The closing date for the community vote segment of the 2026 Clarence Valley Citizen of the Year Awards is quickly approaching with Clarence Valley Mayor Ray Smith urging everyone to vote for their winner in each category.
"This year is special because not only will there be a winner picked by the committee for each category, but the community also gets to be involved and vote for who they think deserves it," Mayor Smith said.
"We received 29 nominations across four categories, which shows me just how special our community is and the great people we have living among us.
"The winners of each category as well as the Community Vote winner will be announced at a private event in Yamba on Monday 26 January 2026."
Nominated as Citizen of the Year are Allan Woods, Haley Hodgson, Reny Dooley, Richard Angelo, Jeremy Jablonski, Dan Fahey, Tracy Pateman, Dianne Price, Uncle Ken Gordon, Janice Gillett, Julie Hodder, Craigh McNeill and Sally Rogers.
Our Young Citizen of the Year nominees are Reny Dooley, Ella Lawrence, Sarah O'Hearn, Julia Cabai, Millie Lloyd and Taya Graham.
Local Hero nominees include Reny Dooley, Hayley Hodgson, George Szekely and Myra James.
Finally, our Community Achievement Group nominees are Aces for the Community, Lions Club of Maclean – Return & Earn, Happy Paws Haven Inc, Clarence Cane Harvest Festival, Maclean Medical and 'Forget Me Not' Dementia Choir.
Cast your vote by following this link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCH6QRQ
Voting closes Monday 15 December 2025.
