Community Awards

Whether it’s a tireless volunteer, a quiet achiever, a community leader, or someone who simply lends a helping hand when it’s needed most, we want to hear and share their story.

Awards are allocated across several categories which align with Council's Shaping the Ranges 2025-2035 Plan and Community Vision, and are presented annually during National Volunteer Week.

You can submit as many separate nominations as you like, as long as each one is completed individually through the nomination form and clearly links to a category. You can even nominate yourself, however, nominations submitted by others can help highlight the wider impact of a nominee’s contribution to the community.

Award categories

1. Citizen of the Year
2. Young Citizen of the Year (12 to 25 years of age)
3. Inclusive Communities
4. Contribution to the Environment
5. Contribution to Community Arts
6. Contribution to Sports and Wellbeing
7. Youth Leadership
8. Community Event of the Year

Who can be nominated?

Any person or community group that has made a positive contribution to life in the Macedon Ranges Shire can be nominated. This included volunteers, leaders, event organisers, artists, advocates, sports contributors, environmental champions and more.

Nominees should live, work or study in the Macedon Ranges.

Community groups must be incorporated.

When will the winners be announced?

Once the nomination period closes on 22 February, nominations are reviewed by a selection panel. Winners and nominees are then confirmed and notified ahead of the awards announcement.

Award recipients will be announced on Friday 22 May during National Volunteer Week.  

Nominees are encouraged to attend the awards ceremony, many community members love being there to support nominees and winners.

A good nomination should:

• Clearly state why the nominees deserves recognition
• Describe their contribution, impact or achievements
• Link the nominee’s work to the community benefit

You don’t need a long essay, clear, specific examples are what assessors look for, you can find a help sheet on our webpage to assist.

Why are you nominating this person or group for this award?

Reflect on what makes this nominee a local hero and the impact they have had on the Macedon Ranges Shire.

Consider:

• What inspired you to nominate them?
• What problem, need, or opportunity did they respond to?
• How have they gone above and beyond what is expected?
• What makes their contribution unique or exceptional?
• How long have they been making this contribution?

Please attach evidence of community support for your nomination

Think about how others have recognised or benefited from the nominee’s work.

You may include:

• Letters or short statements of support from community members
• Testimonials from individuals, organisations, or partners
• Photos, media articles, social media posts, or newsletters

Prompts:

• Who has been positively impacted by this work?
• How has the wider community shown appreciation or support?

List any community groups the nominee has been involved or partnered with

This section highlights collaboration and community connection.

Consider:

• Local community groups, clubs, or associations
• Schools, cultural groups, sporting clubs, or volunteer organisations
• Businesses, charities, or government agencies
• Informal networks or grassroots initiatives

Prompts:

• How did the nominee work with these groups?
• Were they a leader, organiser, volunteer, or supporter?

Please share any community outcomes and achievements the nominee has contributed to

Focus on what has changed or improved because of the nominee’s involvement.

Consider:

• Outcomes from programs delivered, facilities improved, events held
• Positive changes for individuals or groups
• Long-term or sustainable impacts
• Awards, recognition, or milestones achieved
• Growth in participation, inclusion, wellbeing, or community pride

Prompts:

• What was the situation before?
• What is different now because of their contribution?

Please explain how the nomination aligns with the Strategic Objectives listed in the Shaping the Ranges 2025-2035 plan.

You may address one or more of the objectives below.

Our Places

• How has the nominee improved local spaces, facilities, neighbourhoods, or community pride?
• Have they strengthened connections to place or local identity?

Our Environment

• Have they supported environmental sustainability, conservation, or education?
• Did their work promote care for natural spaces or responsible resource use?

Our Economy

• Did their contribution support local businesses, employment, skills, or economic resilience?
• Have they helped grow events, tourism, or community enterprise?

Our People

• How have they supported inclusion, wellbeing, safety, learning, or connection?
• Have they empowered vulnerable or underrepresented groups?

Before you start your nomination

Read the:

• Community Award Nomination Guide(DOCX, 2MB) / Community Award Nomination Guide(PDF, 729KB)
• Scoring Matrix(DOCX, 50KB) / Scoring Matrix(PDF, 105KB)

Submit your nomination

To start your nomination, select the 'Nominate Now' button below and follow the links. You will be prompted to register if you are new user. Returning users will need to login. If you can't remember your password, you can reset it via the 'Forgot your password' link. 

Nominate Now

Find out more about each of the 2025 recipients: Winners announced for the Macedon Ranges Community Awards 2025

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Absent on the night was the winner of the Contribution to the Environment Award, Vince Mulkerin, and the winner of the Contribution to Community Arts Award, Macedon Ranges Accessible Arts Inc.