Published on 19 September 2024
Nominations open for 2025 Australia Day Awards
Nominate a local legend for Onkaparinga’s 2025 Australia Day Awards.
The annual awards recognise local individuals and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to our communities during the year.
There are six nomination categories:
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year
- Little Hero of the Year
- Sportsperson of the Year
- Community Event of the Year
- Active Citizenship (non-Australian citizens).
Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were says the awards recognise the strength and resilience of the Onkaparinga community.
“Communities are people who are connected and rely on each other in good times and in bad, who learn together, play together, and work and volunteer together,” she says.
“Our Australia Day Awards winners and nominees are so often the glue that holds these communities together.
“They’re the people who give us hope by making a difference or achieving success we can admire. So often, they go unrecognised.
“We urge everyone to look around them to identify who our community champions are and to take the time to nominate them.”
Gill Golding was declared Citizen of the Year in the 2024 Australia Day Awards for promoting equality and equity for the 10,000 people who enter Hackham West Community Centre each year.
She’s served as a member of the centre’s governing council and spearheaded 22 programs tackling social disadvantage, providing support for families, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, cultural and linguistically diverse communities, and those experiencing loneliness and isolation.
She’s also been a member of the Christies Beach High School Governing Council, People Matters Hackham West and the Central Northeast District Reference Group.
In 2024, she received statewide recognition for her community efforts, named as the South Australian Citizen of the Year by the Australia Day Council of South Australia.
Other winners in the City of Onkaparinga 2024 Australia Day Awards include Aden Croser as Young Citizen of the Year, Anu Francis as Sportsperson of the Year, and the Fleurieu Folk Festival as Community Event of the Year.
To nominate a local legend so they get the recognition they deserve, download an online application from City of Onkaparinga Australia Day Awards or pick up a hard copy from any of the council offices, libraries or community centres.
Nominations close Friday 15 November.
The awards will be presented at the City of Onkaparinga’s 2025 Australia Day citizenship ceremony on 26 January 2025.
For further information, go to the City of Onkaparinga Australia Day Awards or contact our Civic Events team: mail@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au or 8384 0666.
IMAGE: Wattle, Australia's floral emblem, courtesy of Botanic Gardens of Sydney