Impressive members of our community honoured in Australia Day Awards
Each Australia Day, Northern Beaches Council honours remarkable individuals and organisations who make our community an even better place to call home.
The recipients of the 2026 Australia Day Awards have generously devoted their time, skills and passion, often without expecting any recognition, and these awards offer a small token of appreciation for their outstanding service and commitment.
This year’s recipients have gone above and beyond—saving lives, supporting vital emergency services, championing health and wellbeing, sporting endeavours and consistently inspiring a strong sense of community spirit. Their selflessness and dedication truly embody what makes the Northern Beaches such a special place.
Our nominees and recipients continue to impress with their generosity, leadership and drive to make a difference. The calibre of nominations this year highlights just how extraordinary our community members are.
Congratulations to all our award recipients and thank everyone who took the time to nominate these inspiring individuals and organisations.
2026 Citizen of the Year
Cameron Read – Dee Why SLSC
As Club Captain of Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club, Cameron’s leadership and commitment spans decades, starting in 1998 as a lifesaver and growing into an influential volunteer leader. Today, he wears many hats – Club Captain, Patrol Captain, Jet Ski Captain, Inflatable Rescue Boat Trainer and Assessor and Rescue Watercraft Trainer for the Sydney Northern Beaches Branch. These roles aren’t just titles, they represent countless hours of service, training and mentoring that keep our coastline safe and our volunteer network strong.
2026 Young Citizen of the Year
Tilly Cooper – Mona Vale SLSC
At just 13 years old, Tilly has shown remarkable leadership and community spirit. She founded My Fijian Clothes Drive, a grassroots initiative that grew into a Beaches-wide campaign, mobilising schools, surf lifesaving clubs and families to donate clothing and swimwear for children in Fiji. Her efforts have delivered practical support overseas while inspiring generosity and sustainability locally.
2026 Sportsperson of the Year
Declan Budd – Freshwater SLSC
Declan is one of Australia’s most promising para-swimmers, combining elite performance with humility and community spirit. In 2025 he won his first Australian Open title in the Men’s 100m Butterfly MC, added silver medals in the 200m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke and dominated the Australian Age Championships with 5 golds and a bronze.
2026 Outstanding Community Service Award
Herve Vichemont – Dee Why SLSC
Herve has dedicated more than 15 years to surf life saving, serving as Patrol Captain, trainer, assessor and Sydney Northern Beaches RWC Operator Response Team and part of After Hours Dee Why SLSC Emergency Call Team. In January 2025, she led a complex rescue that earned Surf Life Saving NSW’s Rescue of the Year Award, exemplifying his calm leadership and lifesaving expertise.
