Australia Day Awards
The Warrumbungle Shire Council Australia Day Awards recognise and celebrate people, groups and events for their outstanding achievements and contributions to communities across the Warrumbungle Shire.
The awards are run each year in conjunction with the NSW Local Citizen of the Year Awards and provide an opportunity to recognise the people who make a positive difference across our Shire.
Award recipients are recognised as part of Australia Day celebrations held across the Warrumbungle Shire on 26 January each year.
Nominations
Nominations for the Warrumbungle Shire Council Australia Day Awards generally open in September each year.
When nominations are open, information about award categories, eligibility, closing dates and how to nominate will be available through Council's Have Your Say page.
Australia Day Award celebrations
Australia Day Award celebrations are held in six towns across the Warrumbungle Shire:
- Baradine
- Binnaway
- Coolah
- Coonabarabran
- Dunedoo
- Mendooran
Council representatives and visiting Australia Day Ambassadors join community members at events across the Shire, where Australia Day Award recipients are recognised.
Details of Australia Day events and activities are published closer to 26 January each year.
Past Winners
2026
Citizen of the Year Matthew Guan (Dunedoo)
Young Citizen of the Year Jack Richards (Coonabarabran)
Senior Citizen of the Year Narelle McDonald (Binnaway)
Sportsperson of the Year Chantell Greaves (Dunedoo)
Young Sportsperson of the Year Jackson Player (Coonabarabran)
Community Event of the Year Sky River Path Park Run (Coonabarabran) and, Coolah Rugby League Football Club Grand Final (Coolah)
Environmental Citizen of the Year Gary Picard (Coolah)
Young Environmental Citizen of the Year No nominations received
Cultural Achievement Award Three Rivers Landcare (Dunedoo, Coolah and Mendooran)
2025
Citizen of the Year Ted Hayman (Baradine)
Young Citizen of the Year Kurt Rutter (Coonabarabran)
Senior Citizen of the Year Geoffrey Gasior (Coonabarabran)
Sportsperson of the Year Declined by winner
Young Sportsperson of the Year Evie Matthews (Baradine)
Community Event of the Year Coolah Veteran Touch Football Carnival (Coolah)
Environmental Citizen of the Year Malcom and Laura Hartley (Coonabarabran)
Young Environmental Citizen of the Year Ava Harley (Coonabarabran)
Cultural Achievement Award Coonabarabran High School Musical Production Team for ‘Legally Blonde’ Musical (Coonabarabran)
2024
Citizen of the Year Paul Wangmann
Young Citizen of the Year Declan Eshman
Senior Citizen of the Year John Franklin
Sportsperson of the Year Poihaere Birtles
Young Sportsperson of the Year Kiesha Rusten
Community Event of the Year Tunes on the Turf, Dunedoo
Environmental Citizen of the Year May Whittall
Young Environmental Citizen of the Year St John’s Primary School Baradine Bird Helpers
Cultural Achievement Award Yulu-gi-Mari Dance Group
2023
Citizen of the Year Rhonda Jewiss
Young Citizen of the Year Amelia Hadfield and Lachlan Cook
Senior Citizen of the Year Robert Cox
Sportsperson of the Year Madeline Wilson
Young Sportsperson of the Year Siarne Davis
Community Event of the Year 2022 Baradine Debutante Ball – Baradine Hospital Auxiliary
Environmental Citizen of the Year No recipient in 2023
Young Environmental Citizen of the Year Coonabarabran High School Year 10 Enviro-Scientists
Cultural Achievement Award Dr Michael Armstrong
2022
Citizen of the Year Jane Philips
Young Citizen of the Year Melinda Ryan
Senior Citizen of the Year Joan Wilkin
Sportsperson of the Year Richie Milgate
Young Sportsperson of the Year Wilmie van Schalkwyk
Community Event of the Year World Whisky Day – Black Gate Distillery and Wings ‘N’ Things
Environmental Citizen of the Year No recipient in 2022
YoungEnvironmental Citizen of the Year No recipient in 2022
Cultural Achievement Award Rapley Family
2021
Citizen of the Year Jim Larkin and Carol Richard
Young Citizen of the Year Luke Bonello
Senior Citizen of the Year Heather Edgell
Sportsperson of the Year Dunedoo Swannettes
Young Sportsperson of the Year Ashanti Pennell and Allirah Watton
Community Event of the Year Central West Cycle Trail
Environmental Citizen of the Year Juleen Young
Young Environmental Citizen of the Year* Coonabarabran High School D7 Support Unit Class
Cultural Achievement Award Aimee Rossler
* New award category commenced 2021
2020
Citizen of the Year Murray Henderson
Young Citizen of the Year No nominations received
Senior Citizen of the Year Roy Cameron OAM
Sportsperson of the Year Jamieson Leeson
Young Sportsperson of the Year no winner recorded
Community Event of the Year 2019 Baradine Show
Environmental Citizen of the Year* Sharon Nott
Cultural Achievement Award Octagon Players
*Award category commenced 2020
2019
Citizen of the Year Barbara Baker
Young Citizen of the Year Jarrod Lambert
Senior Citizen of the Year Kerry Vallette
