Citizen Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Hobsons Bay Citizen of the Year awards!
The awards are a chance for us to acknowledge the people in our community who are striving to make a difference and to drive positive change.
This could be through community service, sport, arts and culture, environment, health and wellbeing, business and economic development, and other areas that contribute to improving our city.
As well as highlighting the excellent work being accomplished by individuals in the community, the awards also give the recipients the opportunity to raise awareness in the community of their interests and vision for the future.
If you know someone who makes a difference in our community, show them you value their work and nominate them for the 2024 Citizen of the Year or Young Citizen of the Year!
Criteria and eligibility
There are two categories:
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year.
To be eligible, nominees must be Australian citizens who live, work, volunteer or study in Hobsons Bay. Hobsons Bay City Council staff members and Councillors are not eligible to be nominated or to nominate.
Nominations from previous recipients or nominees of other Council awards are welcome. Previous award winners will not be accepted (unless in exceptional circumstances).
Nominees for Young Citizen of the Year must be 26 years or younger on 26 January 2024 and nominees for Citizen of the Year must be 27 years or older on 26 January 2024.
You can only nominate someone else. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
The award recipients in each category must be willing to undergo a Victoria Police criminal records check (paid for by Council).
Key dates
- Monday 2 October 2023 – nominations open
- Sunday 12 November 2023, 5pm – nominations close
- January/February 2024 – winners announced
Award criteria and assessment of nominations
The selection committee will evaluate nominees against the following criteria:
- Has the nominee made a significant contribution to Hobsons Bay over this year and /or a number of years?
- Has the nominee made a significant contribution to the general community beyond Hobsons Bay over this year and/or number of years?
- How much potential does the nominee have to use the award to benefit the community?
- To what extent will the city benefit from having this individual as an ambassador for the city?
- Does the nominee's cause reflect the priorities of Hobsons Bay?
Selection committee
The selection committee will comprise of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and the most recent recipients of the Hobsons Bay Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year.
Announcement of winners
Award recipients will be announced in January/February 2024 at a Citizenship Ceremony and their details published on Council’s website and social media channels.
Previous Citizen of the Year winners
2023 - Naserah ‘Nasz’ Khan
2022 - Kate De Marco
2021 - Dr Mukesh Haikerwal AC
2020 - Myly Nguyen
2019 - Dr Marilyn Olliff
2018 - Andy Griffiths
2017 - Ralph Humphries
2016 - Nancy Winder
2015 - Geoffrey Mitchelmore OAM
2014 - Lesley Ould OAM, George Said and Altona Yacht Club
2013 - Douglas Heywood OAM
2012 - Lions Club of Altona
2012 - Sharon Walsh
2011 - Altona Cricket Club
2011 - Athol England
2010 - Jovan Kralevski
2009 - Margaret Rice
2008 - Chev. Joseph Attard
2007 - Bruce McCulloch
2006 - Chris Pullin
2005 - Helen Deahl
2004 - Judy Hindle OAM
2003 - Darren Williams and Nigel Edwards
2002 - Frank Martin
2001 - Giuseppe Inserra
2000 - Lorraine Bedella
1999 - Paul Cassar
1998 - Margaret Fyfe
1997 - Lindsay Mason
Previous Young Citizen of the Year winners
2023 - Mia Boonen
2022 - Tahlia Kotiau
2021 - Melissa Sheedy
2020 - Augustine Kadende
2019 - Layla West
2018 - Abbey Jayde Brown
2017 - Nikolina Mabic
2016 - William John McKenzie
2015 - Hue Man Dang
2014 - Gabrielle Duke
2013 - Oussama Abou-Zeid and Joel Kuperholz
2012- Chelsea Hatherall
2011 - Australian Teens Against Animal Cruelty
2010 - Rick Kiembe Mwamba
2009 - Lloyd Knight
2008 - Fusian Dance Alliance
2008 - Danny Alsabbagh
2007 - Paul Tempany
2006 - Chantelle Zei
2005 - Angelique Petrac
2004 - Vasilios Gialamas
2003 - Geraldine Cini
2002- Simon Jackson
2001 - Mark O'Donovan
2000- Troy Davies
1998 - Petrina Boylan