Wodonga Council is proud to announce the worthy recipients of its Australia Day Awards for 2026. These awards present the community with the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate those who make Wodonga a better place to live, work and learn.
Citizen of the Year is awarded to Sandra McIntosh, Young Citizen of the Year is awarded to Katie Kendall and Community Organisation of the Year is awarded to Wodonga RSL.
All three recipients have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to building a stronger, well-supported and more connected place for all - with their selfless dedication transforming passion and purpose into lasting community good.
Sandra McIntosh - Citizen of the Year
For more than 15 years, Sandra McIntosh has been a generous and dedicated resident of Wodonga, admired for her compassion, kindness and unwavering commitment to fostering a strong, connected community.
Sandra's approach to community life in Wodonga is grounded in inclusion and respect for others, demonstrated through her longstanding volunteer service, previously at the Wodonga Visitor Information Centre and for the past 14 years at the Wodonga Life Activities Club (WLAC), including leadership as President and now Activities Coordinator. In her roles at WLAC, Sandra has worked tirelessly to enhance the wellbeing, social connection and quality of life of the clubs' members, with a strong focus on creating equitable, accessible opportunities particularly for mature-aged members.
Sandra has been at the heart of supporting those in or approaching retirement to enjoy a full, healthy and satisfying community life. She plays a hands-on role in fostering the wellbeing of 136 WLAC club members as she continues to create meaningful occasions for connection and belonging.
"I love what I do with the Wodonga Life Activities Club and the people who are part of it. I worry that it's hard to get people on the committee and we won't be able to keep going, so I just keep on keeping on," Sandra revealed.
Through her commitment to creating this warm and inclusive atmosphere, Sandra has become a recognised pillar of community life in Wodonga. Her energy, dedication and vision has been instrumental in sustaining this vibrant community hub.
Since retiring, Sandra has also devoted much of her time to caring for her local surrounds. For the past decade, she has regularly collected rubbish through Felltimber Creek, Federation Hill and more recently, Wodonga Gardens, striving to keep these spaces clean and inspiring others to take pride in their surroundings.
"On this one day while picking up rubbish, a little girl got out of her car and gave me an Easter gift and a thank you card. She also cleans up rubbish around her streets, and it made me shed a tear," Sandra shared.
Through her quiet and unwavering dedication, Sandra McIntosh exemplifies the spirit of community service, and her contributions have had a lasting and positive impact on many lives. Devoted to making everyone feel supported and valued, Sandra's generosity, empathy and community-minded spirit continues to enrich the fabric of our city.
Katie Kendall - Young Citizen of the Year
Katie Kendall is deeply embedded in the Wodonga community, transforming her lived experience of suicidal thoughts and borderline personality disorder (BPD) into a powerful force for good.
"It feels unreal to be receiving this award, knowing how close I came to losing everything, including my life, just over a year ago," Katie revealed.
As a regional advocate for improved adolescent mental health services, Katie has led the Beyond Beds campaign to improve regional services and acknowledging the need for prevention, early intervention and recovery-focused, community-based support for young people with complex mental health needs.
Katie's advocacy has led to immediate and lasting change, with her storytelling and media engagement helping to normalise mental health conversations and reduce stigma across schools, workplaces and community settings. Her work is grounded in ensuring young people can access safe, age-appropriate mental health care close to home. Her initiative has also created a platform for sustained civic dialogue and political engagement in regional mental health infrastructure.
Katie says there are two things that inspire her to continue the work she does in the community.
"It is knowing firsthand the impact of systemic gaps in regional mental healthcare and fighting for change for my friend who lost her life to suicide a year ago," she shared.
As a volunteer organiser, campaigner and public speaker, Katie uses her own story to inspire others to speak up. Her courage in confronting stigma, combined with her honesty, empathy and ability to connect with others, makes her an inspiring role model for young people and a powerful example of leadership grounded in vulnerability and integrity.
Wodonga RSL - Community Organisation of the Year
For more than 100 years, Wodonga RSL has played a leading role in supporting Wodonga and the surrounding community in honouring those who have served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of Australia across multiple wars and conflicts. Committed to safeguarding the longstanding legacy of remembrance, the RSL ensures that the stories and service of veterans continue to be recognised by future generations.
Wodonga RSL president, Jamie Wolf spoke about the importance of this recognition for the organisation.
"Wodonga RSL is extremely grateful to be the recipient of this community award which has recognised the effort and work undertaken by our volunteers to continue to define Wodonga RSL as a leading support organisation for our current serving personnel, veterans and their families locally, as well as continuing to engage the community with our commemorative services," Jamie shared.
The organisation's contribution to the community extends beyond commemoration, with the RSL providing ongoing support to current-serving veterans and their families through benevolent assistance and welfare engagement activities. Their community involvement also extends to supporting local community groups including Borella House, Westmont Aged Care, Wodonga Bulldogs, Border Bandits basketball, along with multiple primary and secondary schools.
"We are inspired to be the custodians for our rich military history within the local community and advocating for all who have served, continue to serve and those who made the ultimate sacrifice," Jamie noted.
Uplifting the values of service, remembrance and community, the RSL also engages local schools to deliver meaningful history education and services. It has also led significant preservation work, including the $240,000 redevelopment of the Woodland Grove Cenotaph, while continuing to coordinate and deliver local ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day services in the Wodonga region.
Through these efforts, Wodonga RSL has helped create a place where pride, respect and connection are at the heart of its activities as its work continues to support current-serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Wodonga Council invites the community to help recognise these recipients who have given outstanding service to Wodonga, by joining the Australia Day ceremony and celebrations on January 26, from 7am to 10.30am at the Baranduda Fields Sporting Complex.
Please note that this event has been moved to the Baranduda Fields Sporting Complex as the previously listed venue, Wodonga Exhibition Centre, has been operating as an Emergency Relief Centre due to the current fire situation across the region.
Enjoy live music, delicious food, free coffee by Pony Espresso and fun activities for the entire family including face painting and a petting zoo.
This event also includes a citizenship ceremony where 53 people will take their citizenship oath. New citizens hail from diverse lands including Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, India, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tonga, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vietnam.
