Community awards

Council’s annual Community Awards recognise local citizens and groups who have made significant contributions to our community.

Anyone can nominate a citizen, young citizen, or community group for an award. 

At Hepburn Shire Council's 2024 Community Awards Ceremony, Councillors announced a new award category that debuted in 2025—the Hepburn Together Award, designed to capture and recognise group activities across the Shire.

Previous winners

2025

Citizen of the Year – Steven Ellis

Community Event of the Year – 160th Anniversary Clunes Show

Hepburn Together – Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club

2024

Joint Citizens of the Year – Pat Tacey and Neville Cartledge

Young Citizen of the Year – Alice Newitt

Community Event of the Year – ChillOut Festival

A Special Commendation was presented to the band Elysium

2023

Citizen of the Year – John Drife

Young Citizen of the Year – Atticus Punt-Trethewey

Community Event of the Year – The Great Dividing Trail Association Reconciliation Walks

2022

Citizen of the Year – Danny Moynihan

Young Citizen of the Year – Katie Topp

Community Event of the Year – Feast on Fraser Street – Christmas in Clunes, organised by Clunes Neighbourhood House

Life membership award for services to Town Crying and the Community, presented on behalf of the Australasian Guild of Town Criers – Philip Greenbank

2021

Citizen of the Year – Philip Greenbank

Young Citizen of the Year – Matilda Hill

Community Event of the Year – Daylesford and District Horticultural Society Webinar Series

2020

Citizen of the Year – David Hall

Young Citizen of the Year – Lachlan Wrigley

Community Event of the Year – Clunes Ceramic Awards

2019

Citizen of the Year – Lawrence Porter

Young Citizen of the Year – Ethan Brown

Community Event of the Year – Centenary of the Shire of Creswick Avenue of Honour at Kingston

2018

Citizen of the Year – Peter Hanrahan

Young Citizen of the Year – Georgia Drewer

Community Event of the Year – The Daylesford Art Show and ARTober

2017

Citizen of the Year – Valerie Lawrence

Young Citizen of the Year – Jacob Clarke-Demaj

Community Event of the Year – Mollongghip Poetry Slam

2016

Citizen of the Year – Michael Cheshire

Young Citizen of the Year – Oscar Broad

Community Event of the Year – Creswick 1915

2015

Citizen of the Year – Graeme Johnstone

Young Citizen of the Year – Molly Bedwell

Community Event of the Year – Love your Sister Homecoming

2014

Citizen of the Year – Bob Kennedy

Young Citizen of the Year – Dillon Godfrey

Community Event of the Year awarded jointly to – 175th Anniversary Celebration of Settlement of Smeaton and Great Day in the Gardens – Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens (150th Anniversary Celebrations)

2013

Citizen of the Year – John Walter

Young Citizen of the Year – Amy Harrison

Community Event of the Year – Children’s Booktown 2012

2012

Citizen of the Year – Jane Lesock

Young Citizen of the Year – Matthew Stephens

Community Event of the Year – Creswick/Clunes Thanks to the Community

2011

Citizen of the Year – Iris Jones

Community Event of the Year – Lyonville Inaugural Fireman’s Ball

2010

Citizen of the Year – Mac Fawcett

Young Citizen of the Year – Joshua Gilligan

Community Event of the Year – Banquet@Bailey hosted by the Clunes Tourist and Development Association

2009

Citizen of the Year – Johanna Van Oostveen

Community Event of the Year – Creswick Hospital Auxiliary’s “It’s a Shoe Thing” exhibition.