Skip to main content

Whittlesea Community Awards

The City of Whittlesea Community Awards recognise the outstanding service of residents who have made a valuable contribution to our community.

2021 Community Awards

The City of Whittlesea Community Awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions made by members of our community.

The Awards celebrate the voluntary or above-and-beyond contributions of nominees who live, work, volunteer or study in the City of Whittlesea.

The Awards Ceremony will be live streamed from 6pm on Wednesday 27 October on Council's YouTube channel. 

Awards will be made in the following five categories: 

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

Nominations will be assessed on the following criteria:

  • Demonstrates values that reflect the City of Whittlesea vision of being ‘A Place for All’
  • Is a positive role model for others
  • Shows leadership and vision for the future of the community
  • Undertakes activities that promote a connected community

The Young Citizen of the Year will be awarded to an individual, aged between 14 and 25 years old as of 4 May 2021, who has made an important contribution or given outstanding service to the community during the past 12-months or over a number of years.

Nominations will be assessed on whether the nominee demonstrates any or all of the following: 

  • Demonstrates values that reflect the City of Whittlesea vision of being ‘A Place for All’
  • Is a positive role model for others
  • Shows leadership and vision for the future of the community
  • Undertakes activities that promote a connected community

The Senior Citizen of the Year will be awarded to an individual, aged 60 years or older as of 4 May 2021, who has made an important contribution or given outstanding service to the community during the past 12-months or over a number of years.

Nominations will be assessed on whether the nominee demonstrates any or all of the following: 

  • Demonstrates values that reflect the City of Whittlesea vision of being ‘A Place for All’
  • Is a positive role model for others
  • Shows leadership and vision for the future of the community
  • Undertakes activities that promote a connected community

The Access and Inclusion Citizen of the Year will be awarded to 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 will consider the contribution of nominees during the past 12-months or over a number of years.

Nominations will be assessed on whether the nominee demonstrates any or all of the following:  

  • Takes action to improve opportunities for everyone to participate fully
  • Raises awareness and advocates for our community to be more inclusive
  • Growing opportunities for those restricted due to physical, social or other challenges to participate achieving positive outcomes that increase participation for residents where participation
  • decreasing discrimination for residents

The Sustainable Environment Citizen or Group of the Year will be awarded to 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 will consider the contribution of nominees during the past 12-months or over a number of years.

Nominations will be assessed on whether the nominee demonstrates any or all of the following: 

  • Demonstrating stewardship of our valued natural landscapes and biodiversity
  • Promoting climate readiness and resilience
  • Showing leadership in sustainable living initiatives

Whittlesea Community Award Committee Members

  • Peita Duncan - City of Whittlesea Administrator
  • Mahendra Sukhdeo – former Australia Day Awards Committee member
  • Jenny Nicholls – former Australia Day Awards Committee member
  • Matthew Bui – former Australia Day Awards Committee member
  • Raymond Rosales - recipient of the 2020 Senior Citizen of the Year Award 
  • Vivian Ly – recipient of the 2020 Young Citizen of the Year Award
  • Dalal Sleiman – recipient of the 2020 Access and Inclusion Citizen of the Year Award 

Terms and conditions

Entries for the 2021 Whittlesea Community Awards are open from Monday 9 August 2021 and close at 12 noon on Friday 1 October 2021. Entries must be received on or before the closing time.

Recipients will be decided by the City of Whittlesea Committee.

The Awards Committee 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 that are nominated for a Whittlesea Community Award may be considered for a category other than the one they are nominated in.

All enquiries and award nomination material will remain confidential (with the exception of nominee’s names and whose nomination material will be used in the award ceremony) unless the City of Whittlesea obtains express permission for use.