Recognition awards

Peter Christopher: Peter Christopher has dedicated much of his life to preserving maritime history, particularly through his volunteer work as a maritime archaeologist. A founding member of the campaign to save the City of Adelaide Clipper Ship, he worked for 14 years on the project, which culminated in bringing the…

Zachary is an active and dedicated community member involved in various scouting and emergency service roles. He participates in the Prospect State Emergency Service (which services much of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield), attending regular training and responding to callouts. He also serves as a Cub Scout Leader and…

Kathy has an extensive and dedicated history of leadership in sports administration, particularly in netball. Over the years, she has held prominent roles, including spending two terms on the Living Health Board, being a member of the Premier’s Women’s Consultative Committee, and being the Team Manager for the Contacts Netball…

Holi on the Beach, organised annually by Amit Katiyar through the Indian Australian Art and Cultural Association, is a vibrant celebration of the Indian festival of Holi. Since its inception in 2017, the family-friendly event has grown to attract nearly 6,000 visitors, embracing multiculturalism and welcoming people from diverse backgrounds.…

Held by the Port Adelaide Baseball Club, the Miracle League is a baseball league that ran for the first time in September this year. Open to children with disability from ages 4 to 16, its aim is to remove the barriers preventing them from playing baseball while supporting them to…

Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, the Lefevre Community Stadium Playgroup has been a huge success in the community, running for over six years. Operating twice a week during the school year and attracting 70–80 families per session, the playgroup helps children develop social skills and confidence and fosters lasting…

Chris has shown an exceptional and long-standing commitment to bird observation and recording through the City of PAE Citizen Science volunteer program since 2010. He has contributed thousands of bird observations at key wetlands in Gillman and Dry Creek, providing invaluable data to support scientific research, along with helpful insights…

A former Senior Sergeant First Class with 42 years of service in the South Australia Police, John ‘Jack’ Kelso has provided volunteer services to his local Port Adelaide community for over 20 years. His contributions include delivering thousands of meals to local schools and charities, including Westport and Largs Bay…

Thirteen-year-old Elliot has been a volunteer with the People and Pets Project for six months, giving up his weekends and school holidays to walk three dogs—Archie, Max, and Mickey— whose owners are unable to walk them regularly due to ageing or incapacity. His commitment and patience was especially evident with…

Julie has been a member of the Semaphore Branch of the Country Women’s Association for 23 years. This includes 22 years of membership as treasurer, along with making handicrafts and other items for the trading tables. Julie has served as Chairman of the State Handicraft committee for 4 years and…

An influential figure in the community, Denzel has been actively involved in initiatives aimed at advocating for the youth in the City of PAE. Through these endeavours, he has demonstrated remarkable dedication and unwavering determination to bring about positive change within the local community. His primary focus revolves around providing…

Ian Bailey has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Clearview Bowling Club since 2002, following his term as Administration Secretary from 2000. As a Volunteer CEO, Ian led and managed a vibrant, strong and sustainable club that provided a place for people to be physically active, create friendships and…

The Mirning community shared a spectacular twilight lantern parade of the Jeedara Creation story that was visually stunning and culturally enriching for the wider community to enjoy. Inclusive and accessible, the event brought the community together for a beautiful celebration of a great cause. Light for the Bight encouraged the…

Community Help and Togetherness Inc., or CHATS as they are known, is a 100% volunteer-driven charity dedicated to helping those doing it tough in the western suburbs. Each Friday morning they serve up to 100 people with a fully cooked three-course meal in the heart of Port Adelaide. Along with…

Michael Sheppard has volunteered for over 17 years for the Gepps Cross Football Club, attending to the myriad of odd jobs and troubleshooting that keeps a club running, as well as working as a scoreboard attendant for countless games. Michael has also volunteered at the club on junior cricket days…

The Food Crew, led by Janet Sutherland, have been helping to feed people on the Lefevre Peninsula for the last 3 years. The group commits 2 days a week to collect fresh produce, prepare hot meals, and distribute them to the community. All volunteers are local to the Lefevre Peninsula…

