The City of Ryde honoured its 2024 Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year at a special ceremony held at Ryde-Eastwood Leagues club on 25 January.
Scouting legend Lyn Mann was named Citizen of the Year for her more than 30 years of service to the Ryde community, while Young Citizen of the Year Areg Grigorian was recognised for his ongoing commitment to volunteer work that began when he was just eight years old.
City of Ryde Mayor Sarkis Yedelian OAM congratulated all 10 nominees in the Citizen of the Year category and the five nominees for Young Citizen of the Year.
"We once again had some outstanding nominees in both the Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year categories, and I want to thank them all for their service to our community," he said.
"They have all worked so hard – taking time out from families and friends – to make our City a better place and these awards give them much deserved recognition."
Citizen of the Year – Lyn Mann
With over 30 years of service to scouting in the City of Ryde, Lyn Mann has made a wonderful, positive impact on the lives of many young people in our area.
Lyn began her scouting journey as the Joey Scout Leader at 1st East Ryde Scout Group, providing training in citizenship for young children. She was soon assisting new Joey Scout units in the district, encouraging and mentoring other adults to become leaders.
Upon invitation, Lyn joined the Scouts NSW Training Team and prepared and delivered many weekend workshops for new leaders, who were able to gain nationally accredited certificates in management and leadership from the Scouts Australia Institute of Training.
Lyn eventually became the Sydney North Region, then NSW State Commissioner for Joey Scouts, providing support and training activities for Joey Scouts and leaders over a wide area.
A few years ago, Lyn returned to the role of Joey Scout Leader at East Ryde and she continues to provide vital training and activities young boys and girls in our local area. Her contribution to the adult leader team is invaluable and, with over 150 members, 1st East Ryde Scout Group is now one of the largest and most successful scout groups in NSW.
Lyn continues to mentor new leaders in other scout groups around Ryde, assisting them to implement the program and develop their own leadership skills.
Young Citizen of the Year – Areg Grigorian
Areg Grigorian was only eight years old when he decided he wanted to drive some positive change in the City of Ryde.
After witnessing his younger brother being injured in a bicycle accident at Yamble Reserve, Areg wrote to Council asking for changes in how bike pathways were shared with pedestrians. Following several follow up phone calls the Walk, Ride, Share campaign was launched, creating a safer environment for residents and visitors to Ryde.
Areg's commitment to his community didn't stop there. In 2018, he ran the 'Kids Bringing a Smile in a Bag' Christmas appeal within the North Ryde community. As a result, 20 Christmas activity bags were gifted to patients at Westmead Children's Hospital, bringing a smile to the faces of sick kids and making their hospital stay easier.
As a volunteer First Aider at community sporting events, Areg has treated several injured athletes providing comfort, treatment and relief as needed. His volunteerism has saved local, not-for-profit community sports clubs thousands of dollars.
Areg's ongoing commitment and services in the State Emergency Service, which he joined at 16, help the community and residents in times of distress. He has dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours of service to the Ryde SES unit.
In his final year of a Bachelor of Paramedicine degree at Charles Sturt University, our worthy Young Citizen of the Year is now looking at making a career out of helping other people.
