A list of local excellence for 2025 Australia Day Awards
Published on 18 December 2024
The nominees for the 2025 Cowra Australia Day Awards have been announced, and Cowra Mayor, Cr Paul Smith believes the judging panel have a hard job ahead of them to decide the winners.
‘We always have an impressive collection of individuals and groups nominated and the 2025 candidates are no different. With a diverse range of backgrounds, focus and duties, the judging panel have an unenviable task selecting one winner in each category. I would like to congratulate each of those nominated and thank those who have recognised their contributions,” Cr Smith said.
The judging panel for the awards – made up of representatives from Cowra Youth Council, Cowra Lions Club, Cowra CWA Evening Branch, Cowra Rotary, Cowra Sport and Recreation Committee, and Cowra Australia Day Committee representatives – will assess the nominations before they are presented at Cowra’s Australia Day celebrations on Sunday 26 January 2025.
The nominees for the 2025 Cowra Australia Day Awards are as follows. Full biographies can be found here: Nominee Biographies - 2025 Cowra Australia Day Awards(PDF, 97KB)
Young Citizen of the Year
- Elliott Bennett
- Callie Bridges
- Ella Meuwisse
Cowra Citizen of the Year
- Marc Grant
- Ray Heilman
- Carolynn Hodder
- Lusi Austin
- Esther Cutmore
- Ray Johnston
- Lesley Burns
Community Group of the Year
- Lachlan Valley Railway Society
- Cowra and District Aero Club
Dr Warren Whiley Memorial Award for Arts and Culture
Ends
Image: 2024 Cowra Citizen of the Year, Samuel Haeata. The 2025 Cowra Australia Day Awards will be presented at the Cowra Civic Centre on Sunday 26 January 2025.