Community awards

Hepburn Shire Council’s annual Community Awards Ceremony recognises local citizens and groups who have made significant contributions to our community.

Nominations for Council's 2025 Community Awards have now closed, as of 8 November 2024. Award winners will be announced at Hepburn Shire Council’s Civic Event held on Friday, 24 January 2025.

Previous winners

2024

Joint Citizens of the Year – Pat Tacey and Neville Cartledge

Young Citizen of the Year – Alice Newitt

Community Event of the Year – ChillOut Festival

A Special Commendation was presented to the band Elysium

2023

Citizen of the Year – John Drife

Young Citizen of the Year – Atticus Punt-Trethewey

Community Event of the Year – The Great Dividing Trail Association Reconciliation Walks

2022

Citizen of the Year – Danny Moynihan

Young Citizen of the Year – Katie Topp

Community Event of the Year – Feast on Fraser Street – Christmas in Clunes, organised by Clunes Neighbourhood House

Life membership award for services to Town Crying and the Community, presented on behalf of the Australasian Guild of Town Criers – Philip Greenbank

2021

Citizen of the Year – Philip Greenbank

Young Citizen of the Year – Matilda Hill

Community Event of the Year – Daylesford and District Horticultural Society Webinar Series

2020

Citizen of the Year – David Hall

Young Citizen of the Year – Lachlan Wrigley

Community Event of the Year – Clunes Ceramic Awards

2019

Citizen of the Year – Lawrence Porter

Young Citizen of the Year – Ethan Brown

Community Event of the Year – Centenary of the Shire of Creswick Avenue of Honour at Kingston

2018

Citizen of the Year – Peter Hanrahan

Young Citizen of the Year – Georgia Drewer

Community Event of the Year – The Daylesford Art Show and ARTober

2017

Citizen of the Year – Valerie Lawrence

Young Citizen of the Year – Jacob Clarke-Demaj

Community Event of the Year – Mollongghip Poetry Slam

2016

Citizen of the Year – Michael Cheshire

Young Citizen of the Year – Oscar Broad

Community Event of the Year – Creswick 1915

2015

Citizen of the Year – Graeme Johnstone

Young Citizen of the Year – Molly Bedwell

Community Event of the Year – Love your Sister Homecoming

2014

Citizen of the Year – Bob Kennedy

Young Citizen of the Year – Dillon Godfrey

Community Event of the Year awarded jointly to – 175th Anniversary Celebration of Settlement of Smeaton and Great Day in the Gardens – Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens (150th
Anniversary Celebrations)

2013

Citizen of the Year – John Walter

Young Citizen of the Year – Amy Harrison

Community Event of the Year – Children’s Booktown 2012

2012

Citizen of the Year – Jane Lesock

Young Citizen of the Year – Matthew Stephens

Community Event of the Year – Creswick/Clunes Thanks to the Community

2011

Citizen of the Year – Iris Jones

Community Event of the Year – Lyonville Inaugural Fireman’s Ball

2010

Citizen of the Year – Mac Fawcett

Young Citizen of the Year – Joshua Gilligan

Community Event of the Year – Banquet@Bailey hosted by the Clunes Tourist and Development Association.

2009

Citizen of the Year – Johanna Van Oostveen

Community Event of the Year – Creswick Hospital Auxiliary’s “It’s a Shoe Thing” exhibition.