carols was named Community Event of the Year at the private ceremony at Ballarat Town Hall.
Citizen of the Year - Allanah Crameri
Following the very sad passing of her beautiful son Lenny in 2022, Allanah founded a Facebook support group called Ballarat Babies Above that is described as, "A caring, gentle and safe space for parents in Ballarat and surrounds whose babies are not in their arms but watching over them above."
In memory of Lenny, Allanah organised Ballarat's first Walk to Remember, a memorial for babies who died too young and a chance for their families left behind to connect with each other. In addition to providing much needed opportunities for support, this event raises funds for Red Nose. This event was a huge success in 2023 and once again took place this year bringing even more numbers.
Allanah seeks input from local businesses to support her events and has arranged several other events for the Ballarat Community, including candle workshops and a Bereaved Mother's Day lunch. Allanah raises awareness of significant days such as Bereaved Mother's Day and Baby Loss Awareness Week including the global event, The Wave of Light.
Most recently, Allanah has come together with five other mums in the Ballarat community to form Babies Above, a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to offer heartfelt support and solace to families who have experienced the loss of a baby.
Young Citizen of the Year - Noah Quick
Noah Quick has proven to be an exemplary role model, always leading with compassion and demonstrating himself to be an approachable student leader. He is an inspiring speaker and models social justice values through his many contributions to fundraising and awareness of these. He engages with all those he meets with warmth and kindness and inspires other young people to be actively involved in the community.
Noah has a very strong social conscience, and this is reflected by his work in the areas of Social Justice and Faith in Action within St Patrick's College. He is to be commended for the role that he has played in developing young men of faith and of young men of action at St Patrick's College.
Noah is the recipient of the Sir George Devine Treloar Award for Community Service in 2023, Purton Oratory Winner 2024, St Patrick's College Principal's Award for Excellence 2024, Gregory Francis Noonan Pillar of the College Perpetual Award 2024 and was St Patrick's College School Captain in 2024. Noah is also an outstanding football umpire, having umpired at state level and is regarded as the most proficient Junior Umpire in the region.
Community Event of the Year - Ballarat Christmas Carols
Ballarat Christmas Carols is an annual event and brings people together from across the Ballarat region. It provides an opportunity for the community to engage with groups such as the Country Fire Authority and groups of different ethnic backgrounds.
Ballarat Christmas Carols spreads the message of unity in the community. It provides a free event at Christmas time when things are becoming more and more expensive. It also covers all age groups and provides a festive and musical end to the year and start of the school holidays.
Recognising our unsung heroes
City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the Awards have shone a light on two exceptional community leaders and a very special annual event.
"I wish to congratulate Allanah Crameri, Noah Quick and the volunteers involved in delivering the Ballarat Christmas Carols. They have all enriched Ballarat through their selfless service to others. It is an absolute honour to recognise them through the Australia Day Community Awards."