Lighthouse Youth Projects Inc is a registered charity and volunteer supported not-for-profit organisation, set up 10 years ago by Jamie Moore and Ryan Lloyd with the vision to help every young person in Australia realise their full potential and encourage them to make positive change. Jamie and Ryan share a…

Operation Unity is a group of veterans who work to support as many veterans, ex-service organisation members, first responders, and their families as possible. The organisation provides equipment, amenities, education, activities and events that improve the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families. They achieve this by providing an…

Max is 9 years of age and actively raises money for the Largs Bay RSL. He is always seeking opportunities to be involved in the community and give back where he can. Max is autistic and has other challenges in life, but is always helping others when the opportunity arises.…

Sophia is the Manager of Junction Community Centre, which aims to create a welcoming, safe, responsive, inclusive and supportive environment for individuals, families and community groups in the local area. With a passion for cultural inclusivity, Sophia has worked tirelessly in community centres for approximately 20 years with many communities…

As a second-year nuclear medicine student at the University of South Australia, Ruby has volunteered for numerous roles, within the university as well as externally. For example, as an executive member of UniSA’s Med Radical Club committee, she has organised numerous events and fundraising initiatives to better both the university…

Norma has volunteered for 50 years with Meals on Wheels, providing meals from the Northfield Centre to people within the City of PAE community. She started volunteering with Meals on Wheels in 1972. Since then, she has volunteered at the Enfield, Northfield and Modbury Centres, filling nearly every role, including…

The PADIFF is a brand-new film festival in Semaphore that focuses on diversity and inclusion. It encourages people from many different backgrounds — including those from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds, along with people from the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disabilities — to come together under one roof to…

The Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project supports the veterans’ sailing community and volunteers to connect with each other and the community on, in and around water. With the support of their ‘crew’ of volunteers and sponsors, the project facilitates free and inclusive sailing for current and former serving veterans and their…

Ross 'Rosco' Johnston has a history of almost 50 years of serving the community as a dedicated and respected volunteer for the State Emergency Services, Comedy Capers, Girl Guides and Boy Sea Scouts. He began volunteering in 1970 aged 16, when he joined Prospect Civil Defence as a Senior Sea…

Community Help and Togetherness (CHATS) provides a nutritious hot breakfast each week to people living rough and tough in the western suburbs of Adelaide. They aim to bring together people who are socially isolated or who identify as in need. They also provide food hampers, clothing, bedding and a nurse…

What started out as a school project to create a social enterprise has resulted in Lara Ridley being chosen as one of eight finalists (and the only South Australian) in the Futures Anything National Grand Final. Lara independently developed a cutlery set, the pieces of which are engraved with affirmations…

Julie-Ann Finney Julie-Ann has brought about national awareness to suicide and PTSD in veterans. In 2019, after serving in the Royal Australian Navy for 20 years, Julie-Ann's son, David, tragically took his own life. Despite her bereavement, Julie-Ann was determined to find answers. She knew that the incident rate among…

Ma-Musu Nyande Ma-Musu is a young leader and community advocate within the African Community in South Australia who was nominated in recognition of her work with young women from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Ma-Masu has created safe spaces for young African females and inspired women of all backgrounds to use…

Murray Hector was one of the founding members of the Greenacres Football Club when it formed as Super Elliots in Manoora Street, Greenacres, in 1965. Murray put his hand up to support this fledgling club by serving as the Treasurer in its early days, a role that he performed diligently…

This event sought to bring community members together to work on a project that promoted conversation over the simple act of shared crafting. Community members were invited to create colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn on trees. The event created a real sense of community connectedness.

Sailing at Lightsview initially started as a small group of hobbyists who came together informally. In the past 12 months, the group has become incorporated and membership has grown to over 50 people. As well as hosting a range of competitive and community events, the group has promoted community participation…

Alison Schulze has volunteered in many different roles at Greenacres Football Club, providing over 45 years of continuous service. She has held a number of roles within the club, beginning as a trainer before heading up the fundraising committee, and for the past 15 years has managed canteen and kitchen…

Helen English has been providing volunteer transport services for the City of Port Adelaide Enfield through the Community Bus Service for 20 years. She started in 2001 and has continued to volunteer since this time. Helen is fondly regarded as a cheerful individual who loves a chat and a laugh.

