Citizen Of The Year Ted Webber with Ambassador Warwick Nowland.
On Monday, January 26, 2026, the Young community gathered at Carrington Park from 8:30am to celebrate Australia Day in classic country style. The day kicked off with family-friendly activities, leading into the official ceremony at 9am. Australia Day Ambassador Warwick Nowland, the two-time FIM Endurance World Champion and international motorcycle racing legend, delivered an inspiring address. He shared stories of resilience, self-belief, perseverance through challenges, and the vital role of community support—drawing from his own journey from a serious accident to global racing success and now mentoring young people.
The ceremony featured the presentation of the 2026 Australia Day Awards, honouring exceptional locals for their contributions to the Young district, along with citizenship ceremonies and the Australian Affirmation to unite everyone in pride and reflection.
Following the proceedings, attendees enjoyed a community BBQ lunch from 10am, hosted by the Rotary Club of Young, complete with live music, face painting by Sunshine and Stardust Designs, balloon twisting by Alana’s Face Paint and Party Entertainment, and other fun activities for the kids.
It was a warm, heartfelt morning of recognition, inspiration, and celebration that highlighted what makes Young and the Hilltops region so special.
The award recipients were:
The 2026 Citizen of the Year Award Ted Webber
Ted Webber has been a passionate and enduring supporter of the arts in Young for more than two decades, making an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of the Hilltops Region through poetry, performance and community engagement. Ted became involved in the local poetry scene in 2005, joining a small group of poets who had been meeting informally since 2000.
In 2012, alongside Greg Broderick, he helped establish regular poetry gatherings, forming what became known as the Wombat Bush Poets. Initially meeting at the Wombat Hotel, the group fostered a relaxed, inclusive and welcoming atmosphere that encouraged participation from both experienced performers and first-time contributors. Their bi-monthly bush poetry open-mic sessions attracted performers and audiences from across the region, including Canberra, Tumut and Bathurst, and became a much-loved fixture of the local arts calendar.
For more than ten years, Ted played a key role in organising and presenting poetry events at the National Cherry Festival. These included the National Cherry Festival Poetry Competition for adults, the Poet’s Breakfast, and junior poetry competitions held as part of festival events.
In 2025, he organised a Junior Performance Poetry Competition at the Southern Cross Cinema as part of the 75th National Cherry Festival, continuing his strong advocacy for youth participation in the arts. Ted also contributed to community broadcasting, co-hosting a weekly one-hour program on 2YYY Community Radio featuring poetry, music and conversation. In addition, he helped deliver poetry workshops with visiting poets and coordinated school visits throughout the Hilltops Region, including many small schools.
Through these initiatives, Ted fostered creativity, literacy and a love of poetry among young people, while also securing grant funding to support workshops and prize money. Beyond Young, Ted has proudly represented the Hilltops Region at numerous cultural events, including the Banjo Paterson Festival in Orange, Binalong Arts Group’s A Brush with Poetry, Boorowa Balladeers, Take 5 for Friday at Young Library, and the Hilltops Off the Beaten Track Art and Cultural Trail with Campfire Yarns. His performances celebrate the Australian tradition of bush poetry and story-telling, often centred around the campfire theme that first inspired him at a folk festival in the Snowy Region in 1996.
Ted was also a valued member of the Lambing Flat Young Fellowship of Australian Writers for 22 years, serving in several leadership and support roles, including President from 2014 to 2018. His dedication and leadership helped grow the group’s writing competition into a major national event.
In recognition of his service, Ted was awarded a Distinguished Service Award from NSW Fellowship of Australian Writers in 2022. Now approaching 90 years of age, Ted Webber is widely respected for his generosity, enthusiasm and gentlemanly nature.
Together with his wife, June, he has made Young his home, enriching the community through his tireless commitment to the arts. Ted is a true ambassador for poetry and storytelling, whose legacy continues to inspire creativity across the Hilltops Region.
Sportsperson of The Year
The 2026 Sportsperson of the Year Award Mackenzie Platt and Eliza Taylor
Mackenzie Platt is an extremely worthy winner for the Australia Day Sportsperson of the Year Award. Her talent and expertise in the sporting field, particularly in cricket, are outstanding. Mackenzie is an exceptional student and school citizen at Young Public School. She works diligently both in the classroom and on the sporting field and is a fantastic representative of the school as a leader and athlete. Mackenzie has represented Young Public School at Zone and Riverina levels in swimming, cross-country athletics, soccer and touch football.
