Stephen Violi wants to clean up Scene Hill. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
A man who organised a clean-up of Scenic Hill, a woman who knits teddies for sick kids and a community-minded shoe shop owner are among a host of selfless residents nominated for Griffith City Council Australia Day Awards for 2026.
Waste entrepreneur Stephen Violi of Riverina Skips was so sick of seeing one of the town’s top tourist attractions double as a makeshift rubbish dump that he shelled out $2000 of his own money to entice people to help him tidy it up in September 2025.
He cleverly hid tokens worth up to $1000 among the McDonald’s wrappers and discarded beer bottles on the hill. Residents who gave up their Sunday to clean with him redeemed the tokens for cash in an effort that resulted in 1580 kilograms of rubbish being removed by 120 people.
Mr Violi is now in the running to be crowned Environmental Citizen of the Year alongside perennial volunteer Brian Oakroot, at a ceremony to be held at Griffith Regional Theatre on 26 January.
Popular grandmother Pat Zandona has been nominated as overall Citizen of the Year after founding the Griffith Trauma Teddy Knitter’s Group, which has made 3000 toys that have benefits for everyone from local children to those in the wartorn Gaza Strip in Israel. She was previously named the 2025 Riverina Volunteer of the Year in Wagga in August.
Former teacher and drug and alcohol campaigner Pat Cox and Athlete’s Foot co-owner Glennis Damini are in the running for the same gong.
“I don’t know why I’ve been nominated; there are a lot more deserving people than me,” Ms Damini said.
“But it’s an honour as we’ve been here 32 years and we support as many groups as we can, like cancer charity Can Assist, the Barellan Masters Games, the City2Lake run and Riverina Field Games.
“We also go out to nursing homes for residents who can’t come to town, to help them slip into shoes, and attend schools to teach kids how to lace up shoes. My motto for everyone is ‘Just keep moving’.”
Athlete’s Foot owners Glennis Damini (left) and Angela Foscarini with Shaq’s size 22 Reebok. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Ms Damini said she was determined to defy the trend of online shopping killing physical stores.
“It’s so depressing when you look up the main street and see so many retail stores are closed and replaced by offices,” she said.
“But we want to stay here for as long as possible and thank the community for their support.”
Griffith Mayor Doug Curran said the Australia Day Awards played an important role in acknowledging those who went above and beyond for others.
“These nominees have devoted countless hours and energy to improving our community and making Griffith a better place for everyone,” he said.
“It is great to see their efforts acknowledged and celebrated through these awards.”
Pat Zandona has been nominated for Griffith Citizen of the Year. Photo: Supplied.
GRIFFITH AUSTRALIA DAY AWARD NOMINATIONS
Citizen of the Year
Janice Bavaresco
Patricia (Pat) Cox
Libby Trembath
Anthony (Tony) Catanzariti
Kurrajong — Hugh Taylor, Nicole Williams, Teresa Gullo, Rebecca-Lyn Ruidiger, Zoey Frizel, Erin Docherty
Karen Byrne
Michelle Hutchison
Pat Zandona
Glennis Damini.
Young Citizen of the Year
Lachlan Barbaro
Benjamin Savage.
Environmental Citizen of the Year
Stephen Violi
Brian Oakroot.
Community Project of the Year
Griffith Trauma Teddy Knitters Club
Griffith Motorcycle Sports Club.
Sportsperson of the Year
Tahlia Quinn
Andrew Sinclair
Simon Spiers
James Wythes.
Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Alec Brady
Jack Passlow
Emma Hutchinson
Mackenzie Hassan
Reif Leach
Jacinta Gee
Jezaiah Charles
Marley Morgan
Havana Cook.
Sports Team of the Year
Kurrajong Crushers Netball Team
Griffith Junior Rugby Union Football Club
Griffith Under 13 Milliken Shield Representative Cricket Team
Griffith Demons U14 Boys Basketball Team.
Club Person of the Year
Neil Macklin — Leagues Squash
Glennis Damini, Griffith (Ted Scobie Oval) Park Run.
Australia Day Award winners will be announced during the Australia Day Award ceremony on Monday, 26 January, 2026, from 10:30 am at Griffith Regional Theatre.
