Congratulations to the recipients of the Hindmarsh Shire Council Australia Day Awards held at the Nhill Memorial Community Centre on Monday due to the extreme weather conditions.

• Citizen of the year – Bob Blackwood.
• Youth of the year (joint winners) – “Star” and Jake.
• Event of the year – Thank Duck It’s Friday.
• Lifetime achievement award – Bev Rethus.
• Lions Club of Nhill’s Australia Day Citizen award – Chris Stanford.

Australia Day started early in Hindmarsh Shire on Monday 26 January 2026, commencing with a BBQ breakfast in Rainbow at 7:30am, followed by ceremonies in Jeparit, Dimboola, and Nhill.

Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Ron Ismay, attended all four events on the day where he addressed the crowd and presented Hindmarsh Shire Council’s 2026 Australia Day Awards.

Hindmarsh Citizen of the Year
Robert Blackwood, Nhill

Robert Blackwood of Nhill has been announced as the Hindmarsh Shire Citizen of the Year for 2026.

Robert Blackwood, known to many as ‘Bob’, was born and raised in Nhill. Bob is known for his love and commitment to the Nhill community, striving to make Nhill a better place for all. Bob has contributed to the Nhill community through many different avenues, the largest and most recognisable is with the Nhill Lions Club where he has earnt himself the nickname ‘BBQ Bob’, as he spends more time than anyone else behind the BBQ.

On top of organising and cooking the BBQ for the Nhill Lions Club, Bob has also spent countless hours volunteering to assist with maintaining the Lions Rose Garden in Nhill with other volunteers and assisting with the set up for the Nhill Lions Club Markets. He also assists other organisations and groups around town by working the gate at Davis Park Nhill, assisting the CFA on Good Friday when they are collecting donations for the Good Friday Appeal and setting flags up at the Nhill cemetery for ANZAC and Remembrance Day.

Bob has a passion for music and loves to bring joy to other people when playing music with the Nhill and Dimboola Brass Band. He joined the band when he was 12 years old and has been awarded a life membership. Bob has played at numerous ANZAC services, local shows within Hindmarsh Shire, Christmas Carols events, and served many terms as the president.Bob is a wonderful role model for the Hindmarsh community and his passion for volunteering is inspiring to many. Bob is friendly and welcoming to everyone, is always willing to have a chat and to give up his time to help others. Even though Bob has worked hard throughout his entire life, he still chooses to spend as much of his time helping others through his many volunteering roles.

Cr Ron Ismay, Mayor said, “Congratulations Bob on the countless years of generous service to the Nhill community. The purpose of this award is to honour people who work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to make our communities a great place to live and visit, and I believe Bob fits this description in every way. I look forward to visiting one of Bob’s Lions Club BBQs – which will no doubt be present at upcoming events across the Shire this year.”

Hindmarsh Young Citizens of the Year 2026

This year, Hindmarsh Shire Council’s Young Citizen of the Year Award was awarded to two recipients – Jake Smith and Dah Lay Htoo Shwe.

Hindmarsh Young Citizen of the Year – Jake Smith, Jeparit

Jake Smith was born in Nhill and lives in Jeparit. He attended the Jeparit Primary School and Dimboola Memorial Secondary College, before commencing work at Ahrens in Tarranyurk. Jake spends a lot of his time playing various sports such as golf, bowls, tennis and football for Jeparit, as well as volunteering at various community events such as the Jeparit Show, Jeparit Angling Club Fishing Competitions, Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum Rally, Jeparit RSL ANZAC Day service and Australia Day events. Jake jumps into action and gets things done without being asked and always does it all with a smile on his face.

Jake has been president for the Mopoke Club for the past two years. Mopoke Club is a group in Jeparit that was founded 75 years ago by local business owners who decided that no child should be without a gift on Christmas. Since joining, he has helped deliver a highly successful annual Santa visit – an event that brings joy to local families by providing every child from infancy to age 12 with a free gift, icy pole, bag of lollies and a drink. Jake has assisted locals with putting up Christmas decorations throughout Jeparit and has contributed to multiple fundraising activities throughout the year, demonstrating his remarkable commitment to Jeparit and surrounding communities.

On top of all that has been mentioned, Jake also volunteers for many community groups and clubs in Jeparit, ranging from volunteering at the Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Musuem where he has assisted with setting up, cooking food, and packing up at their Rally events, to volunteering for the Jeparit A&P Society, Jeparit RSL, Jeparit CFA, Jeparit Angling Club, Southern Mallee Thunder Football Netball Club (formerly Jeparit Rainbow Football Netball Club), Jeparit Golf Club and Jeparit Tennis Club.

Cr Ismay said. “Congratulations Jake, you’re a fantastic role model for young people in our community, showing what can be achieved when people of all ages are willing to pitch in.”

Hindmarsh Young Citizen of the Year – Dah Lay Htoo Shwe, Nhill

Dah Lay Htoo Shwe, also known as ‘Star’, has had an extremely vital and positive impact on the Karen youth at Nhill College and the greater community. Star works as an Education Support Officer at Nhill College, where she supports and assists Karen students within the classroom. Her impact extends beyond this, as she also assists new families with enrolment, uniforms, accessing online platforms, ordering booklists and all communications with Nhill College as students settle in. Star also provides out of hours support to both students and their families and assists them with any queries they may have. Star’s caring and approachable nature draws students and parents to seek her support, which she willingly provides.

