Time to nominate for the Citizen of the Year Awards

The City of Parramatta is calling on the community to acknowledge and honour the exceptional contributions of local individuals or groups, with nominations open for the City’s Citizen of the Year awards.

The awards recognise achievements in education, sport, environmental care, community engagement, business, welfare, arts and culture, leadership, civic responsibility, volunteering, offering acts of kindness, or a noteworthy contribution to the Parramatta community.

Nominations are now being accepted for four categories including the prestigious Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Group award. The Young Citizen of the Year award is announced in honour of the late David Shakespeare, a renowned local historian and educator who made significant contributions to the Parramatta community.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Pierre Esber said it’s important to celebrate the standout achievements of the community.

“So many people in our community are hard-working, innovative and generous,” Cr Esber said.

“This is a great chance to recognise their selfless work.

“As someone who lives and breathes Parramatta, I know our community has many unsung heroes, such as this year’s recipient Julia ‘Julz’ Strykowski, who was recognised for her work to improve our local environment.”

2023 Citizen of the Year recipient Julia ‘Julz’ Strykowski said receiving the award was an honour.

"It has been a great year as Citizen of the Year, meeting more community, making connections, and being amazed at other volunteer work being done across our LGA,” Ms Strykowski said.

“As Parramatta's Citizen of the Year I've had the opportunity to magnify the reach of our volunteers in caring for the natural environment, our creeks and our bushland.

“I feel that receiving this award for environmental education and volunteer work heralds a new dawn of increased environmental awareness and care for our blue-green places both by Council and its citizens.”

To nominate for the awards go to cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/citizen-of-the-year-awards

Nominations close 5pm, Wednesday 15 November, 2023.