Upper Hunter Shire Australia Day awards recognise and celebrate those community members who have a consistent record of excellence, who have made outstanding achievements in their field and have contributed in a significant way to the community.
Anyone can receive an Upper Hunter Shire Australia Day award; they just need someone to nominate them.
Residents of the Upper Hunter Shire will be considered by the district Australia Day Committees for the following categories of awards:
- Citizen of the Year awarded to an individual resident (or couple) in each district who is an inspirational role model and has made a significant contribution to the community in either a paid or unpaid capacity.
- Young Citizen of the Year awarded to a resident in each district under the age of 25 (as at 26 January 2025) who is an inspirational role model and has made a significant contribution to the community.
- Local Champion of the Year awarded to a resident or community group of each district who is an inspirational achiever in any "open-age" category of sport, cultural, environmental, professional or other significant activity.
- Sustainability & Environmental Achievement Award (Merriwa District) awarded to a business within the Merriwa district which is an inspirational role model in demonstrating best practice. This includes agricultural, manufacturing, financial, retail and all other types of business.
- Shire Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year Council select an overall Shire Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year from the winners of the above categories. District Australia Day Committees will determine the district awards.
- Special awards may be presented according to an area of excellence, as identified on the nomination form, at the discretion of the District Committees and Council.
Nomination forms are available from all Council Administration Offices and can be downloaded below.
Nominations close 4:30pm Friday, 8 November, 2024.
Nomination Form