Annette St Claire was announced as the 2024 Wagga Wagga Citizen of the Year and was presented the award by MP Michael McCormack, MP Dr Joe McGirr and Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Council.
Thirteen of Wagga’s most influential and supportive figures have been announced as the nominees for the 2025 Australia Day Awards.
The awards include five categories: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Environmental Citizen of the Year, Ted Ryder Sports Memorial Award and a Walk of Honour inductee, with the recipients to be announced at the city’s Australia Day Awards Ceremony to be held at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre on Saturday 25 January from 6 pm.
Gregory Johnson, Joshua Hunt, Michael Redgrave, Peter Quarmby, Robyn Weedon, and Saba Nabi have all been nominated for Citizen of the Year. Hailee Burkinshaw has been named the sole nominee for Young Australian of the Year.
David Dunn and Lylah Howard-Jenkins have been nominated for the Ted Ryder Sports Memorial Award, while Leanne Scott will have her service to the environment acknowledged with the Environmental Citizen of the Year title heading her way.
First Nations elders Uncle Hewitt and Aunty Dot Whyman and beloved performing arts teacher Zita Denholm will be forever immortalised on the Wagga Wagga Walk of Honour.
“These nominees have worked with great dedication, devoting time and energy into making Wagga Wagga a better place for all of us to live,” Wagga Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout said.
“It is wonderful to see them being recognised for the outstanding work they do for our community.”
Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) events officer Emma Corbett said the awards recognised the nominees’ service to the Wagga community.
“The Australia Day awards is just a great opportunity to be able to give back and say thanks to those people who you know, work tirelessly behind the scenes and who volunteer their time to make our community a better place,” she said.
In addition to the awards ceremony, WWCC will also be hosting a number of events across the Australia Day weekend, including:
• ‘Murun-dhu’ – I Live, I Breathe | Saturday 25 January | 5 to 9 pm | Riverside Precinct
• 2025 Australia Day Awards Ceremony | Saturday 25 January | 6 to 8 pm | Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre
• Community Barbecue Breakfast | Sunday 26 January | 7 to 9 am | Riverside Precinct
• Citizenship Ceremony | Sunday 26 January | 9 to 10 am | Riverside Precinct
• ‘Murun-dhu’ – I Live, I Breathe | Sunday 26 January | 9 am to 4 pm | CSU Playhouse
Ms Corbett recognised the misgivings that some people had with the occasion, but said several of the events, including ‘Murun-dhu’ – I Live, I Breathe were organised in conjunction with Mawang Gaway to provide a respectful, inclusive and educational experience for all.
“We acknowledge that it is a really tough day for many of our community members here in Wagga,” she said.
“We’re really proud of our relationship with Mawang Gaway and we really do listen to what it is that they want to host over this weekend, and be really mindful and respectful to support them the best way that we can.”
The city’s Australia Day Awards Ceremony will be held at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre on Saturday 25 January from 6 pm. Free general admission tickets to the ceremony are available through the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre booking office in person, over the phone by calling 02 6926 9688 or online.
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