Community Citizen of the Year Awards Honour Roll
Citizen of the Year Awards celebrate the people of the Esperance region who go above and beyond to make our community stronger, kinder and more connected. These awards recognise locals who generously give their time, share their skills and talents, and inspire others through their actions.
From volunteering and community support to education, health, sport, the arts, the environment, business and social inclusion, every contribution helps make Esperance a better place to live.
Each year, we shine a light on individuals whose efforts make a real difference. Recent recipients include Zen Frost (2026), recognised for providing food support across the community and long-term sponsorship of local groups, and Connor Davies (2021 Youth Award), acknowledged for his proactive work in environmental and sustainability initiatives.
Every nominee and award recipient reflects the true spirit of Esperance - and their stories remind us that one person can have a powerful impact.
2026
| COMMUNITY |
SENIOR |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Peter Harkness |
Marilyn Hart |
Salmon Gums 100 Year Anniversary |
| Lenore Wood |
Neil Livingstone (awarded) |
Nulsen Readers |
| Fiona Ryan |
|
Esperance Mother's Day Classic (awarded) |
| Ingrid Riollot |
|
|
| Jake Meadley |
|
|
| Amy-Lee Walter |
|
|
| Zen Frost (awarded) |
|
|
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 |
|
| Tanya Rea |
|
|
| Fiona McDonald |
|
|
| David Gray |
|
|
| Andrew Waters |
|
|
| Lynn Kidd (awarded) |
|
|
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 |
|
|
| Belinda Rose |
|
|
|
| Trudy Pengilly (awarded) |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
Esperance Community Singers |
| Sue Mitchell & Cris Bradley |
|
|
|
| Jamie Saunders |
|
|
|
| Delcia Hubble |
|
|
|
| Meredith Waters (awarded) |
|
|
|
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 |
|
| Billy Vibart |
Paige Fillmore |
Brian Warren |
|
| Mel Maguire |
|
Robert Dummermuth |
|
| Janine Button (awarded) |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
| Mitch Capelli |
|
|
|
| Bronte Vincent |
|
|
|
| Kylie Bailye (awarded) |
|
|
|
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 |
|
| Patricia Watts |
|
|
| Susan Meyer |
|
|
| Christiane Smith (awarded) |
|
|
2010 - 2019
2019
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
SENIOR |
| Michele Stokes |
Maddilyn McGrinder |
Helen Scott (awarded) |
| Rick Capelli |
Josh Van Staden |
Helen Young |
| Michael Harding |
Stanley Halls |
|
| Grantley Creasy |
Rory Close (awarded) |
|
| Emily Woodland |
|
|
| Paul Moore |
|
|
| Roger Robertson |
|
|
| Tim Laycock |
|
|
| Kyron Smithson |
|
|
| Erica Austen (awarded) |
|
|
2018
| COMMUNITY |
SENIOR |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Victoria Brown (ineligible) |
David Ford |
Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) Esperance |
| Paul Gaughan (awarded) |
Ewin Stewart (awarded) |
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 |
|
|
The Jetty Group |
| Carmel Halls |
|
|
|
| Brenton Holthouse |
|
|
|
|
Michael Harding (awarded)
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
| Barry Wroth (awarded) |
|
|
2015
| COMMUNITY |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Derek Clarke |
Follow the Dream Partnership Program Success |
| Russell Palmer (awarded) |
Cannery Arts Centre (awarded) |
2014
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Graham Cooper |
Amelia Fitzgerald (awarded) |
Festival of the Wind (awarded) |
| Christine Graham |
|
Esperance Care Services |
| Judy Paterson |
|
Follow the Dream Partnerships Success |
| Janet Goodwin |
|
|
| David Thomas |
|
|
| Phillip Jones |
|
|
| Christopher Meyer (awarded) |
|
|
2013
