Sutherland Shire Citizen of the Year Awards winners and nominees

Citizen of the Year Nominees

Carolyn Kaye Thomas

With over 60 years dedicated to teaching dance, Miss Kaye has brought joy and inspiration to students from Sutherland to Cronulla.

Her commitment to community service is impressive. From her early support of a Red Cross home in Cronulla to her active role in the Highfield Committee, which raises funds for Sutherland Hospital, Miss Kaye has made a significant impact. She founded the annual “Youth on Parade” event at The Sutherland Entertainment Centre, directing all profits to essential hospital equipment, earning recognition for her 20 years of dedicated service.

Beyond her dance studio and collaboration with Ettingshausens, Miss Kaye supports numerous causes, including Relay for Life, RMHC and National Breast Cancer Foundation. She instils in the next generation the importance of giving back and community involvement, actively supporting local events like the Cronulla Spring Fair, Cook Classic and Gymea Lily Festival.

John Veage

For the last 40 years John has been the photographer for the Leader Newspaper

He has always promoted each and every local sport you can think of with that personal touch and that ultimate touch of class with his photography.

A lot of his photography during these years have been through the pure love of sport and the want to promote local Shire athletes.

He is the epitome of a local legend

John Donaghy

John had an idea over 20 years ago to create non-profit events and raise money for as many charities as he could across Australia. Starting with just himself, John has organised and hosted over 50 different charity events, raising over 1.7 million dollars to date.

Despite being almost 65, he remains active in hosting events such as golf tournaments, charity lunches, raffles, and auctions, each time selecting a different charity to support. These have included, as Dandelion Support Network, Bears of Hope, The Charlie Teo Foundation, Mindblank, and Mirabe.

Alongside these events, John creates around 1,000 book and stationery packs annually for children and families in need.

John works 5 days a week while sacrificing his weekends and holidays to complete his charity work.  Many of the charities John supports rely entirely on community donations, as they do not receive government funding.

He has spent hundreds of hours this year alone dedicated to raising funds and supporting children and families in need within our communities

Karen Charles

Extraordinary dance teacher who is inclusive for all ages from 4 to 84 and all abilities. Encouraging and enabling.

She has taught at local high schools, teaching dance as an elective.

She has also choreographed for various musical societies

Kim Baker

From 1987-2004, Kim worked full time as an NSW Police Officer, specialising in domestic violence liaison, sexual assault of adults and children, and weapon's training becoming a Range Master.

With her husband she volunteered to manage a scout camp, maintaining the accommodation, landscaping, bookings, visitors, functions and any emergency situations.

She is interested in local council on local residential matters (e.g.: Heathcote Hall) and attends council meetings to voice and support important views to protect the ambience and environment of Heathcote and surrounding National Parks.

She plants natives, cleans the environment and looks after native birds,

She is a good neighbour (checking in, giving meals, putting their bin out and bringing them in)

Jodie Pritchard

Jodie is an incredible contributor to Cronulla water polo. She mostly single handedly runs and leads the junior program and is a leader in our club. She consistently shows up and lives our values in everything she does.

Brendan Hodge

Brendan has been the President of St Pats Baseball Club for the past 3 Years. He holds many positions and coaching duties. He has, through this time provided leadership and development to a small group of club executives who have supported the ongoing development of baseball in the Sutherland Shire.

Jodie Darge

Jodie has been with Project Youth for over 5 years and during that time has been an exceptional leader of the organisation.

Jodie has been instrumental in making sure young people's voices are being heard and that they are seen as experts in their lives

Peter Stewart

Peter Stewart is a published author; he is incredibly passionate about educating our society about aboriginal history.

His research and writing have focused on the relationships and conflicts between the British colonisers and Australia’s First Nations Peoples.

Yasmin Roberts

Yasmin is an amazing woman who is a full-time mother and wife, Yasmin works full time as a special needs assistant at Port Hacking High looking after many local special needs children on a daily business. Yasmin also assists another local business with special needs on weekends.

Matthew O'Grady

Matthew works for a company called OG mechanics which he owns with his friend Matthew Garlick.

They have a “pay it forward” day at the end of every month to help people who are struggling fix their cars free of charge.

They offer free mechanical work to give back to the community.

