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June 5, 2026
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Nominees announced for Ballina’s 2025 Australia Day Awards

By The Echo

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Winner of the Citizen of the Year at the 2024 Australia Day Awards, Joel Taylor. Photo Kate Holmes.

The Ballina Shire Council have announced the nominees for their 2025 Australia Day Awards, commemorating individual and community achievement throughout the shire.

The Australia Day Ceremony will commence at 9am with a Welcome to Country, followed by a special citizenship ceremony welcoming 12 new Australian citizens from Argentina, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

The Awards ceremony will follow, aiming to highlight outstanding individual and group achievements throughout the shire that positively contribute to the community.

The event will be hosted by 101.9 Paradise FM announcer Sandra Jackson and feature special performances by singer Katie Rutledge.

This year’s Awards will take place at the Lennox Head Cultural Centre on Sunday, 26 January from 9am.

Award Nominees

This year, the council received over 40 nominations across the eight categories of Local Hero, Young Citizen, Senior Citizen, Volunteer of the Year, Sports Achievement, Arts and Culture, Environmental and Community Event of the Year. The nominees are as follows:

Local Hero
Jodie Shelley
Amy Gasnier
Sarah Rosborg
Andy Hamilton
Wardell Core
Micky Sahni
Rikki-Lee Petrie

Young Citizen
Savannah Roberts-Hickling
Rose Christmas
Ezekiel Knight
Lachlan Trease
Xavier Catholic College Ballina (Year 11 Immersion Group to Timor-Leste)

Senior Citizen
Rik Dillon
Phil Chapman
Heather Munro
Robert Whiston

Volunteer of the Year
Diane Parker
Karen Wilson
Susan Morrison
Jesse Pamment
Mark Ross
Gabi Enright
Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore Surf Life Saving Club

Sports Achievement Award
Mikey McDonagh (Surfing)
Ballina Netball Association Under 17 Boys Team (Netball)
Le-Ba Boardriders Surfing Team (Surfing)
Denise Cooper (Outrigger Paddling)
Mary Davis (Dragon Boating)
Beth Whaanga (Fuggle) (Rugby Union)

Arts and Culture Award
Mariah Cavnaugh-Roberts (Dance)
Craig Parry (Photography)

Environmental Award
Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue
Ballina Environment Society
Wildlife Twins
Amanda Philp
Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital
The Late Shirley White

Community Event of 2024
The Ox 100km for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DPIG)
2024 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open
Ballina Anzac Day 2024 Commemorations
Dementia Inclusive Ballina Alliance
Rous Public School Bonfire Night
Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Regatta
Rotary Community Duck Race
21st Charity Melbourne Cup Luncheon.

The ceremony will conclude with the announcement of the 2025 Ballina Shire Citizen of the Year, who will be selected from all nominees across the various categories.

For more event details, visit: ballina.nsw.gov.au/AustraliaDay.

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