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Berness Roost |
Leon Stone (posthumous) (awarded) |
Seniors Theatre Group (awarded) |
| Barbara Grieves |
|
|
| Joseph Rose |
|
|
| Susan Mayfield |
|
|
| Terri Tholstrup |
|
|
| Neville Mulgat |
|
|
| Pam Gardner (awarded) |
|
|
2012
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
GROUP / EVENT
|
| Chris Brien |
Kyle Hodgkinson (awarded) |
Esperance - Goldfields Surf Lifesaving Club (awarded) |
| Tom Parkins (awarded) |
|
|
2011
| COMMUNITY |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Joyce Pearce |
CT Scanner Group (awarded) |
| Geraldine Bright |
|
| Dorothy Hayes |
|
| Ellen Saltmarsh (awarded) |
|
2010
| COMMUNITY |
| Geoff Males |
| John Middleton |
| Margaret Wertheimer |
| Dr Wally Byrne (awarded) |
2000 - 2009
2009
| COMMUNITY |
| Len Marsh |
| Graham Gath |
| Michelle Crisp |
| Robert & Val Pitman |
| Jenneane Starcevich |
| Ian Scott |
| David Green (awarded) |
2008
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
GROUP / EVENT
|
| Sally Castledine (awarded) |
Elaine Morcombe (awarded) |
Scaddan Pioneer Park Restoration Group (awarded) |
2007
| COMMUNITY |
| Ian Duncan |
| Lance Shearer |
| Michelle Crisp |
| Coral Turley |
| Greg Hard |
| Lorraine Bale |
| Wendy Harkness (awarded) |
2006 -
| GROUP / EVENT |
| Condingup Volunteer Ambulance Officers Group |
| Vive La Recherche |
| Esperance Rural Leadership (awarded) |
2005
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Andris Strautins |
Anya-Marie Polmear (awarded) |
Seniors Recreation Council (awarded) |
| Graham Mackenzie |
|
|
| Roy Meagher |
|
|
| Pamela Kerr (awarded) |
|
|
2004
| COMMUNITY |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Clive Cartledge |
Emergency Services Fun Day 2024 |
| Lochie Drummond |
Esperance and Districts Agricultural Society (awarded) |
| Phil Shelton |
|
| Roger Lewis |
|
| Louise Gray |
|
| Gail Yorkshire-Selby |
|
| Janette Geagea (awarded) |
|
2003
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Nola Smith |
Kim Brenton (awarded) |
Nulsen Primary School Skipping Team (awarded) |
| Dorothy Andre |
|
|
| Bob Piggott |
|
|
| Brett Thorp |
|
|
| Pastor Sonny Graham (awarded) |
|
|
2002
| COMMUNITY |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Alva Courtis (awarded) |
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe production by Esperance Community Arts and Esperance Theatre Guild (awarded) |
2001
| COMMUNITY |
GROUP / EVENT |
| Geraldine Bright |
Festival of the Wind |
| John Crawley |
|
| Andy Wills |
|
| John Coates |
|
| Ronald (Doc) Reynolds |
|
| Phil Woolett (awarded) |
|
2000
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
| Bob Jones |
Katie-Lee Pearce |
1970 - 1999
1999
| COMMUNITY |
| Phil Woollett |
| Ronald (Doc) Reynolds |
| John (Pancho) Harding |
| Heather Gee (awarded) |
1998
| COMMUNITY |
YOUTH |
|
Joan Colliver
|
Claire Penman |
| Allan Timmins |
|
| John Bridges |
|
| Sue Cowcher |
|
| Ron Taylor |
|
| Billie Andrews (awarded) |
|
1997 - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Sylvia Boast
1996 - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Joan Smith
1986 - CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Theo Daw
Help Us Fill the Gaps
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.
Please email shire@esperance.wa.gov.au to help us preserve and celebrate these important community stories.
Nominate a Local Hero
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised for their contribution to our community?
Nominations for the Community Citizen of the Year Awards are now open.
Submit your nomination online via the Nomination Form Link or pick up a printed form at the Shire Administration Office.
Let’s say thank you to the people who make Esperance a better place for us all.