Young Citizen of the Year Nominees

Marc Shaw

Marc is a 23-year-old motorcycle postie. who enjoys engaging with the local community and taking on various leadership roles with several notable organisations.

Marc currently volunteers with the Heathcote SES unit as an operator. He has been an active member since 2022. One of his highlights with SES was getting deployed to Broken Hill in 2022 - 2023 to assist with the Menindee floods.

Between 2019 and 2023, he also participated in Miranda Toastmasters. Marc was appointed Secretary since 2020. Later on, he obtained vice presidency of Public Relations from 2021 onwards.

Marc was elected as the Membership Secretary at the St. George Motorcycle Club for the past year.

He has previously volunteered at the Historical Aircraft & Restoration Society between 2019 and 2022.

Marc has dedicated 11 to the Australian Air League and has achieved the appointment of Officer Commanding at the Sutherland Shire Squadron, along with securing an annual $2,500 scholarship from the Royal Australian Air Force Association to be awarded to Sutherland Shire Squadron cadets. Between 2020 and 2022, he was appointed Operations Officer at the organisation’s air activities centre, another volunteer-run initiative.

Harrison Edwards

Harrison is 12 years old who is a weekly contributor to the operation and ongoing duties of the Barden Ridgebacks Football Club.

Harrison helps his team coach set up & pack up the fields for his team training session and organise equipment for the weekend game.

Each Friday of the season he paints the fields lines for the weekend’s games, also setting out goals, post, benches etc. He helps stack and organise the canteen, change rooms and game sheets for the weekend’s games.

During the weekend he is an active Referee for the mini roo competitions and helps guide new referees when they start.

He jumps on bbq and canteen duties at any time over the weekend to help during busy times.

Throughout August, he attended Club Menai to help sell meat tray raffle tickets as a fund raiser for the soccer club.

Harrison also plays a major role during finals and grand final weeks setting up and packing up of equipment and most significantly, he hosts the presentation of the premiership medals to the winners and runners up often in front of 100’s of adults from our community.

Brodie Barlow-Millevoi

Brodie is 17 and is currently in year 11. He is an active member of his school’s indigenous program and mentors.

He is a volunteer firefighter with RFS since the age of 16 and is a member of SES. He is passionate about his community.

Hannah Dolan-Brown

Hannah has taken care of my grandfather who is currently blind and has dementia. She has participated in the old people’s home in Georges River.

Hannah has also dedicated her time and energy to teaching children the art of dance. She creates an inclusive, supportive environment where every child feels valued, regardless of their skill level. Her positive impact on the community is profound, as she helps to shape the next generation by instilling discipline, teamwork.

Audrey Chalmers

Audrey is very community minded. She recently petitioned to have a local traffic speed sign changed due to it being ambiguous. Her recent initiative to request a 70 km/h speed sign demonstrates her commitment to ensuring the safety of our roads, focusing on public safety.

Audrey also led the Jannali High Schools participation in NSW RSLs postcards of honours.

She also participated in the “Join the Conversation” program with the Sutherland Council. She recently also conducted a research project on gender inequality in real estate.

Zoe Stanford

My daughter Zoe is a passionate and loving person. She has hosted 2 successful fundraisers in conjunction with the charity Know the Glow that are based in the states. She has introduced their mission and purpose into our community, raising awareness of dangerous childhood blinding diseases.

Community Group of the Year Nominees

Gymea Community Aid & Information Service (GCAIS)

GCAIS offers various programs that are designed to uplift and support individuals from all walks of life. They include Tai chi, English lessons, form filling assistance, healthy ageing advisor, domestic assistance, walking groups, special interest groups, exercise programs, settlement and multicultural services and visa and migration assistance.

GCAIS has been in operation for almost 50 years and some of the programs have been running for decades, helping the organisation to be recognised as a trusted pillar of support for generations of residents in the Shire.

We have an ageing population in the Shire and our services help to combat some of the issues that come with ageing such as social isolation, keeping active and assistance with technology. Due to their commitment to inclusivity, GCAIS is a lifeline for many individuals seeking support, connection and empowerment.

Skillz4Me

Skillz4me enrich the lives of children with disabilities by creating an inclusive, engaging, learning, fun & safe environment for the children, their parents & their grandparents to enjoy.

