Australia Day Awards
Snapshot
Nominations Open - All year round
Nominations Close - Second Friday of December annually (Friday, 11 December 2026 for 2027 Awards)
Recipients Announced - 26 January (Australia Day) each year
Download the Citizen of the Year Awards Guidelines Nomination Form (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Citizen of the Year | Young Citizen of the Year | Community Event of the Year
Active Citizenship | Youth Recognition Awards
Individuals and organisations in our community are making a difference everyday. Each year, Council recognises outstanding local contributions by making the following awards available:
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year
- Community Event of the Year
- Active Citizenship, and
- Youth Recognition (Five categories)
Council celebrates these contributions by sponsoring local Australia Day events in Beachport, Glencoe, Kalangadoo, Millicent, Penola, Southend and Tantanoola on Australia Day (26 January). Everyone is invited to attend these free Australia Day breakfasts and the Awards ceremonies. Local Lions Clubs and Progress Associations help run the events and Council presents the recipients with their awards. Search 'Australia Day' on the events page in late December or January for further details.
"These awards are an important opportunity to recognise the people who quietly contribute so much to our towns and communities,” Mayor Des Noll of Wattle Range Council.
Nominate someone who has made a difference today
Do you know someone who makes our community a better place?
Our community is essential in making the awards successful. Each year, Council invites the community to identify and nominate individuals or organisations who have made a real difference, whether through volunteering, leadership, creativity, or commitment to others.
The awards recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals and groups who go above and beyond to make Wattle Range a better place to live.
Nominees might be a devoted coach, community organiser, young leader, or someone who always puts others first, we want to hear their stories
Nominations for the 2027 Australia Day Awards are now open and will be received until 5pm on the second Friday of December.
The nomination period for the Citizen of the Year Awards is now open all year round and close each year on second Friday of December for announcement of the recipients on the following Australia Day.
Where can I get a Nomination Form?
Nomination forms are available online orhard copies can be collected from Council Service Centre in Millicent, and Council offices in Penola or Beachport;
- Download & print a form here - Citizen of the Year Awards Guidelines Nomination Form (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Nominations require information about who is being nominated, reasons for nominating, who has nominated them and details of a referee.
Completed forms need to be returned to Council by the second Friday of December each year. Forms can be returned by:
- Mail - Wattle Range Council, PO Box 27 MILLICENT SA 5280;
- Email to council@wattlerange.sa.gov.au
- In person to Council offices in Millicent, Penola or Beachport.
Who are the previous recipients of the Wattle Range Council Australia Day Awards?
Please refer to the attached list of past recipients - Wattle Range Council Australia Day Award Recipients 1981 onwards
Other Information
Further information is available in Council’s Australia Day Awards Policy
(82 kb) or by contacting us on 08 8733 0900.