Swan Hill Rural City Council is calling on the community to nominate the individuals, organisations and events that have made an outstanding contribution to the municipality for the 2027 Australia Day Awards.
The awards provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people and events that help make the Swan Hill municipality a great place to live, work and connect.
Mayor Councillor Stuart King encouraged residents to nominate someone who deserves to be recognised.
"Every community has people who quietly give their time, go above and beyond or achieve something remarkable, and these awards are a great opportunity to shine a light on their contribution," Cr King said.
"We also want to recognise the events that bring our community together, create memorable experiences and showcase the wonderful spirit of our region.
"If you know someone who deserves recognition, or an event that made a real difference to our community, I encourage you to put forward a nomination."
There are three award categories:
Citizen of the Year
Recognising a person who has achieved a significant individual accomplishment or demonstrated outstanding service to the community over a significant period.
Young Citizen of the Year
Recognising a person under 30 years of age on 26 January 2027 who has achieved an outstanding personal accomplishment or made a significant contribution to the community.
Community Event of the Year
Recognising an individual or group that delivered an exceptional event between December 2025 and 2026, creating a lasting positive impact on the local community.
Contributions may span a wide range of areas including education, health, fundraising, charitable and voluntary work, business, sport, arts, the environment, social inclusion and other activities that enrich community life.
Anyone can submit a nomination. Simply explain who you are nominating, what they have achieved or contributed, and why you believe they deserve recognition.
Nominations will be assessed against the award criteria, with a panel considering all eligible nominations before selecting the recipients.
Award winners will be announced and presented at Council's Australia Day event on 25 January 2027, where the community will come together to celebrate their achievements.
Nominations close at 5pm on Thursday, 19 November 2026.