They are a Not-for-profit organization, providing free sport, which needs as much funding and recognition as possible.

Sutherland Food Services (Meals on Wheels)

Sutherland Food Services has been serving older Australians in the shire for over 75 years.

Our Volunteer Team consists of 75 dedicated community members who ensure that over 75000 meals are delivered annually to their community together with social connection and wellbeing checks.

Sutherland Shire Dog Training Club

All of the volunteers at Sutherland Shire Dog Training Club help countless people learn how to handle their dogs, helping shape good canine citizens. From basic obedience to help overcoming problem behaviours, they help dogs become valued members of our community.

Empowered Living Care

Empowered Living Care have allowed people with mild to severe disabilities to live the best life they can and providing independence to their clients.

I have achieved independence and so many goals since joining them.

Sutherland Shire Football Association (SSFA)

The association has done an outstanding job this year in tough times with so much rain, their communication to members and support to the clubs through this time has been amazing.

SSFA have made the experience so enjoyable for young kids wanting to have fun.

Project Youth

Project Youth work with local young people to prevent youth homelessness and where it does occur, ensure it is brief and non-reoccurring through early intervention, employment, education and training and Housing.

Last year Project Youth helped close to 3000 young people.

Cronulla Sharks Community Team

The team at Cronulla Sharks has demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. Their initiatives include organising events and activities that promote accessibility, ensuring that people of all abilities can participate in and enjoy the game of rugby league.

One of their hallmark programs is their partnership with local disability organisations, through which they run accessible sports clinics, school engagement programs, and community outreach initiatives.

The Cronulla Sharks Community team has also been instrumental in raising awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. They consistently advocate for more inclusive spaces and work tirelessly to break down barriers that prevent individuals from participating fully in community life

Through their tireless dedication, the Cronulla Sharks Community team has become a beacon of inclusivity in the Sutherland Shire, enriching the lives of countless individuals and making a lasting positive impact on our community.

Environmental Citizen of the Year Nominees

Dr Eliza Middleton

Eliza has made a significant impact on our local community in the last year with an emphasis on environmental education and youth engagement. Committed to enhancing ecological literacy, so the community can make informed decisions around their impact and dependencies on the environment, Eliza has organised free public lectures, attended numerous local primary and secondary schools in the Shire, and held workshops focused on nature dependency and sustainability.

One of their standout achievements includes conducting Climate and Biodiversity workshop in collaboration with the council and newly elected councilor Kal Glaznig. This workshop empowered students to establish sustainability councils within their schools and others to start new initiatives for a greener future.

Eliza has actively engaged with council to advocate for environmental considerations in decision-making, providing expert feedback on sustainability strategies that directly benefit our community. Her participation in programs like Future Women in STEM and the Sutherland Shire Young Leaders Network highlights her commitment to nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders.

Through these initiatives, Eliza has cultivated a deep connection between youth and the environment, ensuring that the values of ecological responsibility and sustainability are passed on to future generations.

Darryl Chappalow

Darryl's dedication to protecting the environment is truly inspiring. For years, he walked his dog Scout along Wanda Dog Beach every morning, collecting rubbish and debris, including plastics, glass bottles, fishing lines, and more. Even after Scout's passing, Darryl continues this selfless routine.

Beyond his daily beach cleanups, Darryl has volunteered with Sutherland Shire Bushcare for an impressive 25 years, tirelessly clearing weeds and rubbish in John McKinn Park.

Additionally, Darryl has volunteered for 10 years, supporting the Multiple Sclerosis Sydney to Gong ride in various weather conditions.

Darryl's unwavering commitment, selflessness, and passion for environmental conservation make him an outstanding candidate.

Rhonda Daniels

Rhonda has been a Bushcare volunteer since 2004 and works at several reserves, the community nursery, and Joseph Banks Gardens, as well as attending seed collecting days and leading tours through Joseph Banks. Rhonda is dedicated and enthusiastic about Bushcare, willingly promotes the program and assists new volunteers to learn new skills by sharing her extensive knowledge. She is always keen to research and educate on new or unusual species. Rhonda was also one of the volunteers who participated in the filming of the Gardening Australia episode on Councils Greenweb program, which aired in 2023.

