Ballarat Citizen, Young Citizen and Community Activity of the Year Awards to be announced Monday

The City of Ballarat will recognise its 2021 Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year at a special ceremony on Monday 25 January.

The Ballarat Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Activity of Year awards recognise and celebrate individuals and organisations that make our community a more vibrant place to live in.

Both the Ballarat Awards event on 25 January and Citizenship Ceremony on 26 January will be COVID-safe.

In line with COVID-19 restrictions, the awards will be restricted to the award nominees with limited guests in attendance.

The awards will be held at the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility due to its capacity to allow for social distancing

The Citizenship Ceremony will be held in the Trench Room at Town Hall. Due to restrictions, conferees will be unable to bring guests.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney says - "While we will have restricted ceremonies due to COVID-19, it's important we celebrate our local champions and welcome our newest citizens."

“Ballarat is fortunate in the number of generous people who give of their creativity, experience and enthusiasm as volunteers across a wide range of endeavours.

“These awards are our way of saying a very grateful thank you to some of those people and organisations which give so much to the Ballarat community.

“For our new citizens, taking the oath of Australian Citizenship is a very significant step and we look forward to welcoming them.”

The City of Ballarat will conduct all events on and leading up to 26 January in line with the recommendations from Reconciliation Victoria to mark the day respectfully, to recognise the honoured place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in our nation’s history, to be sensitive to the feelings of Aboriginal people who may see the day as one of mourning, and to see the day as an opportunity to promote understanding, respect and reconciliation.