The City of Victor Harbor has announced the recipients of its 2023 Citizen of the Year Awards:

Citizen of the Year – Deidre Hughes

In recognition of lasting contributions to community groups and the health care sector.

This includes serving as president of the Rotary Club of Encounter Bay, a foundation member of the Victor Harbor/Granite Island Probus Club and working in several country health services and residential aged care facilities.

Award for Active Citizenship – Donald Rumbelow

In recognition of ongoing commitment to local sport and recreation groups.

This includes long service to the Encounter Bay Football Club, the Victor Harbor Yacht Club and the Victor Harbor/ Goolwa Sea Rescue Squadron.

Young Citizen of the Year – Mathilda Meinecke

She has contributed to the community through musical arts and sporting endeavours, including  the Encounter Bay Netball Club, the South Coast Choral and Arts Society, Granite Band and Goolwa Band. She was School Captain in 2022.

At the core of a great place is great people, and the City of Victor Harbor recognises its many generous and compassionate residents, who commit their time towards supporting the community around them.

It says the awards provide an opportunity to formally recognise the important and valuable work that these extraordinary people do for their local community.

City of Victor Harbor Mayor Dr Moira Jenkins says the 2023 Citizen of the Year award winners were selected from a pool of high calibre nominees.

“This is an extremely exciting time every year, because it’s an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary efforts of people in our region,” she says.

“Our passionate community members go above and beyond to make Victor Harbor even better, and we are fortunate to have so many generous volunteers who share their time and knowledge as active citizens.”

“This year’s winners have all been influential in Victor Harbor in different ways, yet they all share a great amount of community spirit.”

The 2023 Citizen of the Year Awards will be formally presented at the City of Victor Harbor’s Australia Day Celebrations on 26 January at the Soldiers Memorial Gardens. 

Visit the council website for more information about this event.