Citizen of the Year Awards
Every year the City of Ryde publicly acknowledges and recognises the outstanding accomplishments by individuals in our community who have excelled in their chosen field. Winners and nominations in the past have come from fields as diverse as sporting administrators, business leaders, fire fighters, church leaders, school captains, writers, youth workers and other entrepreneurs.
2025 Winners
Citizen of the Year
Nora Etmekdjian
For over 20 years, Nora Etmekdjian has championed Ryde’s community spirit. As Treasurer of the West Ryde Chamber of Commerce, she expanded the Easter Fair into a flagship event. Nora mobilises volunteers as Chair of the Red Shield Appeal and preserves Ryde’s heritage through cultural organisations. Her dedication to civic engagement and safety initiatives strengthens community bonds, making Ryde a vibrant, inclusive place. Nora’s leadership continues to inspire positive change.
Young Citizen of the Year
Rajmallan Thiagarajan
Rajmallan Thiagarajan inspires through leadership and service. As a school Prefect, he led the school to raise $45,000 for the World’s Greatest Shave, uniting peers for leukemia research. Their advocacy as a Youth Ambassador promotes diversity and anti-racism, while their mentorship expanded a cultural exchange program by 50%. From environmental initiatives to cadet participation, Rajmallan embodies inclusivity and civic duty, setting an extraordinary example of youth leadership in Ryde.
Sportsperson of the Year
Linda Ham
Linda Ham has revolutionised fitness and community engagement in Ryde. As manager of Teambros Fitness Club, she fosters inclusivity and well-being, earning national awards for her efforts. A former teacher, Linda introduced innovative sports programs, inspiring students of all abilities. Her initiatives, such as Clean Up Australia Day and the Biggest Morning Tea, blend health with community spirit. Linda’s dedication transforms lives, uniting people through fitness and shared purpose.
Environmental Citizen of the Year
Pamela Ward
Pamela Ward has championed Ryde’s natural environment for 35 years. A co-founder of The Habitat Community Nursery, Pamela oversees propagation, bushcare, and education initiatives. Her tireless work with the City of Ryde Bushcare Program and local festivals raises environmental awareness, while mentoring students and individuals with disabilities. Pamela’s dedication fosters ecological preservation and inspires future generations to protect Ryde’s biodiversity.
Categories
- Citizen of the Year 2025 - Recognises outstanding service to the community over the last 5 years.
- Young Citizen of the Year 2025 - Recognises outstanding service to the community over the last 5 years by a young person aged 12 -25yrs.
- Sportsperson of the Year 2025 - Recognises outstanding service to the sporting community over the last 5 years.
- Environmental Citizen of the Year 2025 - Recognises the service to the community through environmental and sustainable practices which benefit the community.
The awards are open to all Australian citizens living in the City of Ryde. The Young Citizen of the Year Award is open to Australian citizens between the ages of 12 and 25 years (as at 20 January 2025).
The awards are held under the auspices of the Australia Day Council of NSW and judging is conducted by a local selection panel. Winners are announced at Council’s Citizen of the year Awards Ceremony which will take place on Monday 20 January 2025.
Conditions of Entry
Categories
Citizen of the Year 2025
Recognises outstanding service to the community over the last 5 years.
Young Citizen of the Year 2025
Recognises outstanding service to the community over the last 5 years by a young person aged 12 -25yrs.
Sportsperson of the Year 2025
Recognises outstanding service to the sporting community over the last 5 years.
Environmental Citizen of the Year 2025
Recognises the service to the community through environmental and sustainable practices which benefit the community.
The awards are open to all Australian citizens living in the City of Ryde. The Young Citizen of the Year Award is open to Australian citizens between the ages of 12 and 25 years (as at 20 January 2025). The awards are held under the auspices of the Australia Day Council of NSW and judging is conducted by a local selection panel. Winners are announced at Council’s Citizen of the year Awards Ceremony which will take place on Monday 20 January 2025.
How to Nominate
Carefully read the guidelines before nominating. Nominations close on Sunday 10 November 2024.
Complete and return the form attached or submit an online nomination.
In assessing a nomination, the judging panel may consider:
- achievements in the year immediately prior to the nomination of the Award, as well as consideration of the nominee’s past achievements, longevity of service and ongoing contribution to the City of Ryde
- broad community involvement
- the benefit to the community from the nominee’s service or contribution
- other recognition of the nominee's work
- whether the nominee worked as part of a team and their role within the team
- whether the nominee has had to overcome any particular challenges or hurdles
Nomination Guidelines
- Any individual who has made a noteworthy contribution to the City of Ryde during the current year and/or given outstanding service to the local community over a number of years shall be eligible
- Only nominations submitted on the approved nomination form or via the online web form will be accepted
- Nominations may be submitted by an individual or an organisation
- Young Citizen of the Year must be between 12 and 25 years of age as at 20 January 2025
- Previous Award recipients are eligible to be nominated again however only the contribution to the community since the last award will be considered during the judging process
- Unsuccessful nominees can be re-nominated in following years
- All Nominees must be residents of the City of Ryde
- Persons cannot nominate themselves
- Supporting written material and copies of other documents may be attached to the nomination form if desired
- The decision(s) of the judges are final, and no correspondence will be entered into
- The judging panel will consist of the Mayor or delegate of the City of Ryde, CEO or delegate of the City of Ryde and current Citizen of the Year.
- Current City of Ryde Staff and Councillors cannot be nominated for an award
- City of Ryde Staff and Councillors may nominate people in the community with the exception of members of the Judging panel.
- Nominations close at 12.00am (midnight) on Sunday 10 November 2024.
- Those selected as finalists should be available to attend the City of Ryde’s Citizen of the Year Awards Ceremony on Monday 20 January 2025 (inability to attend does not disqualify entry)
- Nomination information in relation to winners may be used for publicity purposes
- Winners may be asked to make themselves available without cost for publicity purposes
- Organisations or individuals can submit a maximum of 2 nominations per organisation
Photo Gallery
View photos from the 2025 Citizen of the Year Awards ceremony.
Contact us
For general enquiries regarding the Citizen of the Year Awards please contact community@ryde.nsw.gov.au.
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