Sportsperson of the Year Claudia McConaughey
Young Sportsperson of the Year no winner recorded
Community Event of the Year Art Unlimited Dunedoo
Cultural Achievement Award Di Suthons
2018
Citizen of the Year David Rayner
Young Citizen of the Year Eugenie Martin
Senior Citizen of the Year Gayle McEvoy and Joy Beames
Sportsperson of the Year Hayden Maher and Madison Heywood
Young Sportsperson of the Year no winner recorded
Community Event of the Year Baradine Preschool – ‘Thank God You’re Here’ and Mendooran Turf Club – ‘The Mendooran Races’
Cultural Achievement Award Joy Pickette
2017
Citizen of the Year Wayne ‘Bomber’ Thrift
Young Citizen of the Year Lily Abbott
Senior Citizen of the Year Beverley Rayner
Sportsperson of the Year Grant Piper
Young Sportsperson of the Year no winner recorded
Community Event of the Year Palliative for People Committee – The Event
Cultural Achievement Award* No nominations received
*New award category commenced 2017
2016
Citizen of the Year Keith Flood
Young Citizen of the Year David Tighe and Alycia Trainor
Senior Citizen of the Year Avice Boyden
Sportsperson of the Year Troy Palmer
Young Sportsperson of the Year Jake McGlashan
2015
Citizen of the Year Lois Sutton
Young Citizen of the Year Samantha Smith
Senior Citizen of the Year John King and Barry Evans
Sportsperson of the Year Heather Waters and Kyle Turner
Young Sportsperson of the Year Harley Wood
2014
Citizen of the Year Rodney Williams and Rob Deans
Young Citizen of the Year Brendan Hawkins
Senior Citizen of the Year Tony Brain
Sportsperson of the Year Kevin Williams and Roy Mathews
Young Sportsperson of the Year Darcy Clifton and Albert Nolan
2013
Citizen of the Year Len Roberts
Young Citizen of the Year Alexander Tighe
Senior Citizen of the Year Krystina Wesley and Annette Estens
Sportsperson of the Year Edward Kuras
Young Sportsperson of the Year Ellie Capewell
2012
Citizen of the Year Rita Keech
Young Citizen of the Year Lewis Varty
Senior Citizen of the Year Kevin Carberry
Sportsperson of the Year Gabi Olsen
Young Sportsperson of the Year Jessica Cormie
2011
Citizen of the Year Bob Sutherland
Young Citizen of the Year Shannon Nott
Senior Citizen of the Year Suzanne Stoddart
Sportsperson of the Year Tim Wilkinson
Young Sportsperson of the Year Coonabarabran High Open Netball Team
2010
Citizen of the Year John Sawyer
Young Citizen of the Year Malcolm Fleming
Senior Citizen of the Year Kevin Stewart
Sportsperson of the Year Ken Campbell
Young Sportsperson of the Year Casey Burgess
2009
Citizen of the Year John Eastburn
Young Citizen of the Year Dannielle Macbeth
Senior Citizen of the Year John Yeo, Lachlan Campbell and Maxwell Fairall
Sportsperson of the Year Philip Ayoub
Young Sportsperson of the Year Kyle Turner
2008
Citizen of the Year Roger Hadfield, Vilma Roden, Graham Martin, Charlotte Dinsdale, Ken Bowman, and Ted Miller
Young Citizen of the Year Amy Elton
Senior Citizen of the Year Robert Walton
Sportsperson of the Year Wesley Suckley
Young Sportsperson of the Year Hayley Arden
2007
Citizen of the Year David Baker
Young Citizen of the Year John Abbott
Senior Citizen of the Year Don Watton and Ernie Rookyard
Sportsperson of the Year Sharon Nott
Young Sportsperson of the Year Gabi Olsen
2006
Citizen of the Year Peter Manning
Young Citizen of the Year Sarah Ford
Senior Citizen of the Year Joan Rockliffe
Sportsperson of the Year James Campbell
Young Sportsperson of the Year Wes Suckley
2005
Citizen of the Year Dr Fred Watson
Young Citizen of the Year Martin Davenport and Anna O’Brien
Senior Citizen of the Year Hazel Aylett
Sportsperson of the Year Wes Suckley
Young Sportsperson of the Year Carley Rowland
Local Town Australia Day Awards
In addition to the Warrumbungle Shire Council Australia Day Awards, community groups in each town may run their own Local Town Australia Day Awards.
These awards are independently coordinated by local community groups and are separate from the Warrumbungle Shire Council Australia Day Awards.
People can nominate someone for both award programs, however a separate nomination must be submitted for each. Nominations for a Local Town Australia Day Award must be submitted directly to the relevant town community group, using their nomination process.
Recipients of the Local Town Australia Day Awards are presented with their awards alongside Council's award recipients as part of the Australia Day celebrations held in each town.
For details and information about your own local town’s awards, or to submit a nomination directly to each town, contact your local organiser:
Baradine
Loren Eastburn
0429 436 234
Binnaway
Lyn Petherbridge
0427 974 868
lyn.petherbridge@bigpond.com
Coolah
Katie Burgess
0419 635 786
chair@coolahddg.onmicrosoft.com
Coonabarabran
Joan Wilkin
0429 684 282
jo.wilkin@gmail.com
Dunedoo
Kylie Brougham
0427 637 266
coordinator@dunedoo.org.au
Mendooran
Stuart Neal
0410 703 843
stuart.neal@bigpond.com