Awards & Honours

Natalie Steward was presented the award for her service as Scouts Leader at 2nd Adelaide Scout Group for 20 years. Natalie is a mentor for many young people in our community and has dedicated many hours to run weekly programs for Joeys, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers.

Blackwood community leaders Pauline Dodd and Kevin Brook are City of Mitcham's Dual Active Citizens of the Year.  An inaugural committee member of the Blackwood Action Group (BAG), Pauline has supported the community across many and varied projects for over two decades. Kevin has been dedicated in his work as part of the Blackwood Lions since 2006 and has driven the continued growth of the group's Bargain Centre at Eden Hills.

The Blackwood Reconciliation Walk 2024 is our Community Event of the Year. Hosted by the Blackwood Reconciliation Group, the walk is an annual event during National Reconciliation Week and was held on Sorry Day.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.