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Byron Shire
June 24, 2026

Lismore’s Australia Day Awards noms open

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Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg with the 2025 Citizen of the Year, Neville Graham.

Nominations for Lismore City Council’s 2026 Australia Day Awards are now open, say Lismore Council staff, with two new categories: Academic Excellence and Contribution to Economic Excellence.

In a media release, they say, ‘The Awards are held annually to recognise people who give back to the community through volunteering, community work or who excel in sports or other endeavours’.

Unsung heroes

Lismore City Mayor, Steve Krieg, said the awards were a chance to recognise our unsung heroes who put in many hours as volunteers to make our community an even better place to live, work and raise a family.
One thing that has always stood out to me is that our community is full of quiet unsung heroes,’ he said.
The Australia Day Awards give us a chance every year to honour those passionate people who dedicate a large part of their lives to building a stronger, healthier community with no thought of personal gain’.

New categories

This year, we have also added to new categories, Academic Excellence and Contribution to Economic Excellence.
If you have a friend who works hard for a volunteer group, know a student who is kicking goals in life or admire a person for their work for our community, please nominate them.
It only takes 5–10 minutes to complete an online nomination, so please get online before the deadline and nominate today’.


Categories are:

  • Citizen of the Year
  • Young Citizen of the Year
  • Services in the Community (Individual)
  • Services in the Community (Group)
  • Sportsperson/Team (Junior)
  • Sportsperson/Team (Senior)
  • Environment
  • Arts/Culture
  • Academic Excellence
  • Contribution to Economic Excellence

To make a nomination, go to www.lismore.nsw.gov.au. Nominations close on Sunday, 30 November 2025.



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