2013 Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year
Honouring Our Local Heroes
The Marrickville Council Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Senior Citizen of the Year Awards aim to recognise individuals who have provided outstanding service and contributions for the welfare of the Marrickville community. One award is offered in each category, every year on Australia Day.
Joanna Souliotis, 2013 Citizen of the Year
Joanna is a tireless volunteer and community worker who has developed programs and initiatives for many of Marrickville's diverse and sometimes vulnerable families.
A single mother of three, Joanna has turned life's obstacles into opportunities to improve the fate of others. She is an advocate for women and children who experience domestic violence and has worked with the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme (WDVCAS) and Family Court to raise awareness of detrimental practices.
Joanna's volunteer work is as broad as it is generous. In 2005, she established the 'Holiday Club' – a space where parents who could not afford a holiday could relax and escape life's pressures. Her Warren Road community newsletter 'The Fly' enlisted several unemployed young mothers in her neighbourhood, giving them important vocational skills.
Bruce Livingstone, 2013 Senior Citizen of the Year
Marrickville's first Senior Citizen of the Year, Bruce Livingstone has been serving his community in various capacities all his life. His voluntary work includes many years in unpaid sports administration and church work. Post-retirement he volunteered full time for Meals on Wheels.
He also founded the Marrickville Soccer Club and his community work included a five year stint spent abroad in Papua New Guinea where he assisted locals develop their banking skills.
Tina Zhou, 2013 Young Citizen of the Year
Tina Zhou, Council's 2013 Young Citizen of the Year, is involved in a wide range of youth, humanitarian and social justice work.
Late last year Tina represented Marrickville at the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament, acting as the Shadow Minister for Juvenile Justice and Police. She is also a community liaison officer of the Marrickville Youth Council, and on the Premier's Debating Team.
Tina is a dedicated volunteer, giving her time selflessly to a range of organisations that help the local community including CANTEEN, the Red Cross, Legacy, Daffodil Day, the Marrickville Festival and Quota, and received Duke of Edinburgh silver and bronze awards for her work at Marrickville Library and the Marrickville electorate office.
Past winners
Citizen of the Year
- 1998 - Shirley Smith
- 1999 - Don Mamouney
- 2000 - John Freeman
- 2001 - N/A
- 2002 - Chris Woods
- 2003 - Mick Mazza
- 2004 - Peter Dixon
- 2005 - Bruce Ashley
- 2006 - Micheal Carney
- 2007 - Lester Bostock
- 2008 - Michael Easton
- 2009 - Caleb Maynard
(honorable mention to previous winner, Reverend David Smith) - 2010 - Sister Aileen Crowe
- 2011 - Nicole Ryan
- 2012 - Aunty Esther Carroll
Young Citizen of the Year
- 1998 - Gene Kellaher
- 1999 - Jeremy Blanchard
- 2000 - Evdokia Kritikos
- 2001 - N/A
- 2002 - Rose Kassolis
- 2003 - David Khoury
- 2004 - Tri Vo
- 2005 - Mark Longhurst
- 2006 - Behrang Dehestani
- 2007 - Patrick Will
- 2008 - Fatmata Bangura
- 2009 - Una Afu
- 2010 - Gladys Namokoyi
- 2011 - Taniela Afu
- 2012 - Heather Dunn