Whittlesea Community Awards

The Citizen of the Year is awarded to an individual who has made an important contribution or given outstanding service to the community in the past 12 months or over a number of years. The award is open to all ages.

Nominees eligible for Citizen of the Year are assessed on whether they demonstrate any or all of the following:

• showing values that reflect our vision of the City of Whittlesea as ‘A Place for All’
• being a positive role model for others
• showing leadership and vision for the future of the community
• undertaking activities that promote a connected community.

The Young Citizen of the Year is for an individual, aged between 14 and 25 years old as of 1 November, who has made an important contribution or given outstanding service to the community in the past 12 months or over a number of years.

Nominees for Young Citizen of the Year are assessed on whether they demonstrate any or all of the following:

• showing values that reflect our vision of the City of Whittlesea as ‘A Place for All’
• being a positive role model for others
• showing leadership and vision for the future of the community
• undertaking activities that promote a connected community.

The Senior Citizen of the Year is for an individual, aged 60 years or older as of 1 November, who has made an important contribution or given outstanding service to the community in the past 12 months or over a number of years.

Nominees for are assessed on whether they demonstrate any or all of the following:

• showing values that reflect our vision of the City of Whittlesea as ‘A Place for All’
• being a positive role model for others
• showing leadership and vision for the future of the community
• undertaking activities that promote a connected community.

The Access and Inclusion Citizen of the Year is for an individual who has made an important contribution or given outstanding service to the community by including others whose access to participation is restricted due to physical, social or other challenges.

The award is open to all ages and takes into account the contribution of nominees during the past 12 months or over a number of years.

Nominees are assessed on whether they demonstrate any or all of the following:

• taking action to improve opportunities for everyone to participate fully
• raising awareness and advocating for our community to be more inclusive
• creating opportunities to increase participation for residents restricted by physical, social or other challenges; or, achieving positive outcomes that increase participation 
• reducing discrimination for residents.

The Sustainable Environment Citizen or Group of the Year is for an individual or group that has actively responded to, and engaged others in, an environmental issue impacting the City of Whittlesea.

The award is open to all ages and takes into account nominees’ contributions during the past 12 months or over a number of years.

Nominations are assessed on whether the nominees demonstrate any or all of the following:

• showing stewardship of our valued natural landscapes and biodiversity
• promoting climate readiness and resilience
• showing leadership in sustainable living initiatives.

• Entries must be received on or before the closing date.
• Recipients will be decided by the City of Whittlesea Awards Committee.
• The Awards Committee's decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into relating to the decision.
• Nominees, nominators or referees may be contacted for further information by City of Whittlesea staff.
• Individuals may be nominated for more than one category; however, each individual can only be nominated once per category.
• Individuals or groups nominated for a City of Whittlesea Community Award may be considered for an award in a category other than the one they are nominated in.
• All enquiries and award nomination material will remain confidential unless the City of Whittlesea obtains express permission for use. The exception is for nominee’s names and for nomination material used in the award ceremony.

Judith has supported the Whittlesea Showgrounds and Whittlesea Park for more than 30 years as a member of the Whittlesea Showgrounds and Recreation Reserves Committee of Management. 

Judith is also a Life Member of the Whittlesea Agricultural Society Inc., and a member of the Whittlesea Historical Society, Friends of Toorourrong, and Whittlesea Township and Surrounds Community Resilience Committee. Judith also sits on the board of the Yan Yean Cemetery Trust.

Judith works tirelessly to support these associations and the Whittlesea community.

Christine is the founder of the Doreen Baby Boomers Facebook page. The group encourages seniors in the community to get together, meet new people and socialise. 

The group has helped many seniors to connect and form friendships. Christine also shares information and organises activities and outings including luncheons, a book club, walking groups and guest speakers.

Kaynat is a dedicated young person who is an active voice for young people in the community. 

Kaynat has worked on projects and campaigns addressing issues facing young people’s health and wellbeing, including vaping and gambling. 

Kaynat was an active member of the Youth Advisory Committee and is now a member of the City of Whittlesea Youth Council.

Norma is the founder of the Zenobia Association, a not-for-profit agency supporting refugee and migrant women to build a new life in Australia.

Through Zenobia, Norma offers a range of information sessions, wellbeing programs, cultural events and excursions.

Norma is a well-respected mentor and leader within the Syrian community and takes pride in her role as a Jobs Victoria Mentor at Whittlesea Community Connections, assisting people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds into employment.

Ben manages local environmental sustainability group EnviroFriends, actively working to restore wetlands. 

Ben also works as an Environmental Science teacher at St Monica’s College, where he and his students also maintain the school garden and build and monitor nesting boxes for birds and possums.

Ben runs the BirdNET-Pi education program and is passionate about teaching young people about climate change and helping them get involved in environmental sustainability.