Passionate local residents and community organisations were acknowledged for their contributions to Campbelltown during the 2025 Australia Day Awards ceremony at the Greg Percival Community Centre in Ingleburn today.
Beth Godwin was awarded the Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of her tireless community work and volunteering, in particular for her passionate commitment to supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Ms Godwin has been a long-term advocate for the Campbelltown community, instigating and championing a range of programs to support people of all ages.
These programs include the Hidden Homeless initiative which assists homeless individuals and families, the Gifts of Hope program to ensure that more than 500 children receive a Christmas present each year and for running proactive health workshops at Minto Gardens.
She is also Chairperson of the IngleMinds – Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee with the Rotary Club of Ingleburn, which has implemented mental health first aid programs and provided support for Meals on Wheels, and youth, community and R U OK? activities.
Ms Godwin was among five citizens and two community organisations who were recognised across the 7 award categories today.
"Our city and its residents are known for their community spirit and for giving back, and it's an honour to recognise those people who go above and beyond through this important awards program," Mayor of Campbelltown Darcy Lound said.
"I'd like to congratulate our winners and thank all the nominees and everyone who took the time to nominate them for their outstanding contributions to Campbelltown," Cr Lound said.
Zara Whitney was named Young Citizen of the Year for her tireless work with The Formal Project, which aims to provide all local students with the opportunity to find their perfect formal outfit. Ms Whitney has undertaken a variety of roles within the organisation and has volunteered throughout school holidays and on weekends.
Senior Citizen of the Year was awarded to Judith Trimboli for her long-standing advocacy for senior rights in Campbelltown. Ms Trimboli has also undertaken tireless work for numerous local community groups including Cyber Seekers, the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society and Campbelltown Seniors Issues and Interest Group.
Bradbury Preschool was acknowledged as Environmental Citizen of the Year for implementing several in-house environmental programs. This has included regular clean-up initiatives at Fishers Ghost Creek and Reserve as well as weekly 'Bush Kindy' sessions at the reserve so students can experience extended periods of play in nature.
Aleksandra Stoilova was named Sportsperson of the Year in recognition of her outstanding achievements in athletics. This included being crowned an Australian champion at the Women's U20s National 100m Championships, representing her nation at the Paris Olympic Games and reaching the finals at the World Athletics Championships in Peru.
Community Group Initiative of the Year was awarded to the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society for their ongoing commitment to preserving and celebrating our area's history. Since 1947, this group of passionate volunteers have collected and preserved artefacts, photographs and cultural records from Campbelltown and surrounding areas, displaying them so that Campbelltown's history is presented to the community.
The volunteer members facilitate the celebration of local historical events, and they also assist residents with the investigation of their local histories. They have researched and produced books detailing local historical events, places, families and businesses, and they also produce an informative newsletter.
Tipi Kato received the Diversity and Inclusion Award for his outstanding contribution to the Ao Sinasino Samoan Seniors Campbelltown Group. Mr Kato has also volunteered at Rosemeadow and Ambarvale high schools, where he has taught gardening lessons, distributed food hampers to local families and participated in youth programs.
