East Gippsland Shire Council is calling on the community to recognise outstanding local achievements by nominating deserving individuals, organisations and groups for the 2025 Australia Day Awards.
These awards are an opportunity to celebrate the everyday heroes who make East Gippsland a wonderful place to live, work and thrive.
The Australia Day Awards acknowledge those who have made significant contributions to our community in areas such as volunteering, community service, sports, arts, and environmental initiatives.
Nominations are now open in the following categories:
– Citizen of the year
– Young citizen of the year (under 27 years of age on January 26 2025), and
– Community event of the year (events held in 2024).
East Gippsland Shire Council’s chief executive officer, Fiona Weigall, encouraged residents to consider nominating someone whose dedication deserves recognition.
“We are fortunate to have many individuals and groups in East Gippsland who go above and beyond for our community,” Ms Weigall said.
“The Australia Day Awards provide an excellent platform to thank those who work tirelessly to support others, often without seeking any reward or acknowledgement. By nominating them, we are celebrating their contribution and showing our gratitude.
“We value and celebrate East Gippsland Shire residents. The strong identity and sense of community that we all enjoy, in whichever town we live, is in no small part due to the people volunteering their time for local clubs, groups, facilities or services.”
Ms Weigall highlighted the importance of community participation in the nomination process.
“These awards rely on the local community to identify and nominate those people who are making a difference,” she said.
“It’s an opportunity for us all to reflect on the people and efforts that make East Gippsland such a vibrant and supportive place to live.”
All nominees will be recognised at an Australia Day Awards ceremony to be held in January.
Nominations for the 2025 Australia Day Awards close on Friday, December 6.
The nomination form is available on council’s website, its Customer Service Centres, or its mobile bus service.