LeFevre Uniting Church operates an Emergency Relief Centre where people in need can access pre-prepared frozen meals cooked on-site by volunteers in the Church kitchen, as well as fruit, vegetables, bakery items, non-perishable food items, clothing, and blankets. The Emergency Relief Centre commenced in 2020 when the community activities being…

Margaret Bush is 86 years of age and has worked tirelessly as a volunteer for most of her life. She volunteered at Glenside Hospital in her early days and then began volunteering in a number of school canteens throughout Adelaide. For the past 15 years Margaret has run the canteen…

Murray Hector was one of the founding members of the Greenacres Football Club when it formed as Super Elliots in Manoora Street, Greenacres, in 1965. Murray put his hand up to support this fledgling club by serving as the Treasurer in its early days, a role that he performed diligently…

Pam Aulich is a longtime volunteer in the community who is known for her tireless efforts to provide help and support to anyone she hears is in need. She has provided extensive support within the Aboriginal community, and helped many people including those experiencing serious or terminal illness, grief, domestic…

Rick Thompson has been providing volunteer transport services for the City of Port Adelaide Enfield for 25 years. He started in 1996 and has continued to volunteer since this time. Rick drove the Community Bus for many years and when he gained paid employment during weekdays, Rick moved to the…

Robert Taylor has been providing volunteer transport services for the City of Port Adelaide Enfield through the Community Bus Service for 20 years. He started in 2001 and has continued to volunteer since this time. Robert has provided countless hours driving circuits and charters for community groups. Robert also likes…

Robyn Williams has been involved in Klemzig Neighbourhood Watch group since its inception over 25 years ago. She has since served in many positions and in 2005 was elected as the Area Coordinator. In 2013, Robyn received the Premier’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Service and the SAPOL Award…

Semaphore Largs Dunes Group provides an ongoing contribution to the restoration of the coastal sand dunes from Semaphore South to Largs North. The Semaphore Largs Dunes Group has taken the opportunity to work with a diverse range of community groups and educational groups to help enhance the coastal sand dune…

The Australian Association for Environment Education (AAEE) has demonstrated environment community leadership and innovative solutions to engage and work with new audiences and culturally diverse communities through projects that encourage urban greening and biodiversity. The Bringing Back the Butterflies program saw the establishment of 4 community neighbourhood butterfly gardens at…

Vic Greenwood has been a valued volunteer for the City of Port Adelaide Enfield for over 15 years. During his years of service, Vic has removed kilometres of graffiti and supported many new volunteers to learn the ropes. Vic is a wealth of knowledge about the removal of graffiti. He…

Kate is a Junior Helper at Hillcrest Guides and supports young girls aged between 5–10 years. She organises and runs games and craft activities at most Guides meetings and participates in Carry on Guides, a not-for profit variety theatre production.

Amber has followed up on the 'Smoke-Free Playgrounds' initiative by being recognised as an 'Asthma Champion' with Asthma Australia. She and her sister Penny are actively involved in PAE Play Streets, promoting fitness and play in the local community.

Penny has organised and taught crafts to children. She also ran free raffles and helped to collect charity donations.

Rose Darling has been giving her time to the Port Adelaide community for many years. Her involvement with charitable organisations and supporting other food relief agencies led her to set up her own charity in 2019, Community Help and Togetherness (CHATS). CHATS engages a group of dedicated volunteers who support…

Tegan Marshall is an active member of the Lightsview community. She was nominated by a fellow resident in recognition of her efforts to create safe and inclusive ways for the community to connect during the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tegan designed a COVID safe Easter egg hunt and a…

During a time of fear and confusion and disconnection The Pear Café mobilized the community of Alberton and surrounds to create the Alberton Art Trail and associated weekend 'event'. This brought people together around art, culture and community and activated the streets of Alberton with people, colour and creativity in…

The Kindness Kombi was created in 2019 to produce not-for-profit events that promote awareness and inclusion for all facets of the community, particularly those experiencing challenges such as discrimination or lower socio-economic status. When COVID-19 restrictions resulted in annual ANZAC Day services having to be cancelled, the Kindness Kombi created…