Her passion for all areas of sport is evident in her determination to always do her best, regardless of the level of competition. She is not only a strong team player but also continually challenges herself at an individual level to achieve excellence. When faced with adversity, Mackenzie demonstrates resilience, a willingness to take on feedback, and a strong commitment to improvement — qualities that have greatly contributed to her success.
In cricket, Mackenzie has been a key strike bowler for the Young Public School team for the past three years, consistently leading the attack with pace and accuracy. She is also a reliable batter, contributing valuable runs when required. Her ability to take wickets and pressure opposing batters has had a significant impact on the team’s success, with the team finishing third in the state for two consecutive years. Mackenzie’s cricketing talent earned her selection in the Riverina team, where she played a vital role in the team’s success. As an opening bowler, she delivered with accuracy and consistency, taking key wickets at crucial moments.
Her standout performance at the NSW PSSA Championships, including figures of 9 runs off 5 overs and a strong batting contribution, earned her a well-deserved match ball. As a supportive captain, Mackenzie led with encouragement and positivity, inspiring her teammates and contributing to the team’s overall performance. Her sporting ability and personal attributes made her a strong contender for state selection.
The year 2025 was particularly successful for Mackenzie, culminating in her selection in the NSW Primary School Girls Cricket Team, which competed at the 2025 National Championships. At the championships, Mackenzie made a strong contribution in every match, with her best performance being 2 for 19 off 5 overs against Queensland, while remaining not out with the bat.
The carnival concluded with the NSW team winning gold, a remarkable achievement for a young athlete from a small country town.
Mackenzie finished the year on a high, receiving a Riverina Blues Award, which recognises outstanding sporting achievement and excellence among primary and secondary students across the region. This is a significant accomplishment for such a young and emerging cricket star. Young Public School is extremely proud of Mackenzie Platt, and is a very deserving winner of the sportsperson of the year award.
Eliza Taylor, a 2025 graduate of Hennessy Catholic College, has been an exceptional athlete throughout her secondary school years, showcasing remarkable talent, leadership, and dedication across multiple sports. Her achievements in swimming, athletics, rugby league, and touch football have made her one of the College’s most outstanding sportspeople.
From her early years, Eliza demonstrated her prowess in College competitions, winning the Age Champion titles in swimming, athletics, and cross-country across various age groups, setting multiple records along the way. She has been a dominant force at College events, claiming Age Champion titles in swimming from 13 years to 17+ years and maintaining similar success in athletics and cross-country. Eliza’s athleticism extended beyond individual sports, as she represented the College in numerous team events, including touch football, rugby league, netball, and cricket, where her contributions helped her teams achieve success at regional and state levels.
Her sporting journey extended to the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocesan and NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) levels, where she earned numerous accolades. Eliza was named the Open Girls Sportsperson of the Year in 2023 and was the Runner-up in 2024, a recognition of her consistent excellence across swimming, athletics, and rugby league. Her representation at the NSW-CCC Championships was highlighted by her selection for the Open Girls Touch Football team, which triumphed at the Combined Catholic Colleges competition, and her performance in rugby league at the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships, where she was the Top Try Scorer.
On the regional and state stages, Eliza continued to shine, representing teams such as the Southern Country Rugby League and NSW Rugby 7’s. In 2025, she earned a place in the Canberra Raiders Tarsha Gale Under 19 Team and the Southern Country Rugby League Under 18 Girls Team. Her exceptional performances were highlighted by her selection as Player of the Match during the NSWCCC trials and her key role in helping her team reach the semi-finals at the ASSRL National Championships in Coffs Harbour, where she was named Top Try Scorer.
Eliza’s achievements are a testament to her incredible work ethic, athletic versatility, and leadership. Balancing her sporting commitments with academic excellence, she has earned respect both as a role model and a dedicated athlete. Her future in sport looks bright, and she is undoubtedly a deserving winner for the Australia Day Sportsperson of the Year Award.
Junior Citizen of the Year
The 2026 Junior Citizen of the Year Award Joshua Cameron (pictured)
Joshua Cameron is a Year 12 student at Hennessy Catholic College who lives in Young, NSW. Since commencing high school in Year 7, Josh has consistently demonstrated outstanding character, leadership and a deep commitment to serving others. He is widely regarded as a respectful, approachable and compassionate young man whose actions have positively impacted his school, sporting clubs and the wider community.
