The City proudly recognises outstanding contributions to the community with Australia Day and Key to the City Awards and recognises Australian honour recipients.
Australia Day Awards
Every year, we recognise community members and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to the community.
Mitcham Council presents Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards each year. Awards are presented to acknowledge achievements by individuals or groups living and/or working in the City of Mitcham who have made outstanding contributions to the community in:
- Citizen of the Year Award
- Young Citizen of the Year Award
- Community Event of the Year
- Award for Active Citizenship
The Australia Day Awards provide recognition for the outstanding work of residents and are part of the Council's commitment to strengthening and acknowledging community participation within the City.
The Australia Day Awards are supported by the Australia Day Council of South Australia and are administered by Local Government Authorities throughout South Australia on behalf of the Council.
The award ceremony for 2024 took place at City of Mitcham's Australia Day Celebrations.
Award | Recipient |
---|---|
2024 | |
Citizen of the Year | Eden Hills resident Dianne Grigg was presented the award at City of Mitcham’s Australia Day Celebration at Soldiers Memorial Gardens, Hawthorn. Di has volunteered in the City of Mitcham for many decades with a particular focus on volunteering at Colebrook Reconciliation Park and as part of the Blackwood Reconciliation Group. |
Active Citizen of the Year | The founder of Little Library on Lloyd Street, St Marys resident Jody Moate, is City of Mitcham’s Active Citizen of the Year. Jody demonstrates active citizenship by leading by example and is a tireless volunteer for her community. She was instrumental in the push to develop the Pasadena Community Centre and continues to shape its future as the Pasadena Community Centre Advisory Group community representative. |
Young Citizen of the Year | Pasadena university student, volunteer, disability advocate and small business owner Sudhashree Somers is City of Mitcham’s Young Citizen of the Year. Sudhashree runs a sewing group at Pasadena Community Centre, sharing her skills with the community, and is a member of the Pasadena Community Centre Advisory Group and Pasadena and St Marys Action Group. |
2023 | |
Citizen of the Year | Blackwood resident Peter Cranwell was presented the award at City of Mitcham’s Australia Day awards ceremony at St Marys. Peter and his wife Nancy have made an extraordinary commitment to their local and wider community since returning to Blackwood from Leigh Creek, in South Australia’s outback, in the 1990s. As the Project Manager of the Climate Action Resources Expo held at Blackwood in November, Peter brought together a host of speakers, along with workshops and displays, to raise awareness and share ideas on sustainable living. Peter and Nancy have been long-time supporters of migrant families and international students, remote First Nations communities and residents of Minda House supported accommodation in Craigburn Farm. |
2022 | |
Citizen of the Year | Graham Maloney for his outstanding service to Mitcham SES. Graham has volunteered all his life, starting out as a cadet for St John’s Colonel Light Gardens, and has dedicated eight years to the SES in his retirement. Graham was nominated for the award as a reliable volunteer and mentor who is ready to help others and new SES members, and who is well respected by his peers. |
Young Citizen of the Year | Taylor Anderson, whose experience battling anorexia pushed her to write a children’s book to raise awareness of ‘comparison culture’ and how it can affect self-esteem. The Unley High School Year 12 student has sold over 450 copies of her book ‘Why Don’t I Have That?’ and is supporting a mental health charity with funds raised through the sales. She is determined to use her lived experience to stop others following in her footsteps by finding ways to open up and normalise mental health conversations. |
2021 | |
Citizen of the Year | John Arthur has been active in the community for 25 years as a member of the Bedford Park Residents Association, including 15 years as president. |
Active Citizen Award | Big A Charity Shop is operated by the Colonel Light Gardens Church of Christ at Goodwood Road, Colonel Light Gardens. |
Young Citizen of the Year | Tom Morrison started ’20 Metre Trees’, an active Facebook community, in 2017 which aims to educate and promote the importance of tree canopy and large trees in the urban environment. |
2020 | |
Citizen of the Year | David Ennis has provided outstanding service to our community through his work with the Repatriation Hospital, Repatriation Museum, local and state Church Councils, volunteering roles and working with Springbank Secondary Collage educating students on the Australian Armed Forces. |
Citizen of the Year | Elisabeth and Geoffrey Bartlett have provided outstanding community service to the Blackwood hills and Mitcham hills community for over five decades through the Blackwood South Neighbourhood Watch and Blackwood Action Group. |
Community Event of the Year | The Mitcham Band Festival, hosted by Mitcham City Brass, has become a very successful annual event, not only for the City of Mitcham community, but the community of Adelaide. |
2019 | |
Australia Day Citizen of the Year | Mr Ian Steel OAM Founder and CEO of Kickstart for Kids: which provide breakfast and lunch programs in 350 SA schools; engage mentors in schools with children at risk of disengaging with their education; and facilitate the Camp Kickstart school holiday program for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. |
2018 | |
Senior Citizen of the Year | Helen Scarborough's passion for collecting curious objects and antiques has led her to open her home students and community groups, and to participate in the Mitcham Remembers event. |
Community Event of the Year | Blackwood Christmas Tree Festival held by the Blackwood Action Group to provide children the opportunity to visit with Santa and partake in Christmas crafts. |
Local Hero of the Year | Dr Donald Beckwith an active Lions Club member since 1989, including as the Operations Member of the District Skin Cancer Project. |
For more past winners download our Australia Day Award previous winners list.