Susanne Blaschka is aged 87 years and retired at the end of 2020 after 25 years volunteering at the Enfield Library. With a great interest in history, Susanne was a valued History Officer until the History room at Enfield library was relocated to the Port Library. Since this time Susanne…

Rikki Cooke is a social worker, foster carer, single parent and founder of Treasure Boxes, a South Australian not-for-profit charity providing essentials to babies and children living in disadvantage within our community. She created Treasure Boxes when she saw firsthand the hardships many children were facing as a result of…

Hana Ali was nominated in recognition of her significant contribution to supporting young people from the Ethiopian & Eritrean Communities in Adelaide. Hana is a role model for other young people and a hardworking individual who dedicates much of her time to a range of community activities. Among her most…

The Adelaide International Kite Festival is a long-standing and high-impact event that attracts many thousands of visitors to Semaphore beach every year. It is a free event for children of all ages and adults to enjoy, it encourages community participation and attracts people from across PAE and beyond. This world-class…

Tri-State Games is a sporting event for people living with disability. Lasting a week long, the 2019 event was coordinated by volunteers and supported by local clubs who encourage sporting fairness and positive lifestyles through healthy competition and fun. Tri State Games was held across the Port Adelaide Enfield region,…

Alexandra Vakitsidis: For 40 years Alexandra has consistently contributed to the Port Adelaide community through her volunteering, fundraising and leadership roles in multiple committees. Alexandra is able to motivate not only other volunteers but also the general public to rally, help and support good causes. She works tirelessly weekly to…

Joyce founded the Semaphore Centrals Netball Club in 1972. The club is now the largest women's netball club in the Western Suburbs. She supported the late Marie Little OAM, founder of South Australian and Recreation Association for People with Integration Difficulties/Disabilities, now called Inclusive Sport SA. Joyce’s role was critical…

Matakey was nominated in recognition of his significant contribution to supporting young people in the local Ethiopian & Eritrean Communities. For years Matakey has been organizing boys’ soccer teams and this year he helped establish the Horn of Africa girls’ soccer team. Matakey does this out of kindness and is…

The Semaphore Greek Festival attracts people from all cultures and age groups. The event attracts over forty thousand visitors over a two day weekend. It includes over three hundred volunteers from the community. The festival offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the full cultural aspect by way of…

The Experience Café began operating at Kilburn Community Centre one year ago. It has become a hub of community, offering people not just economical meals and great coffee but a place to meet and a welcoming space for people looking for social connections. Experience Café trains volunteers and allows them…

Ben is regarded as a person with an ability to relate to all members of the community, no matter what their background. As the Senior Pastor of the Port Church, Ben has worked tirelessly in the community to build relationships and provide support for many people. The Pop-Up Kitchen he…

Jeffrey joined Clearview Tennis Club in 1969. He joined the committee in 1972 and later took on position of President which he held for 14 years. He is still involved to this day as Vice President and Social Tennis Co-ordinator. He spent many years assisting the coach when his two…

Joyce founded the Semaphore Centrals Netball Club in 1972. The club is now the largest women's netball club in the Western Suburbs. She supported the late Marie Little OAM, founder of South Australian and Recreation Association for People with Integration Difficulties/Disabilities, now called Inclusive Sport SA. Joyce’s role was critical…

Kym has been involved with the Enfield Harriers Amateurs Athletic Club for over 52 years. He currently holds the position of Vice President and has served as President on and off for 15 years. Kym has had great success in coaching and mentoring athletes at the club. Kym has been…

Rose gives her time tirelessly to ensure local people in need have clothing, food and social connection. Giving her time to multiple groups, Rose is a volunteer with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield as a Community Foodie and Flourish Team member. Rose also gives her time freely to Thread…

Ross raised $65,000 in 2018 through a fundraising campaign called Zahra’s Quest on behalf of the Zahra Foundation Australia. Ross and four other friends hiked the Kokoda Trail, which tested all individuals physically and mentally. Ross is a Volunteer Ambassador for White Ribbon and advocates for gender equality and the…