Throughout his secondary schooling, Josh has been recognised by teachers and peers alike for his kindness, maturity and willingness to support others. From an early age, he naturally encouraged and assisted his peers, earning a reputation as a role model who leads through actions rather than words. These qualities saw him selected as a Peer Support Leader in Year 10, where he guided and mentored new Year 7 students, supporting their wellbeing, confidence and sense of belonging.
Josh’s leadership journey continued as he progressed through senior school. He was elected Vice Captain of Nagle House in Year 11 and College Captain in Year 12, roles entrusted to him by his peers. As College Captain, Josh represented the school with maturity and integrity, leading assemblies and events as Master of Ceremonies, attending leadership meetings, and helping to plan and deliver whole-school activities. He consistently led by example, modelling respect, responsibility and service across all areas of College life.
Central to Josh’s leadership is his commitment to service and social justice. He has volunteered his time in numerous fundraising initiatives for Caritas, Vinnies and local charitable causes, and has been a long-serving participant in the Nagle House “Dine and Donate” program, preparing meals for those in need within the Hilltops community. Josh is known for encouraging others to get involved and for giving his time generously without seeking recognition.
Josh’s compassion and global awareness are further reflected in his involvement in the College’s Cambodia Immersion and Social Justice Program. He has been instrumental in fundraising efforts, including organising and participating in a local hay run, contributing to more than $21,000 raised to build two houses for families in rural Cambodia. This initiative demonstrates Josh’s strong sense of empathy, responsibility and commitment to making a meaningful difference beyond his immediate community.
Outside of school, Josh continues to serve the Young community through sport. He volunteers extensively with the Young Lions Soccer Club, assisting with coaching young players, refereeing junior matches, and helping with weekly training sessions and ground set-up and pack-down. He also supports junior rugby and cricket, sharing his skills, mentoring younger players and contributing to club operations. His involvement ensures younger children feel supported, included and inspired.
Josh’s leadership and values have been formally recognised through numerous awards, including the Australian Defence Force Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award (received twice), the Nano Nagle House Award (twice), and the College Gold Award for consistently living the school’s mission to “Live Spiritually, Learn Dynamically and Act Justly.”
Josh Cameron exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding Junior Citizen. His selflessness, leadership, resilience and genuine care for others have made a lasting positive impact on his school, sporting clubs and the wider Young community. He is a young man of strong values who consistently puts service into action, making him a highly deserving winner of the Australia Day Junior Citizen of the Year Award.
Business of The Year
The 2026 Business of the Year Award Jennings Mowers and Saws (pictured)
Jennings Mowers and Saws, founded by Lyle and Dianne Jennings, has proudly served the Young and Hilltops community since 2006 and will celebrate an extraordinary twenty years of operation in April 2026. Through droughts, storms, floods, heatwaves and rapid growth seasons, Lyle and Dianne have remained a dependable and trusted service for the region, ensuring outdoor power equipment is available, safe and ready when it is needed most.
What began as a small husband-and-wife business has grown into a respected team of seven, providing stable local employment and apprenticeship opportunities. Jennings Mowers and Saws is one of the rare Hilltops businesses to employ three generations at the same time — founders Lyle and Dianne, their son-in-law Brent, and their grandson Tristen. Their strong commitment to developing young people, including arranging external partnerships so apprentices can complete automotive and mechanical qualifications, has created long-term career pathways for local families.
Their dedication to keeping business local is equally significant. Jennings Mowers and Saws consistently supports other Hilltops businesses by using local suppliers, trades, services, printers and sponsorships, ensuring money stays within the region and helping to preserve the true heart of Hilltops.
The business’s excellence has also been recognised nationally. Jennings Mowers and Saws achieved outstanding Stihl sales, earning the honour of visiting Stihl’s headquarters in Germany in 2013 — an exceptional milestone for a regional, family-owned business.
Their generosity to the community is well known. Jennings Mowers and Saws regularly sponsors local shows, sporting clubs and community events, often donating the much-loved toy Stihl chainsaw. A defining act of service occurred when Lyle opened the shop on Christmas Day following a destructive storm, allowing locals urgent access to chainsaws and equipment for clean-up efforts. Now aged 74 and 71, Lyle and Dianne remain hard-working, humble and deeply committed to their community. Their loyalty, resilience and nearly two decades of service make Jennings Mowers and Saws an outstanding and deserving winner of the 2026 Business of the Year Award.
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