A huge crowd gathered in Orbost last Saturday afternoon to honour some of the region’s most dedicated volunteers and community events at the 2025 East Gippsland Australia Day Awards, including Citizen of the Year, Metung’s Bill Newcomen, and joint Young Citizen of the Year, Tanner McMillan.
Bill has served the community in multiple roles, from school council committees, to training and mentoring new CFA members and junior sailors at the Metung Yacht Club.
Bill’s dedication and commitment to the local community has been demonstrated through his many years of serving in multiple roles, and his willingness to put his hand up and help.
Bill ran the junior sailing program for 25 years at the Metung Yacht Club teaching more than 600 local children how to sail – including several current international level sailors. Although getting close to 80 now, Bill still assists when asked. You’ll regularly catch him out on one of the rescue boats during a training session or regatta. Bill has been involved in running the Metung Yacht Club for as long as anyone can remember (including two stints as commodore and several as vice commodore).
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Tanner, a member of Lakes Entrance Surf Life Saving Club, is a role model to the thousands living with Lyme disease – raising funds and awareness and advocating for change.
Following a tick bite as a child, Tanner became seriously ill, eventually being diagnosed with Lyme disease.
Despite this challenge, Tanner pushed through and now uses his experience to raise awareness and help others. He appeared on The Project on Channel 10 to tell his story and has been part of numerous YouTube videos and media articles, to help bring change for others.
During December Tanner walked the 90 Mile Beach to raise more awareness and research funds for the Lyme Disease Association of Australia. He even managed to have his walk mentioned by the lead singer of Coldplay in front of 50,000 people during their recent Melbourne concert.
So far, Tanner has raised more than $100,000 to help others with Lyme disease.
Tanner’s determination, courage and willingness to share his story – despite it being a tough one, along with his drive to bring change for patients like himself, has inspired Lyme patients to keep going in the face of adversity and realise that people do care and want to make a difference.
The Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria Get Together at Omeo was awarded the Community Event of the Year.
The East Gippsland Shire Council-run event acknowledged the outstanding achievements of local volunteers with 23 nominations across the three award categories
2025 AWARD NOMINEES
Citizen of the Year: Bill Newcomen, Metung; Christine Svenson, Paynesville; Phillip and Joanne Jones, Bairnsdale; Frank Makrai, Benambra; James Blandford, Meerlieu; James Nicholas, Bruthen; Moss Mahony, Lakes Entrance; Jaime Savory, Bairnsdale; Mary Mitchell, Orbost; Penny Hammond, Lakes Entrance; Gayle Webster, Kalimna; Cherie Young, Orbost, Rachel Wagstaff, Bairnsdale.
Young Citizen of the Year: Tanner McMillan, Bairnsdale; Alfie Simpson, Bairnsdale; Giaan Woerz, Marlo; Amber Mazon, Nicholson; Austin Millgate, Orbost; Banjo Jackson, Metung.
Community Event of the Year: Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria Annual Get Together, Opera by the Lakes, Orbost Annual Poker Run 2024, Paynesville Classic Boat Rally.
