Hume City Council has recognised members of our community striving to better themselves and their neighbours at the first Hume Community Awards on Tuesday 24 October 2023.
The Hume Community Awards are a recognition program designed to celebrate and honour individuals within the community who have made outstanding contributions.
The inaugural awards will become our city's annual celebration of the individuals working tirelessly throughout the year to foster a sense of pride in our community and keep Hume inclusive and safe.
Each recipient has been commended for the ways in which their achievements reach across our many diverse communities in Hume.
Council received 97 nominations from across Hume from residents wanting to thank their peers' for their efforts, from art that connects us to land, or through volunteering and community education.
The people honoured not only go above and beyond within their community, they reach beyond Hume to make sure our leaders are listening, giving a voice to all of us.
The Hume Community Awards, replacing the former Australia Day ceremony, comes as a way for Hume City Council and the wider community to celebrate the uniqueness of our community.
Hume Community Awards 2023 categories and recipients:
Academic Excellence
Muhammad Waqas Khan
Advocacy and Social Justice
Dianne Moon
Arts and Creative Expression
Teena Moffatt
Community Service Excellence
Fatma Khodr
Environmental Stewardship
Harsimran Kaur
Outstanding Cultural Leadership
Shammi Parekh
Outstanding Community Leadership
Ally Watson
Sports and Recreation Achievement
Ayad Putros
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Hume City, Cr. Joseph Haweil:
"Hume City is a wonderful place to live, work and learn and it owes a big thanks to all the incredible residents who reach beyond the day to day to support their fellow community members.
"By creating a revamped community awards event with the I Love Hume Community Awards we're able to recognise these amazing contributions as unique to Hume and all that makes us great.
"I congratulate all those that volunteered their time and went above and beyond to inspire community safety and pride."