On Wednesday, January 15, Shellharbour City Council held the Shellharbour Community and Australia Day Awards Ceremony, crowning 10 outstanding winners across various categories and inducting five remarkable individuals into the Shellharbour City Hall of Fame.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward joined Acting Mayor of Shellharbour Kellie Marsh to present the community awards on the night.

Citizen of the Year Award

Dr. Mohit Tolani was named Citizen of the Year for his exceptional contributions to local dental health. A Shellharbour City press release described Dr. Tolani as an “admirable leader who has selflessly dedicated himself to various dental health initiatives in the local community,” and noted that he has provided free dental treatment to over 3,000 people in need.

Young Citizen of the Year Award

The Young Citizen of the Year Award went to Tori Henderson, a dedicated volunteer at the Roo Theatre and the NSW SES, all while still attending high school.

MP Gareth Ward with Young Citizen of the Year Tori Henderson and Acting Mayor of Shellharbour Kellie Marsh. Source: Gareth Ward Facebook.

Other Award Winners

The remaining award winners for 2024 include:

• Athlete of the Year - Ellen Perez
• Young Athlete of the Year - Indiana Dos Santos
• Services to Sport - Marcos Baez
• Outstanding Diversity and Inclusion - Gerald Brown (Uncle Gee)
• Community Capacity Builder - Emjae Woods
• Outstanding Contribution to the Arts - Shellharbour City Arts Society
• 2024 Community Group of the Year - Lost & Found Pets Illawarra
• Volunteer of the Year - Margaret Young

“The awards ceremony proved once more just how many incredible people we have living and serving within the Shellharbour community,” Acting Mayor Cr. Marsh said. 

“As a result, the quality of the nominees were extremely high, which made the judging process quite challenging. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees of our community awards. Your contributions enrich the city of Shellharbour. Keep up the great work.”

Hall of Fame Inductees

Five exceptional individuals were inducted into the prestigious Shellharbour City Hall of Fame, including:

• Professor Ngiare Brown, the first female and first Indigenous Chancellor of James Cook University
• The late Justin Yerbury AM, who led groundbreaking research into Motor Neurone Disease, received an Order of Australia, and was awarded the keys to the City of Wollongong
• Caitlin Foord, an Arsenal footballer who has reached 100 games for the Matildas
• Alex Volkanovski, one of the best-known names in global sports and the second Australian to win a UFC title
• Karen Murphy, considered one of Australia’s greatest lawn bowls players with a career spanning over two decades

“Hall of Fame recognition is reserved for those who have shaped their field and contributed to the community and beyond,” Acting Mayor Cr. Marsh said. “They are individuals that are adored not only in the Shellharbour region, but also worldwide.”

A Heartfelt Congratulations

The Bugle congratulates all award winners and Hall of Fame inductees for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the community.