Community Service Awards

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Council's annual awards event celebrates the many individuals, community groups and organisations that make outstanding contributions to the community every year. We present up to two Citizen of the Year awards and a Community Group of the Year award in an annual event that coincides with National Volunteers Week.

Anyone who lives, works or volunteers in the Borough of Queenscliffe can be nominated by any member of the community. For group awards, self-nominations are welcome. Our reference group panel then judge the nominations against set criteria and makes a recommendation to Council on who should be awarded each title. 

Nominations for Citizen of the Year and Community Group of the year open Thursday, 1 January 2026. 

Guidelines

Each year, the Borough of Queenscliffe presents awards to a local citizen and group that have made outstanding contributions to the community. These awards are an opportunity to honour an individual or group who have made a significant contribution to the Borough of Queenscliffe community.

Council’s Community Service Awards Reference Group will review nominations against set criteria and make a recommendation on recipients to Council. Final decisions will be formally and confidentially endorsed by Council at an Ordinary Council Meeting.

Awards will be presented to the person, group and/or organisation that have made the most outstanding achievements and/or the most outstanding contribution to the local community during the year or over several years. No awards will be made if it is considered that nominations are not of a sufficiently high standard.

The awards will be presented during the National Volunteer Week Celebrations in May 2026.

Step 1.Conditions of entry

  • Nominations must be submitted on Council's official nomination form
  • Nominations must be received by 5pm on Monday, 23 February 2026
  • In the event that no nominations are received in any of the categories, Council reserves the right to recommend an award to a group or citizen of their choice
  • No awards will be made if it is considered that nominations are not of a sufficiently high standard
  • The decision of Council is final, and no correspondence will be entered into in regard to that decision.

 

Step 2.Eligibility criteria

Citizen of the Year Award                      

A person of any age and has made an outstanding contribution during the current year and/or given outstanding service to the community of the Borough of Queenscliffe over a number of years.

Community Group of the Year Award

A group or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the Borough of Queenscliffe community during the past year.

Criteria for assessing the awards include:

  • Community contribution and impact in Borough of Queenscliffe
  • Degree of difficulty and sacrifices made
  • Past achievements and ongoing contributions
  • Resident of, or strong connection with the Borough of Queenscliffe community
  • Majority of contributions completed on a voluntary basis.

Current award holders

  • Citizen of the Year: Bruce Golightly
  • Community Group of the Year: Queenscliffe Climate Action Now (QCAN)

A full report on the achievements of the current finalists can be found in this news article detailing 2025's awards ceremony.

Further information

For more information on the Community Service Awards, please contact our friendly staff:

(03) 5258 1377
info@queenscliffe.vic.gov.au

Critical Dates

Nominations Open:
Thursday, 1 January 2026
Nominations Close:
Monday, 23 February 2026
Awards Presented:
May 2026

 

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