Past award recipients

Each year, Huon Valley Council recognises the people and groups whose time, care and commitment make our community a better place to live. Until 2022, Council presented the Australia Day Awards in January and the Volunteer Service Awards during National Volunteer Week in May. Since 2023, these have been combined into a single annual awards program, presented in May to celebrate National Volunteer Week.

Explore past recipients below and read about the remarkable contributions they’ve made to the Huon Valley.

2026 Community Awards

Held at the Palais Theatre on 23 May during National Volunteer Week (“Your Year to Volunteer”), the 2026 awards honoured recipients with a combined 313 years of service to the Huon Valley.

Two new awards were introduced. Logan Bligh was named the inaugural Young Volunteer of the Year for his leadership at the Huonville Cricket Club, and Rose Cane was named the inaugural Volunteer of the Year for more than 30 years of service. Heidi White received the Young Achievement Award, Sarah Annesley received the Achievement Award for founding the Huon Valley Alphabet Mafia, and Charlie Renner received Excellence in a Chosen Field for his work with Far South Food Resilience.

Fourteen volunteers also received service awards across three tiers, covering service from under 10 years to more than 20 years.

2025 Community Awards

The 2025 Community Awards were presented at the Palais Theatre on 24 May, celebrating National Volunteer Week under the theme “Connecting Communities.” Dean Harris MLC was MC. A record number of recipients were honoured, with a combined 460 years of volunteer service.

Gary Ashdown, President of the Huon Valley Tourism Network, was named Citizen of the Year for his contributions to tourism, community welfare and economic growth. Zac Curtain received Excellence in a Chosen Field after his selection for the Australian Under-19 cricket team. Brad Kitto and Hannah Lovell of Run, Move, Connect received the Community Contribution Award for their inclusive health initiatives.

A record 14 Lifetime Service Awards were also presented, including to Dr Liz Smith, Elaine Burton, Ann Brittain, and William Sutherland, who has given nearly 40 years of service through the Rotary Club of Huon Valley.

2024 Community Awards

On 25 May 2024, 23 volunteers were honoured at Franklin’s Palais Theatre. Nominations reached a record number, and the service awards presented that year added up to 170 years of service.

Lydia Eastley was named Citizen of the Year for her work with the Dover and South Action Group, which includes starting the emergency food pantry during COVID-19. Tayla Hosking of Huonville PCYC was named Young Citizen of the Year for her youth events, including Youth Week. Huon Valley PCYC won Community Group of the Year, and Geoffrey Lovell, President of the Southern Tasmanian Axemen’s Association, received Sporting Achievement of the Year.

Lifetime Awards went to Carmen Campbell, Carol Roberts and Graeme Roberts. A further 16 volunteers received service awards across the Outstanding, Major and Volunteer Service tiers.

2023 Community Awards

On 20 May 2023, seven recipients were honoured at the Huonville Town Hall. This was the first year the Australia Day Awards and the Volunteer Service Awards were presented together as the Huon Valley Community Awards, held in May to align with National Volunteer Week.

Milca Perez was named Citizen of the Year for her work on food security and sustainability in Dover. Thomas Reed, a Queen’s Scout Award recipient, was named Young Citizen of the Year. Far South Pride won Community Group of the Year, the Huon Art Exhibition Group won Community Event of the Year, and ten-pin bowler Adam Southerland received Sporting Achievement of the Year.

Maggy Tomkins received the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award (over 10 years), and Donna Hutchins received the Lifetime Volunteer Service Award (over 20 years).

2022 Volunteer Service Awards

The 2022 Volunteer Service Awards were presented on 19 May by Acting Mayor Sally Doyle and 2022 Huon Valley Citizen of the Year Vicki Royer.

Outstanding Volunteer Service Awards went to three volunteers. Erika Talbot supports children’s reading programs and visits aged care and palliative care patients with her therapy dog. Wendy Munson has coordinated U3A Geeveston for nearly 20 years. Val Andrews is a founding member and now President of the Huon Valley Dog Walking Association.

