Community Awards
Do you know someone in Kingston who deserves recognition for their contributions?
The Kingston Community Awards celebrate the great work and achievements of people, groups, and organisations in Kingston.
This can be in areas like education, health, fundraising, volunteering, business, sports, arts, the environment, or anything else that helps benefit or improve the community.
Nominations
Nominations for the Community Awards are now open. They close at midnight on 2 November 2025.
Nominate now
Nomination categories
- Citizen of the Year: awarded to an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the Kingston community.
- Community Group of the Year: recognises a group or organisation that has delivered exceptional service or impact within the community.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Citizen of the Year award, nominees must:
- Live, work or study in the City of Kingston
- Have made a significant contribution to the community
- Demonstrate ongoing commitment in areas like education, health, fundraising, volunteering, business, sports, arts, environment, or any other area that contributes to the advancement and well-being of the community.
To be eligible for the Community Group of the Year award, nominees must:
- Operate in the City of Kingston
- Have demonstrated a significant and lasting impact through outstanding service or contribution to the community
- Have shown continued commitment in any area/s such as: education, health, fundraising, charitable and voluntary services, business, sport, arts, environment, or any other area that contributes to the advancement and well-being of the community.
Please note:
- Individuals cannot nominate themselves for Citizen of the Year category but can nominate their group/business/organisation for Community Group of the year category.
- Previous nominees are eligible to be nominated again.
- Previous winners of the awards are not eligible.
- Kingston Council employees are not eligible unless being nominated for their work outside Council.
Assessment criteria
When choosing winners for the Kingston Community Awards, nominees will be assessed on the following.
Citizen of the Year
- Demonstrated significant and measurable impact on the Kingston community
- Personal attributes such as vision, leadership, innovation, creativity, overcoming adversity, and being a positive role model or advocate for diversity and inclusion
- Demonstrated response to a community need or priority
- Personal, academic or professional achievements
- Contribution to a healthy, connected, vibrant, prosperous, liveable and sustainable community.
Community Group of the Year
- Demonstrated significant and measurable impact on the Kingston community
- Demonstrated response to a community need or priority
- Contribution to a healthy, connected, vibrant, prosperous, liveable and sustainable community.
Independent referee check
All nominations are required to be supported by two independent referees. For all eligible nominations received, Council staff will contact the referees to explore the merit of their nomination and ask that the referees provide a letter of support for their respective nominee.
Referee eligibility:
- Should be independent of the nominee and nominator
- Someone who has had close involvement with the nominee during their service or is able to comment directly on the nature and impact of their achievements
Selection process
Once nominations have closed, the selection panel will consider all eligible entries against the assessment criteria and select a winner.
The selection panel consists of the Mayor and fellow Councillors of the City of Kingston.
All eligible nominations will be announced online.
Important dates
- Nominations for 2026 open on Tuesday 23 September 2025.
- Nominations for 2026 close at midnight on Sunday 2 November 2025.
- The award winners will be officially announced and awarded at a public event in May 2026.
Previous winners
Citizen of the Year
- 2000 - Nadia Kanizay
- 2001 - Hazel Pierce OAM
- 2002 - Tony Coyle
- 2003 - Brian Pullen
- 2004 - Shirley Straker
- 2005 - Tom Uren
- 2006 - Dorothy Booth
- 2007 - Constance Smith
- 2008 - Sue Owen
- 2009 - Florence Gibbs
- 2010 - Les Williams OAM JP
- 2011 - Marion Harriden OAM
- 2012 - Thelma Mansfield
- 2013 - James Evans
- 2014 - Lesley McGurgan
- 2015 - Charlie Mizzi
- 2016 - Mairi Neil
- 2017 - Mary Rimington
- 2018 - Sue and Ken Gooding
- 2019 - Beverly Fitzharris
- 2020 - Helen Hollis
- 2021 - Daniel Maitland
- 2022 - Ted Gibbs
- 2023 - Peter Foley
- 2024 - Dr Dolly Daou
- 2025 - Jaqueline Hendrey
Community Group of the Year
- 2000 - Carrum Residents Action Group (CRAG)
- 2001 - Mordialloc Rotary Club
- 2002 - Moorabbin State Emergency Service
- 2003 - Chelsea Community Information & Support Service
- 2004 - Chelsea State Emergency Service
- 2005 - Kingston Residents Against More Multi-Eyesore Development
- 2006 - Pilipino Elderly Association of South East Region (PEASER)
- 2007 - Friends of the Grange
- 2008 - CLOC Musical Theatre Inc
- 2009 - Kids' Café
- 2010 - Eisteddfod by the Bay
- 2011 - Friends of Mentone Station and Gardens
- 2012 - Matt's Place Bayside Community Church
- 2013 - Mordialloc Jazz Orchestra
- 2014 - Special Olympics Victoria Melbourne Southern Region
- 2015 - Friends of Braeside Park
- 2016 - Kingston's Beach Patrol Australia group
- 2017 - Dingley Village Community Association
- 2018 - Friends of Edithvale Seaford Wetlands
- 2019 - Save Kingswood Group Inc
- 2020 - Chelsea Commuity Christmas Lunch
- 2021 - Pantry 5000
- 2022 - Pets of the Homeless
- 2023 - Cheltenham Community Centre + STEM Incubators Inc.
- 2024 - Mordialloc Theatre Company
- 2025 - It’s Okay Not to Be Okay