The City of Ballarat will recognise its 2023 Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year at a special ceremony on Wednesday 25 January.
The annual Australia Day Community Awards are provided by the Australia Day Council and are administered by Local Government Authorities throughout Australia, on behalf of each council. The awards recognise and celebrate individuals and organisations that give up their time to make the community and region a more vibrant place to live.
Ballarat Citizen of the Year 2023 nominees
The Ballarat Citizen of the Year is someone who has made an outstanding, but often quiet contribution to the community and region.
Nominees for Ballarat Citizen of the Year 2023 include: Dr Keith Ho, Bernie Blood, Liana Skewes, Michaela Saha, Diosdado Jr. L Rivera, and Daniel Richards.
Ballarat Young Citizen of the Year 2023
The Young Citizen of the Year must be under 25 years of age on 26 January 2023 and is someone already showing leadership, passion and commitment to the community and region.
Nominees for Young Citizen of the Year 2023 include: Liam Wright, Luke Harbour, Will French, Lilla McIntyre, Meghan Lee, Indya Hayes, Sarah-Jane Sloane, Rohan McMaster, Yual Reath, Karlea Fitzpatrick, Ruby Lloyd-Vendy, Ashleigh Kanoa, Dhuvarrishlanth Veerabahu, Hades Slater, Liam Ryan and Millie Collins.
Community Event of the Year 2023
The Community Event of the Year Award is presented to the group or person who has staged the most outstanding community activity, either small or large, between 30 October 2021 and 29 October 2022.
Nominees for Community Event of the Year include: Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre - Our Kitchen Social Enterprise's Community Lunches, Wallaby Track Parkrun, St Peters Community Playgroup Ballarat, Ballarat Mental Health Collective - Free Lake Esmond Community Event incorporating the Circle of Solidarity, and Ballarat Tweed Ride.
Credit where credit is due
City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said the awards provided an opportunity to recognise outstanding members of the community, as well as groups doing important work.
"We know there are many people who do fantastic work across different sectors and groups in our community," he said.
"It is only right that we take the time every year to give credit where credit is due, and to recognise these people and groups for their service to the people of Ballarat."
The City of Ballarat will conduct all events on and leading up to 26 January in line with the recommendations from Reconciliation Victoria to mark the day respectfully, to recognise the honoured place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in our nation's history, to be sensitive to the feelings of Aboriginal people who may see the day as one of mourning, and to see the day as an opportunity to promote understanding, respect and reconciliation.