Liz Walch received the Major Volunteer Service Award (5–10 years) for her leadership of the Huon Pony Club. Vanessa Ireland-Barratt received the Volunteer Service Award (up to 5 years) for keeping the Geeveston Guides units running.

2022 Australia Day Awards

The 2022 Australia Day Awards were presented on 26 January at The Franklin Palais. Because of COVID safety measures, the citizenship ceremony was held separately that morning.

Vicki Royer was named Huon Valley Citizen of the Year for decades of community involvement, including raising more than $14,500 for Relay for Life. The Cygnet Community Hub (Mez Newman and Cate Warren) received Community Group of the Year, and Cristian Mendoza received the Sports Award for promoting sport in Dover.

Special Commendations went to Lydia Eastley for her contributions to the Dover community, Barbara Dawson for her work with the Franklin community and The Franklin Palais, and Jason and Sammy Kluga for their support of women’s sport and the Port Cygnet Women’s Football Team.

2021 Volunteer Service Awards

Eight Volunteer Service Awards were presented at a ceremony on 21 May 2021, during National Volunteer Week. 2020 recipient Glynn Shevels spoke as a guest and received his award in person, which COVID-19 had prevented the year before.

John Gillham received the new Lifetime Volunteer Service Award (more than 20 years) for 54 years of volunteering, including service with the Lions Club of Huon since 1975. Cassandra Faux, founder of the Geeveston Farmers Market and an organiser of the Geeveston Feast, received the Major Volunteer Service Award (5–10 years).

Volunteer Service Awards (up to 5 years) went to Alice Toner-Brown, Gaylene Bergman, and Andrea and Chris Leu and Jennifer Mathias, who mentor learner drivers in Council’s Gearing Up program. The Geeveston Town Hall volunteers were also recognised for reopening the Visitor Centre in 2020.

2021 Australia Day Awards

The 2021 Australia Day Awards were presented on 26 January at the Palais Theatre in Franklin, alongside a citizenship ceremony that welcomed twelve new Australian citizens. Australia Day Ambassador John X gave the opening address, and the Cygnet Singers performed.

Desmond Hay was named Citizen of the Year and Dylan Lovell Young Citizen of the Year. The Port Cygnet Venturer Unit received Community Group of the Year, and Dover Seafest was named Community Event of the Year. Chloe Moore received a Certificate of Recognition.

2020 Volunteer Service Awards

The 2020 Volunteer Service Awards were announced during National Volunteer Week (18–24 May), with recipients celebrated online through Council’s Facebook page.

Outstanding Volunteer Service Awards went to five long-standing volunteers. Glynn Shevels teaches on-water safety through the Living Boat Trust. Kirk Ashlin has served as a volunteer firefighter for 23 years and is now Brigade Chief. Barbara Glaus has been secretary of the Far South Tasmania Local Tourism Association for more than 12 years. Anne Le Fevre has been treasurer of the Huon Art Exhibition Lovett Gallery since 2008. Kaye Coulson is President of the Dover History Group.

Special Volunteer Service Awards went to Kerrie-Lyn O’Neill (Cygnet Football Club) and Lois Bennett (Geeveston Community Hall and Vinnies). Kaitlyn Bailey received the Volunteer Service Award for her work in Dover District School’s early childhood classrooms.

2020 Australia Day Awards

The 2020 Australia Day Awards were presented on 26 January at the Geeveston Community Hall, following a community breakfast in Heritage Park and a citizenship ceremony that welcomed eight new Australian citizens. Australia Day Ambassador Deborah De Williams AM opened the awards with a reflection on the nation’s journey and shared values.

Kent Wells was named Citizen of the Year, Geeveston Cares received Community Group of the Year, Lawson Grey received the Sports Award, and Andrew Burgess received a Special Commendation.

Council also received an Australia Day Achievement Medallion from the RSL in recognition of the community’s response to the 2019 bushfires, including the evacuation centres run with more than 29 organisations and many volunteers.