Community greats recognised in 2024 Citizen of the Year awards

Dozens of St John WA team members were recognised as nominees for 2024 Citizens of the Year awards, with many winning the esteemed accolade across regional and metropolitan councils on January 26.

• Esperance volunteers Trudy Pengilly, Brian Gallop, Tasha Synnot and Steve Sims were all nominees in this year’s Australia Day Citizen of the Year awards held in Esperance.
• Brian and Trudy were nominated in the Community category for their dedication and support to the subcentre and the wider community, while Tasha and Steve were nominated under the Group category for their cast and crew performance in the local production of Les Miserables.
• Trudy was honoured with the 2024 Community – Citizen of the Year.
• Tania Dickson was nominated for Corrigin Citizen of the Year.
• Natalie King, who has been a volunteer of the Moora sub centre for more than 12 years, received Moora’s Citizen of the Year award for her contribution to her community.
• Emergency Medical Technician and Volunteer Development Officer Cathy Fisher received the Shire of Chittering Citizen of the Year award.
• Southwest District paramedic Karen Hollings was awarded the City of Rockingham Citizen of the Year 2024 Australia Day award.
• Katanning Chair and volunteer Barbara Groves received Senior Citizen of the Year Award.
• Dylan Campbell won the 2024 Young Citizen of the Year Award having volunteered his time to attend emergency situations and mentor other ambulance officers in Wundowie. Dylan has completed a diploma in pre-hospital care and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in paramedicine, all while working full-time for St John WA.
• Shire of Mount Magnet’s Citizen of the Year jointly went to Emergency Medical Assistant Nicole King and her husband Caleb, who serves in the WA Police Force.
• At this year’s Australia Day celebration in Narrogin, the highest honour of Citizen of the Year was awarded posthumously to emergency service stalwart Grant Hansen, who died on October 25 last year. Grant was the driving force behind St John WA’s new patient transfer facility at Narrogin airport and was also a volunteer with Narrogin Fire and Rescue for nearly 30 years.

Head of Country Ambulance Karen Stewart congratulated all the recipients in Australia Day 2024 Community Citizen of the Year awards.

“St John WA is thrilled to see community appreciation for our people who go above and beyond in their service of humanity,” she said.

“We are also proud of all those who may not have been recognised in this year’s awards but who give tirelessly to their communities as it is a team effort. Well done.”

St John has 160 locations across regional Western Australia, which includes 140 volunteer response locations and 20 sub centres with a mix of volunteer ambulance officers and career paramedics who work side-by-side.

St John WA is not notified of award recipients so if we’ve missed one, please email media.relations@stjohnwa.com.au.