News Alert |

Forest Rangers Soccer Club stalwart Marilyn Tyndall has been announced as the City of Ballarat’s 2019 Citizen of the Year. 

An inspirational role model, Marilyn has dedicated 35 years to the club both in an official capacity, as President, Secretary and Treasurer, and in an unofficial capacity – described as “the unofficial heart” of the club. 

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh announced the Ballarat 2019 Australia Day Awards winners at a special ceremony at Town Hall today. 

This year’s Australia Day Award winners are: 

Ballarat Citizen of the Year 2019 – Marilyn Tyndall 

Marilyn began supporting the club when her four boys first began playing soccer and she now supports her grandchildren at the club. Marilyn has made many contributions to the club, including tirelessly working to raise much-needed funds for the club with her band of volunteers. Marilyn’s fundraising has helped the club fund a paid Manager to lead its on-field results. Marilyn also introduced a post-training dinner for the juniors to help build friendships and team spirit. Now running for 12 years, this dinner also provides families with an easy entry into the social and volunteer elements of the club. 

Ballarat Young Citizen of the Year 2019 - Jake Sbardella 

At the age of 13, Jake has raised and donated $6,800 to charities that support Ballarat’s homeless. Jake developed and sold his ‘Happiness Advent Calendars’ to raise the funds and now has four calendars for sale. Jake speaks at local schools about his calendars in the hope of inspiring other students to help raise money for Ballarat’s most vulnerable. Jake also volunteers at the Ballarat Soup Bus. 

Ballarat Community Event of the Year 2019 - Ballarat parkrun 

Ballarat parkrun encourages people to walk, jog, run or volunteer each Saturday morning at a 5km circuit at Victoria Park. The circuit suits people of all ages and abilities, providing a motivation for many people to engage in physical activity. While attendance figures vary, this weekly event attracts an average of 180 participants and 15 volunteers. 

The Australia Day Awards recognise and celebrate individuals and organisations which give up their time to make our community a more vibrant place to live in. 

The City of Ballarat received 28 nominations for this year’s Australia Day Awards. Today’s ceremony also featured Ballarat 2019 Australia Day Ambassador Tony Murphy. 

Nominees for Citizen of the Year 2019 included Ballarat East Cricket Club coach and mentor John Davies, Me and My Dad Playgroup coordinator Leigh Whitten, community volunteer Katie Wright, international jousting champion Phillip Leitch, Committee for Miners Rest President Alicia Bond, disability and hospice care advocate Geoff Russell, volunteer, basketball and cricket coach Rod Lewis and little athletics leader Shane Bicknell. 

Nominees for Young Citizen of the Year included family violence advocate Lachlan Warwick, Interchange Program volunteer Teghan Henderson, Eureka and Golden City Hockey Club player and under 14s coach Charlotte Matthews, CanTeen Victoria and Rotary Club of Ballarat South advocate Sarah-Jane Sloane, mature IT student and vision impairment advocate Gabriel Gervasoni, Relay for Life fundraiser Brody Filcock, Aboriginal sports role model Cooper Craig-Peters, young people with an out-of-home care experience advocate Jemma Wilson, basketball player and role model Charlie Molan, acclaimed artist Tahlia Stanton and youth music festival ‘WinterWick’ organiser Jade Moran. 

Nominees for Community Event of the Year included the King of Ballarat downhill mountain bike race, the Centenary of Women’s Football in Victoria, the Floral Tram Project, It’s in the Bag, and community engagement by the Brown Hill Progress Association. 

Quotes attributable to City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh: 

“Congratulations to the award recipients and the nominees for this year’s Ballarat 2019 Australia Day Awards. 

“The Australia Day Awards honour the many inspirational Ballarat people who often work unnoticed to help others in our community. 

“These are our unsung heroes and we honour them on Australia Day. They make Ballarat a great place to live.”