Australia Day Awards 2025
Published on 28 January 2025
Congratulations to all the recipients of Australia Day Awards this year. Read more about each recipient below:
Braidwood
Marjorie Lemin was awarded Citizen of the Year for Braidwood for her impressive service to her community, especially her leadership of the Braidwood Book Fair. The event runs twice a year and has steadily grown over the last 30 years to become a major fundraising event in Braidwood. The success of the event is largely thanks to the selflessness, diligence and hard work of Marjorie. Marjorie is also an active and respected member of the Anglican Parish and other community groups.
Braidwood’s Young Citizen of the Year was awarded to Isaac Gardiner for being community minded and committed to helping others through Scouts. Isaac is a proud member of the 1st Braidwood Scout Group, joining as a Cub in 2019, moving up to Scouts in 2020. During this time he has been a constant and active member in all activities, particularly helping younger members at camps. Isaac has been a member of the Junior section of the Braidwood RFS brigade since October 2023, participating in training sessions on a regular basis and developing his skills until he reaches the age where he can participate in active call outs. He also works casually at the Braidwood Capital Chemist and is widely regarded as a kind, respectful and helpful team member.
The Majors Creek Hotel Woodchop was awarded Event of the Year for Braidwood. The inaugural event brought the whole community together and lots of people came to town to be part of the day. During the lead up to the event, over ten thousand dollars of sponsorship money and goods in kind were donated, including skips, toilets, and 28 raffle prizes.
Bungendore
Bungendore’s Citizen of the Year was awarded to Anthony Rayner for his quiet dedication to his community. Tony exemplifies the true spirit of selflessness, consistently offering his time, effort, and support without expecting anything in return. Tony embodies the belief that true service is not about recognition but about making a difference. He firmly believes that no one, particularly the youth in Bungendore, should go without and always does what he can to make sure they don’t miss out on opportunities others might have. A longtime member of the Bungendore Tigers and regular face at fundraising events in Bungendore, Tony is the person behind the scenes.
Evan Ball was awarded Young Citizen of the Year for Bungendore for his dedication to the 1st Bungendore Scouts. Evan is a kind and respectful young person who has grown enormously with Scouts over the last few years. He is a hard worker who takes care of his peers. Evan is the first to put up his hand to volunteer with any community event at scouts, school, or other community organisations and always looking to support those around him.
The Bungendore Show was awarded Event of the Year for Bungendore. Featuring sheep and cattle judging, equestrian events, woodchop displays, performances from local dance groups and so much more. The show was a fantastic community event that showcased Bungendore’s community spirit.
Captains Flat
Citizen of the Year was awarded to John Gough in Captains Flat for his unwavering commitment to serving his community. John is a remarkable member of the Captains Flat Brigade and shows commendable courage in responding to emergencies and fires. His readiness to protect and serve is deeply appreciated by all. John also takes meticulous care in the upkeep of the town, particularly the rose garden. He also creates plaques and memorials for various causes in town, showing his incredible creativity and craftsmanship. John has made significant contributions to the town’s rich heritage and sense of community.
Captains Flat’s Young Citizen of the Year was awarded to Isabelle Hume for her ongoing support and dedication to the Captain's Flat Rural Fire Service (RFS). Isabella is an active member of the Captains Flat RFS and is dedicated to improving her skills. She is a young leader, taking on a mentoring role and sharing her impressive knowledge with new members. Isabelle’s commitment to the Captain's Flat community goes beyond her role in the RFS. She is an active in various community events and initiatives, always willing to lend a helping hand where needed.
The Event of the Year was the Captains Flat Bush Dance. This fun local event was made possible by many members of the community coming together to make sure everything ran smoothly. There were fun prizes for best boots and hats. Snacks to share were provided by the community. It was an event made for and by the Captains Flat community.
Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan’s Citizen of the Year was Wendy Grant. Wendy is a core member of the Queanbeyan Park Tennis Club (QPTC) and her dedication to the club and the sport directly benefits the community. Wendy is driven to provide high quality tennis and pickleball facilities for both tennis club members and the broader community. She has helped to provide subsidised fees for junior players to play, to grow participation, and support access to sport in our region. Wendy is the primary grant writer for QPTC and was instrumental securing funding for LED court lighting replacements at the Campbell Street complex and the Waniassa Street complex. The upgrade at Waniassa Street introduced pickleball last year. Wendy took on the significant project management responsibilities for the Waniassa Street complex upgrade. The club can now host more social, casual and competition tennis. The opening of the upgraded complex has resulted in a significant increase to the Club’s membership.
Jerikye Williams was awarded Young Citizen of the Year for Queanbeyan for his work with music and young First Nations people. Jerikye is a proud Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri man who followed his passion for music through school, taking opportunities to perform in front of his peers at Queanbeyan High School and improve his confidence and skill as a musician. Jerikye is a well-known face around town, whether it’s for his volunteering with First Nations groups or performing locally. His career has reached a new level with his recent acting performance in a play in Cowra, NSW. This has seen him being nominated for a Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Award. Jerikye inspires local youth to stay in school, follow their heart and work hard to achieve their goals. His newly released original music encourages the uniting of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to celebrate this land and the joy of storytelling through the arts.
Googfest 2024 was awarded Event of the Year for Queanbeyan. Googfest has been ‘putting Googong on the map' since 2015 and in 2024 it was headlined by country singer, Travis Collins. Last year’s country theme proved enormously popular attracting new audiences to the event, with visitors getting into the theme with cowboy hats and boots. The event was truly all ages, with grandparents, toddlers, teenagers, and adults mixing and enjoying the show. Googfest 2024 amplifies Googong’s strong sense of community and provides a unique free event during a cost-of-living crisis.
This year two Mayoral Awards were presented to the Queanbeyan Country Muster for a great night of music featuring some of Country’s biggest stars and the Formally Formal Wear Op Shop for taking the financial pressure out of this milestone event for high school students.