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