The District Council of Yankalilla has announced the recipients of its 2023 Citizen of the Year Awards. 

The Awards recognize the efforts of those in the community who rise to the challenge and demonstrate leadership, initiative and active citizenship.

The Citizen of the Year has been awarded jointly to Keren Webber and Gayle Carr.

They are the joint coordinators of the 5CY Community Pantry, which provides emergency food for individuals and families. 

The group provides this essential service without judgement or prejudice and with the intention of restoring dignity to reluctant recipients in dire need. 

The 5CY Group serves the communities of the Yankalilla District Council which extends from Myponga, Yankalilla, Inman Valley, Cape Jervis, Normanville, Carrickalinga and the many dispersed hamlets in between.

In 2019 this service to the community was about to be shut down due to the lack of volunteers, after almost 30 years of operation.

During the past three years Keren and Gayle have enrolled, trained and motivated an essential group of volunteers to meet increasing community need.

Young Citizen of the Year is Levi Young, who was an inaugural member of the Fleurieu Coast Youth Advisory Committee.

In 2022, Levi was chosen by teachers and students at Yankalilla area School to be a School Senior Leader. He plans to work and study in the field of Childcare and Education.

Community Event of the Year  is the Heritage Fleurieu Coast Festival, a biennial festival organised by the Yankalilla and District Historical Society to coincide with state History Month in May.

Its aim is to promote heritage tourism in the whole district and to promote its rich and diverse heritage value.

The Active Citizen Award goes to Evette Wolf, who formed the Yankalilla Youth Theatre in 2020, to facilitate and showcase youth performances, despite covid impacts. 

Evette has a strong focus on reaching all age demographics in the community and has impacted a diverse cross section of the community, including all generations. 

The Mayor’s Award goes to Joy Whellum, a quiet achiever who is actively involved in five local volunteer organisations: Festival Fleurieu, Books and Words, the Yankalilla, Rapid Bay and Myponga Agricultural and Horticultural Society, the Fleurieu Environment Centre and the Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre. 

Joy provides a valuable service and support to the organisations that she volunteers for and has been described as providing much of the ‘glue’ that holds these community groups together.

The Awards will be presented at the Australia Day Celebration at Yankalilla Memorial Park on Thursday 26 January at 9am.

Nominations for these awards can be made year round online, visit the council website for more information.