Key to the City
'Key to the City' is a tradition that is recognised by cities throughout the world. The Key to the City is a symbolic gesture to honour an individual or organisation for exceptional, outstanding achievement to the City of Mitcham.
The granting of the Key to the City of Mitcham is a symbolic gesture with no formal entitlements and represents the highest honour that the city can award.
Recipients are recognised on an honour board, which is displayed in the Mayor's Parlour at the City of Mitcham Civic Centre.
Nominations are invited by completing the Key to the City nomination form
Once you have completed the nomination form please email your form
Name | Year | Recipient |
---|---|---|
Taryn Brumfitt | 2024 | Taryn Brumfitt received the key in recognition of her work around positive body image through her organisation Body Image Movement. Founded in 2012, the movement aims to teach people to love and appreciate their bodies. Taryn’s 2016 documentary Embrace was seen by millions of people across 190 countries. As well as writing four best-selling books, Taryn has released a documentary, Embrace Kids, that aims to teach nine to 14-year-olds how to respect, move and nourish their bodies. Taryn has also created the Embrace Hub, a free resource for parents, children, teachers and communities that aims to foster body positivity. Taryn was named the 2023 Australian of the Year. |
Professor Nicola Spurrier PSM | 2022 | Professor Nicola Spurrier received the key in recognition of her role in guiding South Australians through the pandemic. Professor Spurrier co-ordinated with government and non-government agencies and has been the South Australian lead on the national pandemic response. During COVID-19, she has been instrumental in South Australia’s effective virus response, rendering it one of the safest places in the world. Professor Spurrier a dual-qualified medical specialist, public health physician and paediatrician is SA’s chief medical officer. She spent 29 years developing and implementing policies and programs across child health, obesity prevention and Aboriginal health, before leading the state’s pandemic response strategy. |
Commissioner Grant Stevens APM | 2022 | Commissioner Grant Stevens received the key in recognition of his role in guiding South Australians through the pandemic. Commissioner Stevens has been at the helm of the State’s COVID-19 emergency response and has been a reassuring authority guiding us through this time of uncertainty. Commissioner Stevens has led and delivered some of SAPOL’s most significant programs, including national outlaw motorcycle gang enforcement, specialist sexual crimes investigations, and service reform initiatives of frontline service delivery and demand management. |
Australian Honours
Like nearly every other country in the world, Australia has a system of honours and awards so its citizens can be recognised for excellence, achievement or meritorious service and contributions to our society. Honours help define, encourage and reinforce national aspirations, ideals and standards by identifying role models.
Members of the City of Mitcham who have been recognised, celebrated and honoured for making a difference are listed below.
Please click on their names to read more about their achievements.
Name | Award |
---|---|
2024 | |
Reverend Patrick Joseph Gillespie | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Emeritus Professor Leigh Alexander Burgoyne | Member of the Order of Australia |
2023 | |
Mr Barry Ewen Presgrave OAM AM | Member of the Order of Australia |
Emeritus Professor Linda Mary Barwick AM | Member of the Order of Australia |
Mr Rodney Leon Smith OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Dr Joyleen Ann OHazy OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Mr John Walter Woodside OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
The late Mr Elias George Nemer OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Dr Kathleen Ophel-Keller PSM | Public Service Medal |
Dr Christopher Lease PSM | Public Service Medal |
Dr Clive Hume OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Mr Allan Polkinghorne OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
2022 | |
Clinical Associate Professor Lilian Kow OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Mr Anthony John Mogridge OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Mr Geoffrey Ronald Wilson OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Mr Malcolm Alan Amos AFSM | Australian Fire Service Medal |
Mrs Marija Perejma OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Mrs Sara Elizabeth Fleming PSM | Public Service Medal |
2021 | |
Mr Donald Raymond Burge OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Associate Professor Anthony John Phillips AM | Member of the Order of Australia |
Dr Kaye Frances Roberts-Thomson OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Emeritus Professor Wayne John Sampson AM | Member of the Order of Australia |
Ms Fiona Marie Thomson OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Mr John Vander Veeken OAM | Medal of the Order of Australia |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
2020 | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Dr Dale Austin Lambert PSM | Public Service Medal |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Member of the Order of Australia | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Australian Fire Service Medal | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
2019 | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Member of the Order of Australia | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Australian Fire Service Medal | |
Member of the Order of Australia | |
Member of the Order of Australia | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Public Service Medal | |
Medal of the Order of Australia | |
Medal of the Order of Australia |