Wagga Wagga’s Community Champions Recognised
Published: 24 Jan 2025 4:28pm
Wagga Wagga's community champions were celebrated and recognised at the 2025 Australia Day Awards Ceremony held at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre on Saturday 25 January.
A total of 13 nominations were received across five award categories: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Environmental Citizen of the Year, the Ted Ryder Sports Memorial Award, and Walk of Honour.
These submissions were carefully evaluated and assessed by the members of the 2025 Australia Day Community Committee with the finalists in each category announced during the ceremony, detailing their outstanding contribution to our community.
Gregory ‘Johno’ Johnson was named 2025 Wagga Wagga Citizen of the Year
Greg was an inaugural member of the Wagga Wagga Relay for Life, serving on the committee for the event’s 21-year history, ‘Johno’ drove cancer patients to appointments as part of the Cancer Council’s Transport to Treatment program.
He was instrumental in getting lighting installed at Anderson Oval and has had a long and active involvement as a committee member with multiple local clubs including Board Director for the Rules Club Wagga from 1999 to 2020, Kooringal Rotary Club, Wagga Wagga Lions Club and the Specialist Medical Research Foundation.
Haylee Burkinshaw was named 2025 Wagga Wagga Young Citizen of the Year
When Haylee was aged 13, she participated in the World’s Greatest Shave, raising over $1,000.
Haylee was involved in organising fundraisers to support the Anschuetz family after Mr Ron Anschuetz a much-loved teacher at Wagga Wagga High School passed away. At the end of year 10, Haylee was recognised for her efforts as the first ever recipient of the Ron Anschuetz Peer Award.
Haylee was crowned Community Princess in 2023 and has been involved in the Rotaract Club of Wagga Wagga since 2023.
This year two Walk of Honour nominations were announced including:
Aunty Dot and Uncle Hewitt Whyman
Uncle Hewitt and Aunty Dot have been a dynamic duo in Wagga Wagga and the Riverina’s First Nations community, contributing significantly to local cultural, community development and sporting activities.
Their tireless work helped establish a wide variety of services including Wiradjuri childcare services, Riverina Medical and Dental service, Local Aboriginal Legal Service, Wiradjuri Regional Land Council and ATSIC Binaal Billa Regional Council.
Zita Denholm
In 1975, Zita began working at Mount Erin Girl’s High School as an English and History teacher and reestablished the Mount Erin Orchestra using instruments belonging to the school and the Presentation Sisters, as well as organising fundraising concerts to purchase additional instruments.
In her time at Mount Erin, Zita encouraged and supported opportunities for hundreds of young women to develop to their full potential. She also taught Speech and Drama to young children and teenagers and at the 2024 Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod, she was recognised with a perpetual trophy in her name in the Speech & Drama section.
David Dunn received the 2025 Ted Ryder Sports Memorial Award
David joined the Kooringal High School Science faculty in 1977 where he fostered student involvement in the National Youth Science Forum and Rotary Exchange programs.
David was instrumental in facilitating the Kooringal High School’s involvement in the Bill Turner Cup over many years and was appointed as the Riverina Area Manager. David’s football coaching from 1977 – 2012 enabled many Kooringal teams as well as Lake Albert U-5 – U-17 years teams to improve their skill levels.
David introduced the Shippard and Creed Shields for the local Wagga Open Girls and Boys Secondary school’s competitions and the Tiffany Selby and Brian Thomas medals for Best and Fairest players.
Leanne Scott was named 2025 Environmental Citizen of the Year
Through her involvement with Lids4Life, Leanne aids the rescue of plastic bottle lids and many other small items from landfill and recycles them to protect our environment. She is passionate about teaching young people the importance of recycling, environmental conservation and sustainable practices.
Leanne is instrumental in spreading the message about recycling through her ongoing support of the Wagga Wagga City Council Waste Education program, Kurrajong recycling and The Wagga Youth Circular Lids Initiative: Repurposing Plastics, Reducing Waste.
Congratulations to all our award winners and nominees.