The Citizen of the Year Awards are City of Darwin’s highest accolade and recognise the significant contribution made by individuals and groups to the cultural and social fabric of the Darwin community. 

The awards celebrate everyday community heroes who go above and beyond to support others, and the events that help us build a stronger and more connected community.

Each year we ask the community to nominate an Australia citizen who has made a significant contribution to the community either in the last year or on an ongoing basis within a local government area including education, health, fundraising, volunteering, business, sports, arts, culture and environment.

Nominees can be quiet achievers or have received previous recognition for their service to the community.

Know someone who is passionate about the Darwin community? This is the time to recognise those special people who put their heart and soul into supporting and improving our community. 

The Citizen of the Year Awards celebrate and recognise individuals and groups:

• who have made a noteworthy contribution during the current year,
• and/or have provided an outstanding service over a number of years, to a local community to improve the lives of others,
• who are role models, quiet achievers or leaders in our community.

The outstanding contribution could be in areas such as education, health, fundraising, charitable and voluntary services, business, sport, the arts, the environment and any other area that contributes to the well-being of a community.

Categories

Citizen of the Year Award: Donna Roushman

Donna has been recognised for her impactful work in the field of inclusive swimming after she formed the Starfish Swim Group in 2005, providing specialised swimming instruction for children with special needs.

The Starfish Swim Group was created to offer families with children who have disabilities access to a free, comprehensive water skills program, helping children learn to swim and stay safe in the water.

Donna's dedication has been pivotal in creating and sustaining a supportive, inclusive environment where children with disabilities can thrive, gain valuable skills and enjoy the benefits of swimming. 

Donna’s commitment has been recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), celebrating her exceptional service and lasting impact on the community.

Young Citizen of the Year Award: Peter Susanto

Peter has been recognised for being an outstanding young man and dedicated member of the community. 

After showing exceptional academic abilities in the early years of primary school, Peter accelerated through the grades to eventually achieve top academic results at school and in competitions at regional, national and international levels, as well as enrolling in a Bachelor of Medicine at a very young age.

Peter’s academic achievements have raised the NT’s profile in academics and Peter has been invited to speak at a number of Darwin schools to share his story.

Peter contributes to the community by inspiring young people to do their best in whatever they do, through sharing his achievements, struggles and strategies to deal with difficult challenges. 

Peter established Peter’s Little Library, a free mini library where everyone can borrow, swap or donate books, and is a member of the Northern Territory Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented.

Peter was the 2024 NT Youth Week Ambassador and has volunteered for the Australian Dental Association where he advocated for all NT residents aged 18 years and less to have access to free oral health services irrespective of their situation or school enrolment. 

Community Activity of the Year Award: Darwin Lions Beers Can Regatta

The Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta is a unique event held annually in Darwin that celebrates creativity, fun and community spirit. 

The Regatta has made several important contributions to the community over the past 50 years, raising significant funds for local charities, including assisting the Men’s Shed Palmerston in purchasing a new shed and contributing to St John Ambulances purchasing two new ambulances.

The Regatta has also supported the Cancer Council NT and raised awareness about recycling and waste management, promoting creative re-use of materials and highlighting the importance of sustainability.

Previous Winners

2024 Award Winners

Community Activity of the Year - The Vietnamese Lantern Festival

The Vietnamese Lantern Festival was recognised for providing a unique opportunity for locals and visitors to explore and experience Vietnamese culture.

The event featured rich and diverse activities that celebrated Vietnamese origin, tradition and cuisine.

It was a unifying platform for Darwin's Vietnamese population and was a bridge for cultural exchange and an educational tool for children to learn about their cultural roots and heritage.

Young Citizen of the Year - Jules Gabor       

Jules has been acknowledged for being a young leader who advocates for youth, mental health and equal opportunity.

At only 18 years of age, Jules is heavily involved with the community holding a number of roles in the NT Youth Voice Peak Group, NT Youth Round Table, City of Darwin Youth Advisory Committee, No One Left Behind and is an NT Ambassador for UNICEF Australia.

She uses this platform to advocate for others and amplify the diverse voices in her community.

Citizen of the Year - John Tate

Awarded for his enormous dedication to the Nightcliff Cricket Club and its extended community, over the years John has been a driving force behind making the club what it is today.

From fundraising and securing sponsorships for the club, to coaching, umpiring and everything in between. He began as a player but has since held roles as President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

He is a standout volunteer, has contributed so much to the facilities and culture and is greatly appreciated by his community.

2023 Award Winners

Community Activity of the Year - Nepal Festival NT 

This year’s City of Darwin Community Event of the Year winner is Nepal Festival Darwin 2022.

Themed “One Country, Many Stories”, the festival promoted Nepal’s unique heritage through a celebration of the Himalayan nation’s diverse ethnicity, art, culture, food, folklore and folktales. 

Organisers, the Non-Resident Nepali Association of the Northern Territory had more than 300 volunteers on hand in June last year to make the day-long festival at the Darwin Waterfront a reality. Most of these volunteers had given at two least hours a day of their time for two months in preparation for the festival.

