Darebin Community Awards
The annual Darebin Community Awards recognise individuals and groups that have made an outstanding contribution to the Darebin community. Nominations are submitted by the community each year to celebrate Darebin's local heroes.
2025 Awards Presentation Evening
The 2025 Darebin Community Awards Presentation Evening was held on Sunday 9 November at Narrandjeri Stadium on Wurundjeri Country. It was a memorable evening and a wonderful celebration of community in all its forms. The evening’s proceedings included a chance for community, Councillors and nominees to meet and mingle, a moving Welcome to Country from Uncle John Terrick, and a beautiful and colourful performance by Sapphire Dance – Bollywood Dancers, followed by a celebration of all nominees, and the presentation of awards.
2025 Award Recipients
Congratulations to all our 2025 Award Recipients!
Joint recipients: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Leader of the Year
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the below information contains the name of a person who has passed away.
Alison Black (posthumous)
Shiralee Hood
Joint recipients: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Leader of the Year
Shianne Bamblett
Jedah-Lee Wickey
Joint recipients: Citizen of the Year
Eddie Edmonds
Kade Matthews
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Elder Community Leader of the Year
Duncan Tang
Community Group of the Year
Darebin Women's Sports Club (Darebin Falcons)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Nalliah Suriyakumaran
Sustainability Award – Community Group of the Year
WeCycle
Sustainability Award – Individual of the Year
Amelia Trompf
2025 nominees
Congratulations to all our nominees for 2025, whose efforts were recognised with a certificate of appreciation at the Presentation Evening.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the below information contains the name of a person who has passed away.
Frank Apostolopoulos
Shianne Bamblett
Alison Black (posthumous)
Bread Hub Vic
Terry Brooks
Darebin Climate Action Now
Darebin Women’s Sports Club (Darebin Falcons)
Eddie Edmonds
Helen Emmanuel-Pras
Friends of Baucau
Mark Garnett
Greek and Cypriot Social / Welfare Centre
Roger Holdsworth
Shiralee Hood
Chrissi Jarl
Keon Park Boxing Gym
Kade Matthews
Northcote High School – Precious Plastic Program
Reservoir Traders Association
Nalliah Suriyakumaran
Duncan Tang
The Good Sort
Amelia Trompf
Village Greening
WeCycle
Jedah-Lee Wickey
Peter Wiltshire
Worthy Cause
Anastasia Xenophontos
Helen Zissis
A certificate of appreciation was also presented to John Herbstreit in recognition of his dedicated support for his local community in his capacity as Crossing Supervisor for Wales Street Primary School in Thornbury.
The Darebin Community Awards Committee were also recognised:
Coen Brown
Uncle Owen Butler
Abey George
Dr Sam Ginsberg OAM
Hanh Huynh-Pitts
Meagan Lewis
Martin Nguyen
Agapi Pashos
Award categories
Nominations can be submitted annually during a specified period, for the following award categories.
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Leader of the Year
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Emerging Young Community Leader of the Year
- Community Group of the Year
- Sustainability Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Elder Community Leader of the Year
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Emerging Community Leader of the Year
Judging criteria for community awards
Nominations for each award are judged by the Darebin Community Awards Committee. Judging is based on the following overall criteria:
- Desire for prosperity with a 'share for all' attitude
- Contribution to the cultural diversity of the community
- Community values and support systems
- Equality and equity
- Demonstrates and exemplifies the highest standards in ethical behaviours and integrity
- Concern for sustainability and the environment.
Additional category judging criteria
Citizen of the Year, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Leader, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Community Leader of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award
- Demonstrated commitment to the betterment of the community
- Undertakes activities that have short and long term benefits for others
- Is celebrated as a positive role model
- Demonstrates leadership and courage
- Undertakes activities that promote the welfare and wellbeing of the community
- Contributions made by nominee have either been done on a voluntary basis or exceed the normal requirements of the person’s paid work.
Young Citizen of the Year, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Emerging Young Leader of the Year and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Emerging Young Leader of the Year
- Participates in the community
- Active in youth issues
- Is caring, compassionate and sharing
- Demonstrates leadership and courage
- Positive role model to peers
- Accepts responsibility for self and others
- Shows outstanding achievement in either academic, sporting, cultural, environment or civic life.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Elder Community Leader of the Year
- Demonstrated commitment to working closely and in partnership with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities and organisations
- Undertakes activities that address the emerging needs and priorities of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities
Community Group of the Year
- Sustained achievements of the group with measurable benefit to the broader community
- Service to the community
- Significant volunteer involvement
- Target community of the group nominated
- Achievements of the group reflect the values of Darebin Community Awards as set out above
Sustainability Award
- A sustainability champion awarded to either a group or an individual
- Delivering a project, program or activity which delivers genuine and measurable action in direct response to climate emergency
- Responding to an environmental issue relevant to Darebin
- Actively engages the local community.
More information
Bronwyn Ryan-Mercer, Senior Producer
Phone: 03 8470 8551
Email: Bronwyn.Ryan-Mercer@darebin.vic.gov.au