Citizen of the Year Awards
Recognising our outstanding citizens
The Citizen of the Year Awards are presented by the Australia Day Council of South Australia and administered by local councils on their behalf.
Each year we acknowledge and celebrate remarkable individuals and groups who do exceptional things for our community. If you know someone making a real difference, we encourage you to put them forward for the Citizen of the Year Awards. Each council seeks nominations in their local area, with the award recipients announced in the lead up to or on Australia Day.
The Awards reward and recognise individuals and organisations that have made a noteworthy contribution during the current year, and/or given outstanding service over a number of years, to a local community over and above normal employment duties.
Outstanding contribution and community service includes areas such as education, health, fundraising, charitable and voluntary services, business, sport, arts, the environment, or any other area that contributes to the advancement and well being of a community.
Nominating someone who makes a real difference in your community gives them the opportunity to be rewarded and recognised for their important voluntary contribution.
The Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards gives the opportunity to recognise someone who makes a difference in their community across four major categories:
Award Categories
Citizen of the Year
This is presented to the most outstanding citizen during the past year. To be eligible, the person must be an Australian Citizen.
Young Citizen of the Year
This is presented to the most outstanding Young Citizen during the past year. To be eligible, the person must be an Australian Citizen under 30 years of age on 26 January of the year of award.
Community Event of the Year
This is presented to a person or group who has staged the most outstanding community event during the past year.
Active Citizenship
This is presented to a person delivering outstanding work for an event or cause, staged in the community during the past year.
It is not a requirement that the nominee resides in our city. Our focus is on the contribution to City of Prospect’s community (e.g. an individual may live in a neighbouring council but has made a significant contribution within City of Prospect).
Nominations
Do you know someone who makes your community a better place? Nominating is easy! Download the guidelines below to make sure they meet the eligibility criteria.
Citizen of the Year nomination guidelines
Nominations closed 5pm, Friday 14 November 2025
Contact us
For more information on Citizen of the Year awards or the nomination process, please call 8269 5355 and ask for our Volunteer and Community Programs Coordinator, or email admin@prospect.sa.gov.au.
Congratulations to our 2026 Recipients
On Tuesday 27 January, we met in the Newmarch Gallery to formerly recognise the recipients of the 2026 Citizen of the Year Awards.
Congratulations to the following recipients.
- Rosemary Currie - Citizen of the Year
- Hadi Jafari - Young Citizen of the Year
- Romeo Colaco - Active Citizenship Award
- North Adelaide Football Club - Community Event of the Year
We would also like to recognise and thank those who nominated these award recipients, your efforts have allowed us to acknowledge individuals and groups within our community on their achievements and contributions.
Those who did not receive a Citizen of the Year award will be recognised with a Community Service Award at our celebrations during National Volunteer Week in May 2026.
Council resolved at its meeting on 16 December 2025 to bestow the Citizen of the Year Award upon Rosemary Currie. In a remarkable demonstration of her commitment to community service and volunteerism, Rosemary has chosen to dedicate this honour to the Prospect Meals on Wheels Team, rather than accept the award as an individual. This generous gesture reflects her deep appreciation for the collective efforts that contribute towards providing a service that supports our older residents who depend on the service.
We would still like to share Rosey’s story; an inspiring example of an individual who seeks no recognition other than her own personal satisfaction and who says her own personal reward is making a difference in other people’s lives. A volunteer who has devoted herself to serving the community for the past 16 years. She has applied her professional skills, experience and energy to supporting fellow volunteers, who in turn directly assist the older residents who depend on the service. Her dedication ensures that every volunteer who arrives has access to guidance and support, helping maintain smooth and reliable operations within the branch.
Rosey is a leader and mentor whose commitment has had a far‑reaching impact, from managing customer concerns to strengthening communication between the Prospect branch and the Central office. Through her involvement, she has helped reinforce a service that touches countless lives. Her efforts to ensure residents receive meals and her contribution extends well beyond day‑to‑day operations. Thank you, Rosey, for your service to our older residents in Prospect.
Our 2026 Young Citizen of the Year recipient is Hadi Jafari.
At only 20 years of age Hadi Jafari has demonstrated exceptional leadership, cultural connection, and community service in South Australia. In 2025, he organised the Nowruz celebration, bringing together over 100 people to strengthen cultural heritage and social cohesion. As an active member of the Rotary Club of Regency Park, he has supported projects and fundraising for global causes, while also representing Australia at the Best Diplomat Conference in London to promote peacebuilding and dialogue. His achievements, recognised through multiple prestigious awards at local, state, and national levels, (n 2025, he received: The Order of Australia Association Award, The Youth Long Tan Leadership Award, The Ampol Best All-Rounder Award, The Premier's Allan Sloane Young Citizen Award, The City of Prospect Community Service Award) highlighting his broader impact across sectors highlight his inspiring commitment to active citizenship, which makes him an outstanding candidate for Young Citizen of the Year.
Our 2026 Active Citizenship Award recipient is Romeo Colaco.
A resident of Prospect for over 46 years and member of the Prospect-Blair Athol Lions Club since 2005 and President in 2011-12. Roy has been the conduit between the Prospect Council and the Lions Club, liaising with the council to identify community projects within the clubs ability to manage and a driving influence for the completion of many of those projects that have serviced the community. For over 23 years, the key player behind the annual Lions Club Christmas Carols in Memorial Gardens. Manages catering for fund raising activities, markets held around Prospect, identifies those recipients who need funding Ie; Katherine House, Operation Flinders etc., annual morning tea for cancer awareness. Acting Treasurer for the clubs financial matters, bank accounts, payments to suppliers, etc. actively identifies grants and submits written applications. Through Roy’s close ties with the Council the community has benefited greatly with the Lions club providing numerous BBQ’s at park/reserve open days, special events including a strong presence at the annual Prospect Fair and Twilight Concerts. City of Prospect’s Citizenship Ceremonies provide an important opportunity to formally welcome new citizens as full members of the Australian Community and since 2017 Roy has played an important role as the master of ceremonies at these events. Roy was also called on to emcee the Mayors Dinner in December 2023.