Sister Mary Symonds has worked tirelessly to provide pro-bono legal services to over 500 refugees and asylum seekers since the opening of Mercy House of Welcome in Kilburn in 2013. Over 300 applications for protection visas have been completed and lodged. Each application contains over 90 questions and take hours…

Steve has been an active member of the Port Adelaide Rotary Club since 2014, and became president in 2015. Since that time he has worked with the business community to set up and grow a strong association. In particular, Steve has fostered a mutual collaboration between Rotary and the newly…

Terry has volunteered with the Enfield Tennis Club for over 35 years. He has undertaken numerous roles in the club including Treasurer, Canteen Coordinator, Social Tennis Organiser and more recently Child Safety Officer. Terry takes responsibility for a large number of tasks not formally recognized by a position including: grounds…

The Opportunity Games is a picnic sports day for those with mental illness and living in Supported Residential Facilities. The event is unique to the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. For the participants it gives them a reason to be, reason to exercise, a focus for their lives and a…

John has contributed to the Gepps Cross football club and Northgate Community & Sports Club in every way possible. He began playing for the club at 11 years and continued playing as a senior. He has been a coach, a team manager and runner for many years assisting with both…

David is a passionate individual that avidly helps out the youth, especially the disadvantaged youth of the Peninsula. He is a Church Youth Worker for the Port Church. He co-ordinates the youth group for 15-20 local teens every Friday night and is also a Technical volunteer for Sunday services at…

Every year CityReach Baptist runs a free Carols event that serves over 4000 community members. The event is hosted by the church and involves over 300 volunteers. The event is an event for all community members & families both inside and outside of the Church. The church makes no profit…

CityReach Baptist ran an event on the 16-18th June 2017 ‘Joy to the City Weekend’. This event had 200 volunteers servicing the community of PAE. These volunteers refurbished the Western Area Domestic Violence Service (WADVS), sanded and painted local park benches at Roy Amer Reserve, dropped gift packages off to…

The Pt Adel Athletics Club endorsed the idea of forming an Athletics squad for Aboriginal Youth. This became the Indigenous Athletics Squad. This club has engaged a large number of youth who were not otherwise engaged in sport. Their program assists individuals who want to further their sporting aspirations. Their…

Josh is the founder of the No Questions Motivation Club at Port Adelaide. Josh established this club to help people who experience addition, depression, anxiety, social isolation, stress and lack of motivation. He supports his members through a range of 6 free healthy activities each week. He also conducts one…

Lee is a volunteer with the PAE Community Foodies group. She works tirelessly to ensure the families & neighbours at the Enfield Community Centre are able to make healthy food choices, cook healthy meals for themselves and families. She delivers a school holidays program for young children teaching them basic…

Inclusive Futsal was an after school program for people living with a disability at the Le Fevre Community Stadium. The 20 week program was planned and delivered by One Culture Football. The aim of the program was to promote inclusion, acceptance, respect and wellbeing. This was the first program organized…

Shane is a celebrated Aboriginal Artist and Youth Worker at Tauondi College. He led five aerosol art workshops on many walls at the Kilburn Community Centre. After a serious accident at age 12, Shane was hospitalized for 5 months and to help him through his recovery his mother used to…

The Port Church delivered a Pop Up Kitchen. Pastor Ben Carbone and a team of 15-20 volunteers are passionate about making a difference to our most at risk and vulnerable community members. The Pop Up Kitchen operates from the Port Church once a week and can have up to 100…

Yunus Noori was nominated for Citizen of the Year in recognition of his considerable contribution to the community through successfully implementing many inclusive sporting initiatives, promoting healthy lifestyle and supporting community cohesion. Yunus has been involved mentoring the Afghan community through sport for over 15 year as a sports coach…

Kyran Dixon was nominated for Young Citizen of the Year in recognition of his hard work, strength, determination and the example he sets for other young Indigenous people. Kyran faced a significant challenge in 2014 when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia. Rather than allowing this to…