An estimated 10,000 visitors attended the event, spending time learning about Nepal and providing a business spin-off for venues at the Waterfront. 
The festival’s most popular attraction was the Nepal House display, which showcased the country’s unique cultures and traditions through the daily lives of Nepali people. The festival wrapped-up that evening with a high-energy performance from the Nepali Rock Band, who flew from to Darwin from Nepal to perform at the festival. 

Young Citizen of the Year - Erika Mae Lu

City of Darwin’s 2023 Young Citizen of the Year is Erika Mae Lu. Erika arrived in Darwin as an international high school student from the Philippines but has stayed in her adopted home, becoming an Australian citizen in 2019.

Since embracing her new home, Erika has committed herself to making a positive contribution by helping young people here in Darwin. She does this professionally through her job as a business analyst with the Department of Industry, Business and Trade. But Erika also volunteers for organisations including Starlight Children’s Foundation, Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP), Charles Darwin University’s Career Centre, the Filipino-Australian Association NT, and Young Professionals Roteract NT, of which she is a founding member and an executive director.

This role sees her focus on helping young professionals and graduates step up as leaders in their communities and chosen fields. Erika has also been involved in fund-raising included for Starlight Children’s Foundation’s 2022 Starlight Ball, which generated more than $400,000 to help brighten the lives of sick kids and their families. 

Citizen of the Year - Kaye Talbot 

This year’s winner of City of Darwin’s Citizen of the Year award has been volunteering to help enrich the lives of people with disability for more than 15 years.

Kaye Talbot has been an active member of Darwin and NT Tenpin Bowling since arriving here in 1991. In 2007 Kaye began coaching bowlers with disability. Coaching people with disability effectively became a vocation for Kaye, who continues her role as a specialist coach today. It’s a calling which has earned her well-deserved plaudits within the tenpin bowling community and among parents and carers of people with disability.

Before the closure of the accredited bowling alley, Planet Tenpin at Nightcliff, the weekly disability league regularly attracted 40 participants to what was a safe and comfortable environment which built community participation for bowlers ranging in ages from 12 to 65. Kaye and the association’s disability officer subsequently worked with KingPin Darwin to arrange a fortnightly social bowl. 

In addition to her work with people with disability, Kaye has also successfully coached Darwin’s competitive bowlers enhancing their chances at national championships. Her one-on-one coaching has helped them develop skills, technique, and bowling etiquette. Fittingly, in 2021, Kaye was rewarded with induction into NT Bowling Hall of Fame. 

2021 Award Winners

Community Activity of the Year - The Kindness Shake

The Kindness Shake is a community-led initiative, set up in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, which supports and focuses especially on international students and temporary visa holders experiencing financial hardship.

Many international students worked in the Darwin hospitality sectors and unfortunately lost their jobs early on during the pandemic response and were unable to access any government assistance.  The Kindness Shake moved quickly to provide free meals to those affected by COVID, create a sense of connection and support for many students and community members who were feeling the weight of isolation far from home.

Since its launch in April 2020, this partnership between international student volunteers, education providers, local businesses, multi-cultural groups and government has served over 4,000 meals, assisted 500 individuals, partnered with more than 30 organisations and local businesses, recruited 50 volunteers and raised over $40,000.

Young Citizen of the Year - Anais Henry-Martin       

Anais is a very active member of the Darwin community involved and performing with Corrugated Iron Youth Arts High Fliers, NT Music School Con Moto and Rock School, as well as Darwin Middle School BEAT Choir.

Joining the Youth Advisory Committee, in March 2020, Anais recently worked tirelessly for the 2020 Quiz4Dilli, sourcing prizes to the value of well over $800 for the event.

Anais spends her spare time volunteering with St Johns Ambulance and the NT Darwin Cadet division.

Anais was also named as a recipient for the 2020 Citizen award for Darwin Middle School.

Citizen of the Year - Sharm Bali

As a highly regarded community member his work within the disability sector over decades in Darwin is well known, helping and assisting anyone in need. 

He is regarded as one of the most generous Darwinians around.

Sharm has been running a community service business Territory Care and Support Services (TCASS) since December 2000, a service that supports many people living in Darwin.

TCASS employees 50 part and fulltime employees. The primary objective is to provide wheelchair assistance for people to manage their daily appointments

Sharms’s volunteer work for more than 30 years has enabled him to be in a position to give back to the community creating many job opportunities for the people of Darwin.

2020 Award Winners

Community Event of the Year - Darwin Deadly Runners

Darwin Deadly Runners was founded by a group of volunteers with the aim of encouraging the Darwin community to live more active and healthy lifestyles. Its founders have created an environment that is inclusive, supportive and free; where individuals, regardless of their age, gender, race, nationality or fitness level, have the opportunity and feel comfortable to participate. The ultimate goal is for individuals to run 5km, achieved by encouraging running at least 3 times a week.

