Key Takeaways: Community Honours
- Citizen of the Year: 102-year-old WWII veteran Dean Simes was honoured for his leadership of Computer Pals for Seniors, promoting digital literacy among older residents.
- Young Citizen: Angelina Barnsdall received the award for her role as Chair of the Youth Advisory Committee, contributing to the Youth Action Plan and local festivals.
- Environmental Excellence: Jill Green was named Environmental Citizen of the Year for her long-term commitment to bushland conservation through STEP and Bushcare.
- Outstanding Community Group: The Ku-ring-gai Unit of the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) was recognised for its tireless work in storm response and flood recovery.
- Council Recognition: Mayor Christine Kay praised the recipients for empowering the community and fostering a culture of support across the North Shore.
102-year-old St Ives resident Dean Simes was acknowledged for his efforts to address digital inclusion for older people in Ku-ring-gai.
During Council’s Australia Day awards ceremony, World War II veteran Mr Simes was named the Ku-ring-gai Local Citizen of the Year for his involvement as President of Computer Pals for Seniors, a volunteer non-for-profit helping seniors navigate computer literacy.
In his time of president, Mr Simes has overseen the expansion of Computer Pals from a small help group into a structured program delivering regular training sessions and one-on-one assistance. Recently, Mr Simes secured external funding from a local bank for upgraded equipment.
‘Council is proud to present Dean Simes with the Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of his outstanding work promoting digital literacy among seniors,’ said Mayor Christine Kay. ‘Computer Pals is a wonderful community group empowering senior citizens to access digital technology and learn new skills.’
The Young Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Angelina Barnsdall, Chair of the Youth Advisory Committee, which advises Council on policies affecting residents aged 15 to 24. The committee has contributed to the Youth Action Plan and delivered events including Youth Week and the Healing Out Loud Festival.
Environmental advocate Jill Green received Environmental Citizen of the Year for her long-running involvement to bushland conservation through leadership roles with STEP, Bushcare, and Council advisory groups.
The Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Community Group went to the Ku-ring-gai Unit of the NSW State Emergency Service.
The volunteer organisation was acknowledged for its ongoing role in storm response, flood recovery, and emergency preparedness education.