Rhonda has also been a member of APS since 1993, where she has held several positions at District, State and National levels. She has been the editor for the quarterly publications of Native Plants and Australia Plants journals. Rhonda has also written and co-authored several submissions to Local and State governments on issues relating to the conservation of native plants.

Gay (Suzanne) Curtis

Over the past 4 years, Gay has significantly advanced environmental sustainability in the Sutherland Shire through her dedication and leadership.

As the coordinator of ShireCAN, she has been a key figure in fostering collaboration between local residents and the Sutherland Shire Council.

Sports Person of the Year Nominees

Deirdre de Plater

Deirdre became a parent member of the Engadine Swim club over 30 years ago where she quickly became a committee member. As the club numbers diminished, she undertook more roles including club delegate to the Area and Swimming NSW Committee. During that time, she has also become a NSW swimming official and gives up most of her weekends officiating at swimming competitions in and around Sydney.

From December to March she is officiating, Monday to Friday, at school swimming carnivals from local through to State Championships. She is currently the Metropolitan Southeast Area (MSE) Swimming Committee's Competition Co-ordinator, who is also responsible for organising all competitions and Championships run in this area.

She has been the Engadine Swimming Club secretary for over 20 years and 10 years ago she was main reason the club remained viable as she took on all the administration responsibilities. She has now moved into a mentoring role and has the luxury of sharing her wealth of knowledge, as she encourages other members to undertake those administrative roles.

Daniel Michel

An inspirational member of the Sutherland Shire, Dan is now a two-time Paralympic medalist and three-time Paralympian. A pretty self-explanatory nomination with exceptional merit for this award.

Nathan Breen

At the 2024 Australian Surf Lifesaving Titles he achieved an individual and relay bronze medals. He ran into 4th place in the 2024 Sutherland to Surf, was part of the St George Athletics club 7th place 4x4km relay team at the state championships. He came 5th in the World Aquathon championships in Townsville and achieved an individual Bronze and a relay silver at the World Surf Lifesaving Championships on the Gold Coast.

He is also currently coaching at Cronulla Surf Lifesaving club and is the President of the ST George Athletics club. He consistently contributes to school sport in his role as a teacher and plays a huge role in active living for local youth. His contributions to sport are far reaching and never done for the sake of recognition.

Deanne Charalambous

She is the person who has grown the club and single handedly brought the club back from almost bring nonexistent. She is everywhere, making sport fun and accessible for all kids! She wants kids to play for enjoyment and really wants the club to be a family friendly environment.

Ian Gatherer

Ian has filled three roles for multiple years at Gymea Bay Cricket Club - Secretary, Cricket Blast Coordinator and Canteen Officer. Finding time to fulfil secretary duties, coordinate 50 kids every week for 10 weeks and manage the canteen, Ian has quietly undergone a heap of work for a club of 350+

Tamara Mulquiny

Tamara Mulquiny is a SLSO at Waterfall PS. She played competitive sport throughout high school and has used that to inspire our students by running sports clubs and facilitating training for interschool sports. Her contribution has made a significant difference to our students' engagement at school.

Willi Lutke

Willi is the President of Sutherland Shire Softball, not only the President but Grounds men and coaches. He has been involved in Softball for over 20 years and has help many young players develop into better people. Willi is involved in all aspects of the game.

Dani Jackovich

Dani was a member of the 2024 Paris Olympics Australian Stingers team that won the silver medal. Dani is also a volunteer coach and assistance at the Cronulla Water Polo Club as well as playing in the AWL competition. She is a proud local ever since migrating from America in 2019.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NRLW

The success of the Cronulla Sharks NRLW team in 2024 has been a source of pride and excitement for fans.

The team’s success has been especially significant for the Sutherland Shire, reflecting the growing prominence of women's rugby league in Australia.

The Sharks have not only demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork but have also become an inspiring force for young female athletes.

Young Sports Person of the Year Nominees

Sari McKee

Sari McKee has been a valued member of North Cronulla Surf Club for many years, starting out as a young nipper.

Sari has had much success on the beach in the 2km beach run event including unbeaten performances in the U17 age group throughout the season, plus backing up with much success in Open events.

