A local sporting hero, an eco warrior, a young musician and an altruistic community group have been named as Mosman Park’s 2024 Community Citizens of the Year.
The Auspire Community Citizen of the Year recipients were honoured at the joint-council ceremony on 27 January alongside the Town of Cottesloe and Shire of Peppermint Grove.
Mayor Paul Shaw praises the outstanding recipients on their remarkable and diverse impact on the Mosman Park community.
“From fostering harmony and inclusion to taking the lead on community issues and initiating positive change as a result, they are all truly deserving of this recognition and serve as an inspiration to us all.”
2024 Community Citizen of the Year – Ben Riley
In 2020, Ben identified inadequate and potentially dangerous equipment storage at MPJFC, particularly for goal posts and general equipment. Over the next three years, Ben spearheaded the construction of an equipment shed through significant fundraising and project management efforts. His leadership on the project enabled its completion within a limited budget and timeframe, enhancing the experience for all members and volunteers.
Additionally, Ben led a team to establish an electronic scoreboard at Tom Perrott Oval, contributing to Mosman Park’s positive reputation and community spirit. After three years of dedicated work on these projects, Ben is now the President of the Mosman Park Junior Football Club.
2024 Senior Community Citizen of the Year – Don Crawford
Over the past six months, the Friends of Mosman Park Bushland and the Mosman Park Men’s Shed collaborated to install 29 bird nesting boxes, led by Don (pictured), a dedicated member of Friends of Mosman Park Bushland. Don secured project funds, constructed most of the boxes, supervised quality control, and installed them across Mosman Park. These robust boxes, built with over 150 recorded hours of Don’s voluntary work, will serve as homes for local birds for years to come.
Don will install 10 boxes at local schools—Mosman Park Primary School, Mosman Park Kindergarten, St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, and its kindergarten. Students at these schools will be encouraged to monitor the boxes and observe bird activity. Don’s commitment extends to his weekly work maintaining and enhancing Mosman Park’s bushland, where he actively engages with our community, fostering their interest in local flora and fauna.
2024 Young Community Citizen of the Year – Olivia Koscak
For several years now, Olivia has passionately volunteered her time to play the Last Post at significant RSL events in Mosman Park, including Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day. Olivia not only attends rehearsals leading up to the public event but also puts in extra hours practicing in her own time; illustrating her unwavering dedication to these meaningful events for her local community.
2024 Active Citizenship Group of the Year – Mosman Park Sisterhood
The Mosman Park Sisterhood provides support and guidance to one another, while giving back to the community in many ways. The Sisterhood comprises a dedicated group of ladies who have held car wash days with residents of Dorothy Genders Village, cooked and distributed hot meals packs for those in need, and are always available to meet for a conversation over dinner. The Sisterhood aims to create support and connection within the Town, as well as build a sense of ‘village’ amongst the ladies of Mosman Park.
The Community Citizen of the Year Awards recognise outstanding contribution by local people to local communities throughout Western Australia. The Awards aim to:
- engender community contribution and participation
- encourage community harmony and engagement at a local level
- showcase grass-roots community involvement, achievement and capacity-building initiatives.
There are four awards categories:
- Community Citizen of the Year
- Young Community Citizen of the Year (16 – 30 years of age)
- Senior Community Citizen of the Year (over 65 years of age)
- Active Citizenship – group or event
Nominations are open all year round with a dedicated campaign in September – October each year. More information is available here