The Community Citizen of the Year Awards recognise local people who go above and beyond to make the Esperance region a better place. These awards celebrate individuals who generously give their time, share their talents, and inspire others through their actions.
Whether it’s in education, health, volunteering, sport, the arts, the environment, business or social inclusion—these contributions all help strengthen our community and make Esperance a great place to live.
Each year, we shine a light on the people who make a real difference.
All of our nominees and award recipients reflect the true spirit of community. Their stories remind us how much one person’s efforts can mean—and encourage us all to get involved and make a positive impact.
2025
| COMMUNITY |
SENIOR |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Sarsby Martin |
Win Bingham (awarded) |
Esperance Fundraising Group (awarded) |
| Amy Walter |
Rod Taylor |
Esperance No Limits Netball Program |
| Phil Longmire |
Rosemary Wanless |
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| Tanya Rea |
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| Fiona McDonald |
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| David Gray |
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| Andrew Waters |
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| Lynn Kidd (awarded) |
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2024
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
SENIOR |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Angela Hill |
Hannah Lauritsen (awarded) |
George Starcevich (awarded) |
Esperance Senior Citizen Centre (awarded) |
| Anthony Wynne |
Caleb Shipp |
Glenn Churchland |
TS Kybra Navy Cadets |
| Caitlyn Edward |
Joe Franzone |
|
Les Miserables Cast & Crew |
| Brian Gallop |
Tess Adams |
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| Belinda Rose |
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| Trudy Pengilly (awarded) |
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2023
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
SENIOR |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Carmel Halls |
Dane Holdman (awarded) |
Veronica (Click) Lavars (awarded) |
Esperance Care Services (awarded) |
| Tracey Young |
Nicolie Thomas |
|
South Regional TAFE Esperance Campus |
| Sam Starcevich |
Kirkley Whiting |
|
Esperance Wildflower Society |
| Nuala Dowling |
Curtis Mayfield |
|
TOR SHED - Conrad Lowe |
| Helen Staer |
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Esperance Community Singers |
| Sue Mitchell & Cris Bradley |
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| Jamie Saunders |
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| Delcia Hubble |
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| Meredith Waters (awarded) |
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2022
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
SENIOR |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Michaela Maloney |
Imogen Stone (awarded) |
Ewin Stewart (awarded) |
Esperance Brass Band (awarded) |
| Jo Aberle |
Zeta Steel |
Jennifer Tolhurst |
RFDS Woodchoppers |
| Megan Warren |
Courtney Blampied |
Frank Antoniolli |
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| Billy Vibart |
Paige Fillmore |
Brian Warren |
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| Mel Maguire |
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Robert Dummermuth |
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| Janine Button (awarded) |
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2021
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
SENIOR |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Leisa Docherty |
Connor Davies (awarded) |
Sally Ashbil & Jan McKenzie (awarded) |
Esperance Education Support Centre (awarded) |
| Kyron Smithson |
Bianca Bambra |
|
Esperance Aged Care Facility |
| Penny Boardman |
Jordan Major |
|
Senior Citizens Centre |
| Mick Rose |
Megan Kelman |
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| Mitch Capelli |
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| Bronte Vincent |
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| Kylie Bailye (awarded) |
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2020
| COMMUNITY |
Senior |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Jaimen Hudson |
Susan Starr (awarded) |
St John Ambulance Esperance sub-Centre (awarded) |
| Noel Fleming |
Jan McKenzie |
Farmers Across Borders |
| Victoria Brown |
Desmond & Elizabeth Plecas |
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| Patricia Watts |
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| Susan Meyer |
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| Christiane Smith (awarded) |
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2019
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
SENIOR |
| Michele Stokes |
Maddilyn McGrinder |
Helen Scott (awarded) |
| Rick Capelli |
Josh Van Staden |
Helen Young |
| Michael Harding |
Stanley Halls |
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| Grantley Creasy |
Rory Close (awarded) |
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| Emily Woodland |
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| Paul Moore |
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| Roger Robertson |
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| Tim Laycock |
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| Kyron Smithson |
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| Erica Austen (awarded) |
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2018
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Victoria Brown (ineligible)
Paul Gaughan (awarded)
SENIOR - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
David Ford
Ewin Stewart (awarded)
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) Esperance
Apex Club of Esperance (awarded)
2017