Sari’s success comes from her extremely strong work ethic, training efforts plus her attitude and determination.  Sari eagerly puts up her hand for selection in representative teams and has always represented our Club and Sydney Branch with great sportsmanship and respect.

Sari does not just limit herself to surf lifesaving!

Major Results

WORLD Surf Lifesaving Championships 2022  Riccione Italy - Gold U15/19 2km Female Beach Run

WORLD Surf Lifesaving Championships 2024 Gold Coast – Australia - Gold - U17 2km Female Beach Run

Gold - Open 2km Female Beach Run

Bronze - Open Women Sprint Relay

Aussies Surf Lifesaving Championships 2024

Gold - U17 2km Female Beach Run

Silver - U19 Female Beach Sprint Relay

NSW Open School Girls Touch Football Team

Winner  -National Youth Championships

Cronulla Sharks Junior Touch Football Club

Club Captain

NSW CHS State Athletics Championships

Silver - 1500m

5th - 800m

Cronulla High School

2025 Sports Captain

Marc Shaw

Marc Shaw is a 23 year old motorcycle postman, His motorcycle adventures aren’t limited to his work as in his free time he is a professional motorcycle racer. In a sport often dominated by juniors drilled in the art of motorcycle riding from a young age Marc breaks the norm by beginning much later, progressing just as quickly and remaining competitive.

Marc’s motorcycle journey began in 2018, where he followed the RMS’s licensing system, riding his motorcycle on the road to little remark. In 2022 Marc tried out riding on closed circuits and showed promise, with some direction from then Professional rider Bryan Staring.

2023 Saw him begin racing at club and state events aboard his R3 in the 400cc category. Despite having a rocky first few races, over the year he pulled through and got his head down, taking out a 3rd place in the 400cc seniors (16+) category for his first year.

He has achieved a 2nd place overall and a number of race wins in the New South Wales Road Racing championship. He has also began racing in the national Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK)

It is a dangerous sport and he himself has had a few injuries, but his persistence, dedication and willpower continues to drive him to become the best racer he can possibly be.

Noah Steiner

Noah Steiner is a Wanda Surf Life Saving Club member and lifesaver. He was a World Champion Silver Medalist - Open Mens Board 2024. Noah represented NSW at the Interstate Titles at Maroubra getting Gold in the men's ironman, Gold in open men's taplin replay and Silver in open men's single ski. Noah received gold for men's ironman, men's surf team and men's board relay, plus Bronze for men's surf race at the NSW State Life Saving Championships. He received gold for open men's board race and Silver for open men's ironman as part of the Shaw and Partners Summer Series.

Kyle Mason

Kyle achieved incredible results at the recent World Surf Lifesaving Championships earlier in September. He won both the junior and senior 2km beach run (a first ever achievement) and won the open 3x1km relay as a youth competitor. He also achieved a 4th in the youth 3x1km relay.

Kyle also competed in the world aquathon championships a few weeks prior placing second in the Junior elite men.

Further, Kyle won the junior division in the Sutherland to Surf this year.

Jarvis Earle

Jarvis has dominated the Junior World Series in Surfing for many years and is now a household name on the World Stage and a real threat for championship tour qualification.

He has won many world class events and regularly achieves top results

Anastacia Flack

Anastacia is a local young female who has been playing hockey in the Shire since she was 5.  She has made multiple teams and just graduated from Endeavour sports high school.

This year Anastacia was selected to play for NSW at the following level:

U18 indoor championships

U18 field national championships

Played for Sydney South U18, open women’s

Umpired at the U15 indoor national championships.

Anastacia has also Umpired in the local Sydney Women’s hockey league as well as the men’s Sydney hockey league being awarded the SL3 & PL3 men’s grand finals

This is an amazing achievement for a young female athlete in hockey as not many women get the opportunity to do so in the men’s league

Hamish Kelly

Hamish Kelly has dedicated over a decade to St. Patrick's Baseball Club, marking his impressive 10 Years of Service in the 2023/2024 season.

At just 15 years old, Hamish has emerged as a premier pitcher in his age group, showcasing an overpowering fastball complemented by an exceptional curveball. His skills have earned him numerous representative honours, including his most recent selection to the NSW Under 16's Australian Youth Championship team.

