Muswellbrook Shire Council is calling on the community to recognise the people who go above and beyond, with nominations now open for the 2027 Australia Day Awards.
Council says individuals and groups across the shire give their time, support others and contribute to local organisations year-round, often without seeking recognition for what they do. Mayor Jeff Drayton is encouraging residents to think about the people around them whose efforts deserve to be acknowledged.
“There are people right across our Shire who are always putting their hand up, whether it’s for their sporting club, a community group, their neighbours or just someone who needs a hand,” Mayor Drayton said.
“They’re usually not doing it because they want a thank you or any recognition. They do it because that’s the kind of people they are.”
There are 10 award categories for 2027: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Open Award, Sports Team, Services to Sport, Senior Sports Person, Junior Sports Person, Sustainability Award, Arts and Culture Award, and the Northoak Agricultural Award. Individual nominees must be Australian citizens residing within the Muswellbrook Shire Council area, and nominations may recognise significant voluntary and unpaid contributions, or leadership, innovation or creativity within the community.
Nominations can be lodged online through Council’s website, or via hard-copy forms available from the Council Administration Building at Campbell’s Corner. Nominations close at midnight on Friday 27 November 2026.
