Awards to celebrate Hobart’s inspirational citizens

Published on 01 October 2021

Hobart's most inspirational citizens will be celebrated through the city’s most prestigious awards program – the Hobart Community Awards.

Part of the national Australia Day Awards program, the Hobart Community Awards is an opportunity to recognise and honour individuals and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to the Hobart community during the past 12 months.

Acting Lord Mayor Helen Burnet said nominations had opened for the 2022 awards and encouraged residents to consider the people who had contributed to the ongoing resilience and recovery of the Hobart community in the wake of a challenging 2020.

“Last year was a difficult year for everyone,” she said. “But we’ve seen a demonstration of a great community spirit in helping one another to get back on their feet,” she said.

“If you know someone who has been particularly inspirational, or whose contributions to the local community have really stood out during this time, I encourage you to take the time nominate them – it’s a wonderful way for us all to say ‘thank you’.”

Hobart’s reigning 2021 Citizen of the Year is arts advocate Vicky Chapman, who was recognised for her many years of dedication and commitment to the Art Society of Tasmania.

The Young Citizen of the Year award went to Sheng-Yuan Lynch, who raised $110,000 for the Red Cross Australia Disaster Relief bushfire appeal through a charity piano concert.

With events being in short supply in 2020, the Community Event of the Year award was expanded to include community initiatives, a change that is continuing into the 2022 awards.

The 2021 award was given to the Show Hope initiative by Wellspring Anglican Church, which provided food relief to some of those most impacted by COVID-19 challenges.

“We’re really excited to see more of the initiatives and events that have brought the Hobart community together throughout the challenges of the last couple of years.” Cr Burnet said.

For more information and to submit a nomination for the City of Hobart Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, or Community Event or Initiative of the Year, visit hobartcity.com.au/HobartCommunityAwards. Nominations close on 27 October.