Star also supports students at the weekly homework club after school every Tuesday where she encourages students to complete all tasks and review their schoolwork. This is something that Star offers outside of her role at the Nhill College. She also takes the time to assist the Karen community with translating information to help them better understand how to sign up with the Nhill and District Sporting Club and more recently, the new Social Media laws that have been introduced for young people. Star is always enthusiastic and engaging and only wants the best for the youth that she works with.

On top of all the tremendous support she provides the community, Star also volunteers with her church and runs the youth group. This involves organising activities for the Karen youth to participate in, often organising meaningful day trips so that the youth can continue to learn and thrive under her guidance. Star also drives and picks up the Karen youth from their homes to take them to church and youth group. Her compassion for supporting the Karen youth is admirable and inspiring.

Cr Ismay said, “Congratulations Star on this outstanding achievement. From your nomination, it is clear how important you are to the Karen and wider community in making sure everyone can learn, access information, and have fun! We thank you for your contribution to our community.”

Hindmarsh Community Event of the Year – Thank Duck It’s Friday

Luv-a-Duck’s event ‘Thank Duck It’s Friday’ has been announced as the Hindmarsh Community Event of the Year for 2026.

Luv-a-Duck’s event ‘Thank Duck It’s Friday’ was a free event organised for the community on Friday 21 March 2025. It involved live music, family fun, free giveaways and face painting for kids at Jaypex Park, Nhill. This free community event organised by Mark Shandley saw over 200 locals attend where they enjoyed a night of music in a relaxed environment. Additionally, all proceeds and money raised were donated to the Nhill and District Sporting Club.

‘Thank Duck It’s Friday’ had favourable economic benefits with many people travelling to Nhill for the free event from nearby towns, the Nhill District Sporting Club who received a substantial donation, and the ingredients and supplies required for the event were purchased locally at various shops in Nhill.

Cr Ismay said, “Congratulations Mark and the Luv-a-Duck team for showing the power of community-business partnerships, all the while running and fantastic event for the whole family. We look forward to more events like this in the future.”

Hindmarsh Shire Lifetime Achievment Award – Beverly Rethus

Beverly Rethus of Nhill has been announced as the recipient of Hindmarsh Shire Lifetime Achievement Award for 2026.

Beverly Rethus, also known to many as ‘Bev’, has made an exceptional and long-lasting positive impact on the Nhill and the wider Hindmarsh community through her exceptional leadership, commitment and generosity across multiple organisations. Bev founded Nhill Parkrun in 2015, with the first event launching in February 2018. Since then, Bev has been the driving force behind its continued success and consistent attendance rate. Having volunteered 271 times across the 335 events that have been held, she has served as Event Director, Run Director, and assisted in other volunteer roles as required. Bev also completed 95 events herself. Bev is widely known and respected across the Australian Parkrun Network and is one of the oldest to establish a parkrun in Australia.

Bev has an exceptional community service record, with her contributions being across many social, cultural, sporting, and educational avenues, all incorporating a lifetime of her dedication to many groups and organisations. Some of Bev’s significant contributions include church and community service, establishing a 500-card competition to raise funds, volunteering extensively for the church kitchen and being a core member of the catering committee. Bev and her husband, Ray, also organised ‘Old Time Dances’ where funds were raised for the church hall, an event that they both actively participated in.

Bev has also served multiple terms on the Nhill Lutheran School Council and served as Chairperson as well. Bev has played a major role in fundraising for the Nhill Lutheran School, notably for the ‘November Feast’ held annually on the first Friday of November. She also assists with covering books at the school library, which supports literacy and resources for students.

Bev is renowned for her beautiful roses, many of which have been awarded prizes at the Nhill Show.

She’s a long-term committee member and steward for the Nhill Ladies A & P Society, an active participant in local sports, a member of the Nhill Lutheran Tennis Club and as a badminton player, and she supports the Nhill Senior Citizens with catering and dishwashing.

All of these wonderful contributions span decades. Bev’s volunteering is characterised by reliability, humility, kindness and an unwavering willingness to help wherever needed. She tries to lead by example, with a quiet, consistence and generosity that inspires others. Bev’s positive impact on the Hindmarsh community is profound, long-lasting and felt across generations, and her lifelong service has made Hindmarsh a stronger, kinder and more connected community.

Cr Ismay said, “Congratulations Bev, what an incredible legacy to have in the Nhill community. The breadth of your service to the community is impressive. A quick search says that over 6,441 finishes at the Nhill Parkrun – that’s over 32,200km between them, all participating because you brought an idea to life. I’m sure I speak on behalf of every organisation of which you are, or have been, a part of – thank you so very much for your lifetime of dedicated service.”

“On behalf of Hindmarsh Shire Council, I sincerely thank everyone who took the time to submit nominations for the 2026 Hindmarsh Shire Australia Day Awards,” added Cr Ron Ismay. “Council continues to support this day and see it as a day to come together and celebrate our freedom, democratic rights, multiculturalism, and enjoy the wonderful country we live in.’

Cr Ismay concluded, “I would also like to sincerely thank and extend our gratitude to the volunteers who run the Australia Day events each year – Lions Club of Rainbow, Jeparit Town Committee, Dimboola CWA and Lions Club of Nhill.”

This article appeared in Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 28 January 2026.