Beyond his talent on the field, Hamish exemplifies the qualities of a great teammate and role model for younger players, inspiring them with his dedication and sportsmanship.

Cassie Voysey

Cassie Voysey is a 22yr old mountain bike rider with many titles to her career.

She has represented Australia at the Downhill World Championships 5 times.

She has been Australian Champion 5 times.

She recently placed 4th in the world at Crank Worx (a festival operated at 4 different spots around the world).

Cassie recently won the UCI Pump Track qualifiers and will now represent Australia at South Africa in November.

Jamison Karas

Overcame a broken olecranon, hospitalization for viral meningitis/seizure and an ankle injury after being hit by a car in 2024, to consistently contribute to grass roots playing, refereeing and supporting his chosen sports and fitness activities.

Minor Premiership and Grand Final winning 12B LPFC team.

Top monthly attendees list YMCA Caringbah gym several months during 2024. Attendance above most adult attendees.

Miniroos 2024 game leader starting early from 11 years of age usually 12yrs. Even when unable to play football due to a broken arm he came back to refereeing as soon as possible.

Volunteered to be lines person in a Junior soccer match when referees were not available despite official black refereeing beginning at 14yrs old.

12th place Cronulla Zone Cross Country.

Summer soccer - 5 Sports - under 14 yrs team despite being 12yrs.

Kai Laws

Kai is an outstanding sportsman. In the past year Kai has represented and Vice Captained the NSWPSSA cricket team. Kai also represented and Captained the Sydney East Cricket Team for 2 years.

Kai has Represented SSJCA for the past 5 Years whilst also been the Vice Captain of this team.

Kai attends Endeavour SHS in the Cricket program. Kai plays local cricket for Engadine and also gives back to the community by helping coach younger teams.

Kai has received multiple citizenship awards at school and sportsman of the school last year. He is a well deserved recipient of this award. Kai is hard working, Supportive, talented & kind boy who deserves to be recognised.

Zac Brown

Zac is a talented sportsman who continues to show dedication in the time and effort he puts in to strive for his goals.

This year he has represented Sutherland in Cricket (u12 reps and captain) and was awarded the U12 cricketer of the season, he has represented his school and medaled in the All-Schools Swimming Championships, along with being named Trinity Grammar U12 swimmer of the year.

Zac has also played representative soccer previously for Sutherland but this year for St George City along with playing Rugby Union. Zac continues to show support to his teammates in various sports along with his coaches and is a great role model for many.

Daniel Rindflesih

Daniel is a selfless volunteer that contributes hundreds if not thousands of hours to the local footballing community.

He volunteers coaching Under 8 and Under 13’s junior teams at Lilli Pilli FC and plays in the Shire Premier League First Grade Team at Lilli Pilli FC.

Every weekend, he spends all day of Saturday and Sunday setting up fields early in the morning, coaching, helping junior football games operate smoothly, assisting parents at fields and plugging gaps where needed, like on the BBQ. He will then be around to help pack up fields in the evening.

He voluntarily records games (after spending thousands of dollars on a sports camera) to then coach players how to improve their individual skills. He also spends the offseason coaching junior goalkeepers free-of-charge. He also helps run the grading of the largest football club in the Sutherland Shire, resulting in over 1000 kids coming across his grading expertise.

Every single weeknight in winter is spent at a soccer field either training himself, coaching his various teams or voluntarily coaching individual players to see them improve.

He has had remarkable success, coaching his U13 team to a 9-0 grand final WIN in an undefeated season and taking them to the NSW State Cup final. He also voluntarily flew to Dubbo to coach his team in an off-season competition.

He pours in countless hours and amounts of money buying training equipment and gear, and he asks for nothing in return. He enjoys seeing people grow and being a part of that journey. He thoroughly deserves this award.

Bria Campbell

This young lady isn’t the best player but is by far the best teammate whether it be playing u/14s mixed cricket or playing u/18s Brewer shield at the age of 15 this young lady epitomizes what it means to be a hard working team player.

Sienna McNamara

Sienna Indy-Rose McNamara is currently 15 years of age and is currently playing Water polo for UNSW under 18. She previously spent her time playing for the Cronulla Sharks since she was 10. Sienna is a dedicated member of her sport, constantly showcasing commitment, hard work and teamwork.