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
SENIOR |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Shane Rothnie |
Suzanne Jose (awarded) |
John Crawley (awarded) |
Esperance Theatre Guild and the Cabaret Musical (awarded) |
| Neil Livingstone |
Sarah King |
Sally Ashbill |
Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) Esperance |
| Erica Austen |
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The Jetty Group |
| Carmel Halls |
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| Brenton Holthouse |
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| Michael Harding (awarded) |
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2016
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Marni Topping |
Michael Ridgeway (awarded) |
Esperance Bushfire Brigades (awarded) |
| Dennis Kelly |
|
Bay of Isles Community Outreach (BOICO) |
| Christine Graham |
|
Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) Esperance |
| Christine Smith |
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| Barry Wroth (awarded) |
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2015
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Derek Clarke
Russell Palmer (awarded)
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Follow the Dream Partnership Program Success
Cannery Arts Centre (awarded)
2014
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Graham Cooper |
Amelia Fitzgerald (awarded) |
Festival of the Wind (awarded) |
| Christine Graham |
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Esperance Care Services |
| Judy Paterson |
|
Follow the Dream Partnerships Success |
| Janet Goodwin |
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| David Thomas |
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| Phillip Jones |
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| Christopher Meyer (awarded) |
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2013
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Berness Roost
Barbara Grieves
Joseph Rose
Susan Mayfield
Terri Tholstrup
Neville Mulgat
Pam Gardner (awarded)
YOUTH - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Leon Stone (posthumous) (awarded)
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Seniors Theatre Group (awarded)
2012
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Chris Brien
Tom Parkins (awarded)
YOUTH - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Kyle Hodgkinson (awarded)
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Esperance - Goldfields Surf Lifesaving Club (awarded)
2011
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Joyce Pearce
Geraldine Bright
Dorothy Hayes
Ellen Saltmarsh (awarded)
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
CT Scanner Group (awarded)
2010
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Geoff Males
John Middleton
Margaret Wertheimer
Dr Wally Byrne (awarded)
2009
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Len Marsh
Graham Gath
Michelle Crisp
Robert & Val Pitman
Jenneane Starcevich
Ian Scott
David Green (awarded)
2008
AWARDED TO:
Community - Sally Castledine
Youth - Elaine Morcombe
Group / Event - Scaddan Pioneer Park Restoration Group
2007
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Ian Duncan
Lance Shearer
Michelle Crisp
Coral Turley
Greg Hard
Lorraine Bale
Wendy Harkness (awarded)
2006
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Condingup Volunteer Ambulance Officers Group
Vive La Recherche
Esperance Rural Leadership (awarded)
2005
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Andris Strautins
Graham Mackenzie
Roy Meagher
Pamela Kerr (awarded)
YOUTH - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Anya-Marie Polmear
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Seniors Recreation Council
2004
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Clive Cartledge
Lochie Drummond
Phil Shelton
Roger Lewis
Louise Gray
Gail Yorkshire-Selby
Janette Geagea (awarded)
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Emergency Services Fun Day 2024
Esperance and Districts Agricultural Society (awarded)
2003
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Nola Smith
Dorothy Andre
Bob Piggott
Brett Thorp
Pastor Sonny Graham (awarded)
YOUTH - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Kim Brenton
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Nulsen Primary School Skipping Team
2002
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Alva Courtis
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe production by Esperance Community Arts and Esperance Theatre Guild
2001
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Geraldine Bright
John Crawley
Andy Wills
John Coates
Ronald (Doc) Reynolds
Phil Woolett (awarded)
GROUP / EVENT - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Festival of the Wind
2000
COMMUNITY - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Bob Jones
YOUTH - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Katie-Lee Pearce
1970-1999
1999 - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Phil Woollett
Ronald (Doc) Reynolds
John (Pancho) Harding
Heather Gee (awarded)
1998 - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Joan Colliver
Allan Timmins
John Bridges
Sue Cowcher
Ron Taylor
Billie Andrews (awarded)
YOUTH - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:
Claire Penman
1997 - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Sylvia Boast
1996 - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Joan Smith
1986 - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Theo Daw
This information has been researched and provided by the Esperance Museum. If you have additional details about past Citizen of the Year nominees or award recipients, we’d love to hear from you.
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised for their contribution to our community?
Let’s say thank you to the people who make Esperance a better place for us all.