Our 2026 Community Event of the Year Award is presented to North Adelaide Football Club for their Good Friday Festival in Memorial Gardens.
The North Adelaide Football Club, in collaboration with Markets in Prospect, proudly hosted the inaugural Good Friday Football and Family Fun Day at the Memorial Gardens, complementing the Club’s traditional Good Friday Clash against Central District. The event welcomed over 4,000 attendees throughout the day, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy a vibrant, free community celebration. Highlights included live music, a large screen broadcasting the football match, more than 10 food vendors, and over 30 market stalls. The festival created a warm and inclusive atmosphere, showcasing the power of sport and community to unite people in shared joy and connection.
Photos from the night
To download a photo in this gallery, click on the image you want to save and bring it up in full size. Right click on the image and select 'save picture as' and then save to your PC.
Our Citizen of the Year Honour Board
2026
Citizen of the Year - Rosemary Currie
Young Citizen of the Year - Hadi Jafari
Community Event of the Year Award - North Adelaide Football Club
Active Citizenship Award - Romeo Colaco
2025
Citizen of the Year - David Johnston
Young Citizen of the Year - Nathan Bishop
Community Event of the Year Award - Churchill Greening
Active Citizenship Award - Jenny Rossiter
2024
Citizen of the Year – Andrew Ganczarczyk
Young Citizen of the Year – Fern Bridges
Community Event of the Year - no award
Active Citizenship Award – Anneke Hoffman
2023
Citizen of the Year – Nola Bellenger
Young Citizen of the Year – Amelia Smith
Community Event of the Year - Santa's coming to Prospect
Active Citizenship Award – Eleanor Larwood
2022
Citizen of the Year – Jim Fergusson
Young Citizen of the Year – Inika Weber
Community Event of the Year - no award
Active Citizenship Award – Lewis Saint
2021
Citizen of the Year - Chris Whiteside OAM
Young Citizen of the Year - Dylan Lo
Community Event of the Year - no award (due to COVID-19 in 2020)
Active Citizenship Award - Alex Chu and Cameron MacGillivray
2020
Citizen of the Year - Robert Roocke
Young Citizen of the Year - Max Weir and Charlotte Crosby
Community Event of the Year - Broadview Football Club
2019
Citizen of the Year - David Kilner
Young Citizen of the Year - Darcy Maney
Community Event of the Year - Fourth Annual Great Ukulele Picnic
2018
Citizen of the Year - Dr Robert Irving
Young Citizen of the Year - Claire Sander
Community Event of the Year - Clifton Street Party
2017
Citizen of the Year - Kay Seear
Young Citizen of the Year - Megan Davies
Community Event of the Year - Federation of Indian Communities SA
2016
Citizen of the Year - Pat Brierly
Young Citizen of the Year - Sophie Harris
Community Event of the Year - Prospect District Cricket Club
2015
Citizen of the Year - Audrey Hale
Young Citizen of the Year - Justin Bussell
Community Event of the Year - Rotary Club of Prospect Pit Stop Event
2014
Citizen of the Year - Dilip Chirmuley
Young Citizen of the Year - Eleni Glouftsis
Community Event of the Year - Prospect Group – Amnesty International
2013
Citizen of the Year - Frank Scicluna
Young Citizen of the Year - Christopher Campbell
Community Event of the Year - no award
2012
Citizen of the Year - Lindy Neilson
Young Citizen of the Year - James Peter Owen Hunt
Community Event of the Year - no award
2011
Citizen of the Year - Peter Loan
Young Citizen of the Year - Michelle Keech
Community Event of the Year - Prospect-Blair Athol Lions Club
2010
Citizen of the Year - Susan Wells
Young Citizen of the Year - Madeleine Piochaud
Community Event of the Year - Nailsworth Church of Christ
2009
Citizen of the Year - Keith Seeary
Young Citizen of the Year - Teresa Deng
Community Event of the Year - Friends of the Prospect Library - Annual Book Sale
2008
Citizen of the Year - Bette Crouch
Young Citizen of the Year - Inno Bigga
Community Event of the Year - ICC Reconciliation Cricket Tournament
2007
Citizen of the Year - Jon Harmer
Young Citizen of the Year - Olivia Catalano
Community Event of the Year - no award
2006
Citizen of the Year - Anne Haskard
Young Citizen of the Year - Mathew Hutchinson
Community Event of the Year - no award
2005
Citizen of the Year - Junice Cooper
Young Citizen of the Year - Osama Malik
Community Event of the Year - Nailsworth Church of Christ
2004
Citizen of the Year - Ray Haynes
Young Citizen of the Year - Kate Mitchell
Community Event of the Year - Aust Plangon Antique & Modern Doll Collectors Club Inc
2003
Citizen of the Year - Heather Tralaggan
Young Citizen of the Year - Sam Harris
Community Event of the Year - Nailsworth Primary School
2002
Citizen of the Year - Valerie Collins
Young Citizen of the Year - no award
Community Event of the Year - no award
2001
Citizen of the Year - Michael Kain
Young Citizen of the Year - no award
Community Event of the Year - no award
2000
Citizen of the Year - Lesley Clark
Young Citizen of the Year - Michael Woods
Community Event of the Year - Blair Athol Lions Club
1999
Citizen of the Year - Henrietta Zoontjens
Young Citizen of the Year - Laura Christy
Community Event of the Year - no award
1998
Citizen of the Year - Betty Tothill