Australia Day Award Winners
We acknowledge the wonderful contributions that individuals and groups make to our communities. Every year we formally recognise some of these people through our Australia Day Awards program.
Recipients of these awards are announced by the Mayor at our official Australia Day celebrations.
2024
Citizen of the Year – Kevin Willersdorf
Young Citizen of the Year – Jackson Mugenzi
Community Event of the Year – AMES Multicultural Cup
2023
Citizen of the Year - Peter ‘Sam’ Saunders
Young Citizen of the Year - Conor Pall
Community Event of the Year – Joint Winners
- Red Cliffs Centenary Committee – 2022 Red Cliffs Centenary Celebrations
- North West Motorcycle Club - 2022 Hattah Desert Race
2022
Citizen of the Year - Carly Heintze
Young Citizen of the Year - Lily Milsom
Community Event of the Year - Mildura Eisteddfod Society Inc. for the 42nd Mildura Eisteddfod
2021
Citizen of the Year - Bryce Pritchard
Young Citizen of the Year - Luka Morzer-Bruyns
Community Event of the Year - Mallee Living Histories Group - Mallee Living Histories Project
2020
Citizen of the Year - Peter Willersdorf
Young Citizen of the Year – Genevieve Pragt
Community Event of the Year – Willowfest Veterans Cricket Championships
2019
Citizen of the Year – Anne Webster
Young Citizen of the Year – Tanika Thorne
Community Event of the Year – Ouyen Lake Project
2018
Citizen of the Year: Denis Ryan
Senior Citizen of the Year: Cheryl Barnes
Young Citizen of the Year: Joint Winners: Aleesha Davis and Nicholas Fasso-Opie
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Paws Along the Murray, Sunraysia Animal Rehousing Group
2017
Citizen of the Year: Graham Wyatt
Young Citizen of the Year: Giovanni Barbera
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Sunraysia Gang Show
2016
Citizen of the Year: Frank McCormick
Young Citizen of the Year: Indi Clarke
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Patchewollock Music Festival
2015
Citizen of the Year: Michael Hellwege
Young Citizen of the Year: Rachel White
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: ‘Mallee Up in Lights’ Small Town Transformation Project
2014
Citizen of the Year: Yunbai (George) Yang and Jane Zhang (joint winners)
Young Citizen of the Year: Amanda Doolan
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Mildura Field Days
2013
Citizen of the Year: Bonnie Cox
Citizen of the Year: Alira Gray
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Paddle Steamer Centenary and Ullysees AGM Event
2012
Citizen of the Year: Len Krause
Young Citizen of the Year: Katerina Blekic
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Mildura Relay for Life and Merbein Street Markets
2011
Citizen of the Year: Peter Bishop
Young Citizen of the Year: Ivana Blekic
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Lions Australia Multiple District 201 National Convention and Murrayville Centenary Celebration
2010
Citizen of the Year: Raymond Barraclough
Young Citizen of the Year: Tegan Willersdorf
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Merbein Centenary Celebration
2009
Citizen of the Year: Robert Pollock
Young Citizen of the Year: Luke McManus
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Blockies and Cockies Day
2008
Citizen of the Year: Peter Congress
Young Citizen of the Year: Sheridan Marr
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Chaffey Aged Care
2007
Citizen of the Year: Andrew Mentiplay
Young Citizen of the Year: Geoffrey Pascoe
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Murrayville Hall Committee
2006
Young Citizen of the Year: Riza Gultekin
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Ouyen Rain Dance
2005
Citizen of the Year: Robyn Smythe
Young Citizen of the Year: Sheree Keyte
2004
Citizen of the Year: Des Clarke
Young Citizen of the Year: Todd Kelly and Rick Kelly (joint winners)
2003
Citizen of the Year: Dorothea (Dos) Shaw
Young Citizen of the Year: Jessica Leach
Community Event or Community Project of the Year: Ouyen Children’s Farm Safe Expo
2002
Young Citizen of the Year: Samantha Bush
2001
Young Citizen of the Year: Sally Lynch
2000
Young Citizen of the Year: Shannon Monaghan