Lismore City Council is excited to announce Catherine De Vrye as the 2026 Australia Day Ambassador.
Catherine is a globally recognised author and keynote speaker whose life story is a testament to resilience, adaptability and hope. Canadian by birth but proudly Australian by choice, she has twice been voted as Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year.
She is also the bestselling author of nine books, including 'Hot Lemon and Honey', 'Hope Happens!' and her memoir 'Who Says I Can't?', Catherine's works have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Endorsed by thought leaders such as Sir Edmund Hillary and Dr Edward de Bono, her books offer timeless wisdom for navigating life's challenges.
The 2026 Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony will be held at the Whitebrook Theatre, Southern Cross University on Monday, 26 January, starting at 9 am.
Mayor Steve Krieg expressed his enthusiasm for having a passionate ambassador who champions unity, optimism and the power of perseverance.
"We are honoured to have Catherine De Vye as our Australia Day Ambassador, someone who believes while we can't always control change, we can control our attitude toward it," he said.
"She is truly inspiring, and we look forward to hearing her story and insights on Australia Day."
The event will open with a Welcome to County, followed by the presentation of the Australia Day Awards and a Citizenship Ceremony.
Mayor Krieg said he was looking forward to celebrating Australia Day with the community.
"It is a great privilege to honour the remarkable individuals in our community through the Australia Day Awards and I look forward to welcoming our newest citizens to the Lismore family," he said.
"We will proudly welcome 52 new citizens from 20 countries in the Citizenship Ceremony."
This year, the Australia Day Awards will recognise achievements across eight categories:
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year
- Services in the Community (Individual)
- Services in the Community (Group)
- Sportsperson/Team (Junior)
- Sportsperson/Team (Senior)
- Environment
- Arts/Culture
Australia Day is a time to Reflect, Respect and Celebrate all Australians' diverse stories and contributions.
Join us in showing appreciation for the outstanding volunteers and community members who make Lismore a better place and in welcoming our newest citizens.
Picture: Australia Day Ambassador Catherine De Vrye.
