2026 Australia Day celebrations kicked off in the South Gippsland Shire with the annual Australia Day Awards, which were held at the Meeniyan Hall on Thursday, 14th January. The Hall was humming from the start with the chatter of nominees, their friends and dignitaries, with background music from the duo, Rising Phoenix.
This year’s Citizen of the Year award was presented to Val Wilson of Korumburra. Val has dedicated decades to volunteering within her community, initially at Bena and now also in Korumburra. Like many volunteers, Val’s efforts have often been a family affair, with her supporting husband Ian joining her at the awards ceremony. The selection process for this category must have been particularly challenging, given the calibre of all nominees, each of whom is a respected figure within their respective communities. Congratulations must go to the runners-up: Fran Grylls from Welshpool, Jean Jones from Tarwin Lower, and Rachael Woddall from Mirboo North. Each recognised for their outstanding contributions.
Two exceptional young women, Erica Begg and Rhiannon Rawlins, were joint recipients of the Young Citizen of the Year and seemed overwhelmed by the recognition for something they do without expectation of rewards other than supporting their respective communities.
The final award presented was for Community Event of the Year, a category that must also have been difficult to judge due to the impressive resume of all five nominated events. Annually hosted events such as the Loch Food and Wine Festival, the revived South Gippsland Garlic Festival, now held in Korumburra, and the Korumburra Swap Meet each boasted significant numbers of visitors, providing a boost to local economies. Another new event, the U3A Seniors Morning Tea and Concert, in Foster brought together the local school community and 250 senior residents from across the shire to enjoy scones and jam in a spirit of celebration and togetherness. The Meeniyan Op Shop’s milestone celebration, held in February last year after raising one million dollars for the local community over 17 years, saw 100 past and present volunteers gather for tea and cake. The Loch Food and Wine Festival was announced as the winner of this award.
All winners received a clock crafted from Australian hardwood by the Meeniyan Men’s Shed, serving as a unique and meaningful memento of their achievements. Kaye Rodden
