Kiama Council has announced the recipients of its Australia Day awards early, as it is cancelling the normal Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony on 26 January for COVID-19 safety reasons. 

Rose Valley's Maria Baden has been named as the Citizen of the Year for her humanitarian efforts with Rosemary Kariuki, welcoming vulnerable migrant women and their families to her farm in Gerringong. Rosemary is Australia's 2021 Local Hero and the pair’s initiative of friendship received worldwide attention in the documentary film, Rosemary’s Way.

The award also recognises Maria’s and progressive approaches to animal husbandry and land management on her family's Wagyu farm.

The Senior Citizen of the Year award has gone to Gerringong's Helen McDermott, for her many years of community work, especially with the Gerringong & District Historical Society.

Helen McDermott (centre) with Fiona Phillips MP and Mayor Mark Honey at the opening of the Gerringing Library & Museum

Kiama's Lara Farrell, who is going into Year 11 at Kiama High, has received the Young Citizen Award for her energetic leadership across a range of youth-related issues, including being the youth member on the Makuta advisory board.

Lara Farrell (second from left) when Makuta presented a cheque to the High School for a Teen Mental Health First Aid Course.

WIRES Illawarra has been awarded Community Group of the Year for their work rescuing and sheltering native wildlife, especially following the bushfires of 2019/20.

The Citizenship Ceremony will now be conducted online, and the recipients of the awards will receive them at a later date. Full details of their achievements are available on Council's website.

Council's other Australia Day events are still going ahead, including breakfast barbecues and activities, roving entertainers and a flyover with the Australian and Aboriginal flags.