The Darwin Deadly Runners has grown to become a large support network and a life-line to many people suffering from mental health issues. The group continues to grow and members are encouraged to volunteer their time back to the committee.

Young Citizen of the Year - Emily Ford

Emily grew up in Darwin and is a Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu woman from Kurrindju (140 kilometres south of Darwin). Emily’s active participation in the Darwin Community is demonstrated through many awards she has won including the Marion McCall OAM Scholarship and NT Leadership Award for the National Indigenous Youth Parliament in 2017.  Emily has a Certificate IV in Business Governance and is currently studying law at Charles Darwin University.

Emily’s commitment to the Darwin community is highlighted through her countless volunteering activities, including investigating Aboriginal cosmology in the remote community of Gawa, as an active member on City of Darwin’s Youth Advisory Committee and teaching children to fly drones. Over the past 12 months Emily has also been writing for a local community paper for the UN's Year of Indigenous Language.

Citizen of the Year - Elvira Tolentino

Elvira is an active member of the Darwin and Filipino communities. She is committed to creating a sense of belonging for newcomers from the Philippines, using sport as a way to engage the community. Her focus on this area stems from her own experience arriving in Darwin.

Elvira has participated in, coordinated and managed, organised and created many events for the Filipino and wider Darwin community. This includes hosting the Australian Filipino Sports Festival, coordinating basketball coaching clinics for young members of the Filipino community, organising and managing fundraising Concerts with International Filipino performers and coordinating the hosting of the Philippine Sporting team during the Arafura Games.

FAQs

What are the Citizen of the Year Awards?

The Citizen of the Year Awards are City of Darwin’s highest accolade and recognise the significant contribution made by individuals and groups to the cultural and social fabric of the Darwin community. 

The awards celebrate everyday community heroes who go above and beyond to support others, and the events that help us build a stronger and more connected community.

Each year nominees are selected across three categories:

• Citizen of the Year
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Community Event of the Year

Why should I nominate someone?

In every corner of our community there are people who give their time and skills beyond what is expected of them in the service of others.

Often their contributions aren’t glamorous or newsworthy, but they are extraordinarily valuable to the cultural and social fabric of our community and make Darwin a great place to live.

City of Darwin believes that this contribution, no matter how understated or recognised, should be acknowledged and celebrated by the Darwin community as a whole.

The awards are a great way to acknowledge the hard work of individuals and groups and say thank you for all that they give to our community and way of life. 

We encourage everyone to take the time to nominate someone who makes our community a better place and let their contribution and service become an inspiration for all.

Who can receive a Citizen of the Year Award from City of Darwin?

All Australian citizens living in Darwin can be nominated for a Citizen of the Year award across three categories. Each category has a separate judging criteria that determines the each year’s winner.

All nominees will have made a significant contribution to the community either in the last year or on an ongoing basis within a local government area including education, health, fundraising, volunteering, business, sports, arts, culture and environment.

Nominees can be quiet achievers or have received previous recognition for their service to the community.

Awards are awarded across the following categories:

Citizen of the Year

The Citizen of the Year is a person who has made a significant contribution to the community by going above and beyond normal duties and expectations for the benefit of others.

This person could be a role model, a leader, an inspiration or all of the above to the community and has demonstrated active citizenship and an outstanding level of service that has enhanced community life.

Young Citizen of the Year

The Young Citizen of the Year is awarded to a young person between the ages of 16 and 29 at the time of the award ceremony who has made a significant contribution to enhancing their community.

This person will have gone over and above what is expected of them within their organisation, school or team and contributes to the lives of others through active citizenship.

Nominees may already be role models and leaders within their community.

Community Event of the Year

The Community Event of the Year is awarded to an individual or group who stages the most outstanding event for the community.

This event should be high quality in everything from planning to execution, but most importantly should bring people together to strengthen community connections and enhance Darwin life.

How do the nominations work?

Anyone can complete a nomination for an individual or group to receive an award as part of the Citizen of the Year Awards.

The nomination form is online and open until 1 November 2024.

As part of the nomination process you will need to explain in writing how the nominee has contributed to the community, how they have demonstrated active citizenship and how they have enhanced community life. You will need to provide a referee who can be contracted to verify and contribute to the details within the application.

Applications are judged against their respective category criteria and a list of nominees is created by City of Darwin. You only need to be nominated once to be considered for the award, multiple submissions do not increase a nominee’s chance of winning.

When are the nominees and winners announced?

Nominees will be announced in early December 2024 and all are invited to attend City of Darwin’s annual Australia Day Ceremony in January 2025 where the winner will be announced.

City of Darwin will acknowledge and celebrate the inspirational stories of community, contribution and citizenship shown by all nominees and overall winners with the Darwin community.

What do the winners get?

The Citizen of the Year Awards are City of Darwin’s highest accolade and those who receive them are highly regarded as leaders, role models and inspirations within our community.

All recipients receive a framed award acknowledging their contributions to the community, a platform to further represent their organisation or cause and a prize pack.