Nominations for Lismore City Council’s 2025 Australia Day Awards are now open.

The Awards are held annually to recognise people who give back to the community through volunteering, community work or who excel in sports or other endeavours.

Current Lismore City Council’s 2024 Citizen of the Year, Mieke Bell, who has run The Winsome and Lismore Soup Kitchen for 33 years, said her award was a lovely surprise and has helped give much welcome attention on the work of the non-profit organisation.

“It was then, and still is a lovely surprise to have been awarded the 2024 Lismore Citizen of the Year,” she said.

“For me personally, this award was not just about me, it enabled the spotlight to focus on the Soup Kitchen and the many staff and volunteers who help every day. We provide up to 100 lunch meals per day, ensuring we deliver the holistic support to disadvantaged people.

“To see the support for the Soup Kitchen grow since Australia Day, it’s an overwhelming recognition of the organisation.”

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said the Awards were a chance to recognise our unsung heroes who put in many hours as volunteers to make our community an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

“One thing that has always stood out to me is that our community is full of quiet unsung heroes,” he said.

“The Australia Day Awards give us a chance every year to honour those passionate people who dedicate a large part of their lives to building a stronger, healthier community with no thought of personal gain.

“If you have a friend who works hard for a volunteer group, know a student who is kicking goals in life or admire a person for their work for our community, please nominate them.

“It only takes 5-10 minutes to complete an online nomination, so please get online before the deadline and nominate today.”

Ms Bell also encouraged the community to nominate individuals or groups for Australia Day.

 “There are so many people in our community who go under the radar, who achieve wonderful things and deserve to be nominated and win,” she said.

“Make sure you nominate whether it’s the sports category or a citizen because receiving the award is certainly special, and recognising the achievements of others is what the Australia Day Awards are all about.”

Categories are:

• Citizen of the Year
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Aboriginal Citizen of the Year
• Volunteer of the Year
• Services in the Community (Individual)
• Services in the Community (Group)
• Sportsperson/Team (Junior)
• Sportsperson/Team (Senior)
• Environment
• Arts/Culture

To make a nomination, go to www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Community/Supporting-our-community/Celebrating-our-cultural-diversity/Australia-Day-Awards-and-citizenship.

Nominations close on Friday, 13 December 2024.