Kym and Jarrod Meers created Izla’s Purple Crusade five years ago to complete the City to Bay Fun Run and raise awareness and over $21,000 for epilepsy. Since then Izla’s Purple Crusade has continued to host fundraising events in the Semaphore area raising $80,000 for Epilepsy SA/NT. This year fundraising…

The Port Adelaide Shellfish Restoration Group promotes inclusion of young people through community-based citizen science opportunities. Local partnerships have been developed with schools and local businesses on the Lefevre Peninsula to facilitate the monitoring of trial shellfish restoration sites in the Port River. The group conducts important local research on…

Vaisakhi Mela Indian Festival was delivered by the Punjab Aussie Association of South Australia to showcase Indian culture. The Indian community, especially the northern Indian community, is the fastest growing in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. The April 2016 Festival brought together participants from other cultures through artistic expression,…

Desmond Tucker brings his passion for music production and performance to a range of community initiatives. Since arriving in Australia from Sierra Leone in 2012, Desmond has volunteered at the Mercy Centre in Kilburn teaching English as a second language to refugees, worked with 400 Prospect Primary School Students for…

James Dwyer is an inspirational role model for his peers in the community sector through his involvement with St Vincent De Paul Society over a 50 year period. James volunteered in the area of home visitation, offering care and support for some of the most socially isolated and vulnerable people…

Melissa Burnie has been volunteering with Hillcrest Girl Guides for over 15 years. She started as a helper then stepped up to a leadership position when the previous leader retired. Over this time period she has been vital to the continued running of the younger age unit and has supported…

Norman Richard Ogier has continuously served and held numerous titles within many local community organisations, including the Northgate Oakden Residents Association (NORA) Carers' Support Incorporated; Northgate Neighbourhood Watch (which he co-founded), Lions Club, Kiwanis and other service associations over the years. Norman has been a Justice of the Peace since…

Pamela Joan Brook started as a volunteer at Gaza Cricket Club and the Gaza Football Club in 1986. In that time she occupied a vast number of roles supporting football and junior cricket in our community including team management, canteen, cleaning and first aid. She ceased duties with the Football…

Perry Nelson Brook was Cricket Team Manager, Coach, and Junior Cricket Director for Gaza Cricket Club and at Gaza Sports and Community Club from 1986-2004. Since 2005 he has been Senior and Junior Cricket Director. Perry's ongoing dedication and running of the Cricket Club has inspired many people to join…

Power Community Ltd launched the Power to End Violence Against Women program in late 2015 and has since delivered the program to 1510 participants. Power Community Limited partnered with Centacare Catholic Family Services, the Government of South Australia and the City of Port Adelaide Enfield to deliver the program to…

Rahim Shah Zaidi is the Owner of the Ghan Kebab House and coach/manager of The Ghan United Soccer Club SA. Since migrating to Australia in 2008, Rahim has worked extremely hard to build a happy life for his young family and has established a successful business. Rahim became involved in…

A multi award winning actor, director and musician, Alirio migrated to Adelaide from Caracas, Venezuela in 1992. Since arriving is South Australia Alirio has immersed himself in the performing art industry. In 2012, in conjunction with No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability, he premiered 'Sons & Mothers' an intimate piece…

Keith has worked tirelessly to ensure those that served our Country, especially those from Port Adelaide and surrounds, are not forgotten. Keith has published a book in memory of those lost on the ‘HMAS Sydney” (645 in total). He researched the stories of people who lost their lives and w…

Michael has been a volunteer with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield’s Home and Community Care program for four (4) years. Michael volunteers two or three days a week including weekends supporting our elderly and di sabled residents. This is an incredible effort considering Michael catches public transport from a…

This event commenced with the official launch of book two (2) of the 'Stolen' series which highlights loss of culture for Aboriginal community. The book launch was followed by a Reconciliation/Peace Walk from Harts Mill to Lartelare led by students from Alberton Primary school and Thebarton College. At Lartelare Brodie…

The Semaphore Street Fair is a free Community event attracting people of all ages and backgrounds. The event offers something to see and do for the whole family including craft and food, rides and stalls promoting health and wellbeing and services offered in the community to assist local families. The…