2022 Citizen of the Year Deidre Tome with Wagga Acting Mayor Jenny McKinnon and the council’s visitor economy and events coordinator Sophie Gairn at the launch of the 2023 Australia Day Awards at Victory Memorial Gardens. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Council.
Nominations for the 2023 Australia Day Awards are open for locals to submit their choices.
Wagga Wagga City Council officially launched the awards to recognise citizens in the community who have made a difference during the past year.
Acting Mayor Jenny McKinnon and the city’s 2022 Citizen of the Year Deidre Tome launched the awards on Thursday (8 September) at the Victory Memorial Gardens.
The council said the achievements of locals who had made significant contributions would be the focus of nominations.
The awards have five categories: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Environmental Citizen of the Year, Ted Ryder Sports Memorial Award and the Walk of Honour.
Cr McKinnon said the awards recognised the outstanding service provided by local citizens.
“There are residents out there who make a difference to our community every day and we want to help tell their stories,” Cr McKinnon said.
“It is wonderful that we can give recognition to our local heroes and reward their community contribution across a range of categories.”
Ms Tome said there were significant benefits in giving to others.
“It is a rewarding and satisfying feeling to contribute to our society, to give back to the next generation, and support those who are less fortunate,” Ms Tome said.
“Many organisations rely on the contributions by volunteers which support our community and make a difference to so many lives. It is an honour to be given that recognition.”
Ms Tome was named 2022 Citizen of the Year for her extensive volunteering with a number of local service organisations over many years.
Her community work has included coordinating many successful fundraising events for the Miss Wagga Wagga Quest Committee, Legacy Club of Wagga Wagga and Wagga Wagga Bidgee Dragons, and her involvement in Rotary programs such as PolioPlus and the combined Wagga Rotary clubs’ homelessness project.
The Australia Day Awards ceremony will be at the Civic Theatre on Tuesday, 25 January, 2023.
Nominations close at midnight on Friday, 25 November.
To submit a nomination, fill out a form.
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