Gunnedah Shire residents can now nominate outstanding individuals or groups for the 2026 Australia Day Awards.
The annual awards recognise and honour the achievements and contributions of individuals and groups in the past 12 months across the Gunnedah Shire.
Award categories:
- Citizen of the Year (21 and over)
- Young Citizen of the Year (20 and under)
- Ossie & Beryl Campbell Memorial Volunteer of the Year
- Community and Cultural Achievement
- Max & Mikie Maas Good Neighbour Award
- Sports Person or Sports Team of the Year
- Ivan Towns Memorial Award - Coach of the Year
Council's Australia Day Working Group Chair Cr Rob Hooke said nominating a deserving individual or group was the ideal way to acknowledge the invaluable work of community members.
"It's vital that we celebrate the achievers and volunteers in our Shire. They give their time and their talents, and their heart is at the centre of it all," he said.
"Volunteers enrich our community, and we want to honour their significant contributions through the Australia Day Awards.
"If you know someone, or a group of people, who deserve to be recognised, I urge you to nominate them today."
Nominations close at 4pm on Monday, 8 December, 2025. Paper nomination forms are available from 63 Elgin Street office, The Civic, Gunnedah Visitor Information Centre, Gunnedah Shire Library and Gunnedah Memorial Pool Complex. The online fillable form can be found here: www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/business/economic-development/australia-day
Award recipients will be announced and presented at a ceremony on Thursday, 22 January, 2026.
Caption: The Multicultural Women's Association received the Cultural Achievement Award in the 2025 Australia Day Awards. Image: Gunnedah Times
