We’re proud to recognise the winners of our annual Citizen of the Year Awards. These people have gone above and beyond in their service to our community.
The Boroondara Young Citizen of the Year award celebrates people aged 26 and under, to show that their efforts in the community have not gone unnoticed.
View a list of past winners on this page, and find out more about these awards on our Boroondara Citizen of the Year awards page.
Past winners
Citizen of the Year
Brenton Ponza
Brenton is a local volunteer, athlete and fundraiser. We recognised Brenton for his contribution to our community, in particular, with Go Zone Gymnastics.
GoZone is a therapeutic gymnastics program for children with physical or intellectual disabilities. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Brenton joined the program at 8 years old.
Now 25 years old, Brenton has been a volunteer coach for over 5 years and is a passionate disability advocate.
Brenton is an advisor and volunteer for the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre. His dream for the future is for greater diversity and inclusivity in sport.
Young Citizen of the Year
Henry Shirrefs
Henry is 18 years old and an exceptional leader and community volunteer. He has led school and community initiatives across sustainability, environment and mental health.
He led inter-school collaborations and established an Interschool Sustainability Partnership. Henry increased mental health awareness at school and raised $47,912 for Lifeline over 3 years. He has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to helping others each step of the way.
Citizens of the Year
Maxine Gross
Maxine Gross received a Boroondara Citizen of the Year award in 2023 for her incredible work as the co-founder of You Matter, a charity helping survivors of family violence to restart their lives.
Volunteers at You Matter work with family violence agencies, lawyers and refuges to help their clients. Through the charity, Maxine helps survivors in need to get a ‘fresh start’ by providing in a comfortable, safe and welcoming haven − a stable home, complete with necessary household items.
Since starting You Matter 3 years ago, Maxine’s warmth and passion has inspired an army of volunteers. She co-founded an invaluable network of support – including 118 ‘havens’ – for survivors of family violence in and around our community.
John Unkles
John Unkles also received the Boroondara Citizen of the Year award in 2023 for his volunteer work over the last 25 years, particularly with the Camberwell Hockey Club.
John is known at the club as a role model of respect and fair play. His referee credited John for creating a positive social and sporting experience for the hockey club’s over 1,300 members.
John is also being acknowledged for his dedication to the community through his volunteering with Anglicare, the Canterbury Action Group and supporting bushfire victims. This shows how community support is a core value for John.
Young Citizens of the Year
Mike and Ben Zhou
Brothers Mike and Ben have together been awarded the Boroondara Young Citizen of the Year award in 2023 for their sustained contribution to our community. Every Christmas over the last 13 years, they played the violin across Boroondara, where all proceeds have been donated to charity.
The judges were impressed by Mike and Ben’s dedication over many years, and how they have inspired other young people to perform, also donating proceeds to charity.
Citizen of the Year
Greg Buchanan
Greg Buchanan’s commitment to protecting the fabric of our built heritage and the future of Boroondara is widely recognised. Greg played a pivotal role in establishing the Surrey Hills Progress Association and the event for the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Surrey Gardens, and he advocates tirelessly for the community voice to the Level Crossing Removal Project.
Those who work with him relay stories of a selfless individual with a great ability to engage with the community for the best outcomes.
Young Citizens of the Year
Rhea Werner
Rhea Werner drives change and awareness at local, national and international levels for nutrition issues affecting her peers. Rhea is a co-chair and founding member of the national non-profit Body Confident Collective, a Boroondara Youth Council member, and has contributed to United States legislation with Harvard University. At just 15 years of age, Rhea leads and inspires her peers to create awareness as she works to advocate for tangible change for those suffering from often-stigmatised eating disorders.
Belinda Battey
Belinda Battey’s dedication to others is exemplified by her role as the volunteer live-in manager of Servants Community Housing, an organisation that supports women experiencing long-term mental health issues and/or who are survivors of domestic violence. Belinda also supports young people by leading youth camps and in her work as a carer. She is described as focused and passionate in her work to support young people and those in desperate need.
Citizens of the Year
Dr Elaine Ong
Dr Elaine Ong started doing welfare work as a volunteer vet in the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami. She has volunteered as a vet and expert wildlife rescuer in significant bushfires and flood in Victoria for the last 20 years, including the Black Saturday bushfires and recently in the Mallacoota fires. Dr Ong is the founder of Vets for Compassion, a volunteer group that helps displaced and injured wildlife. She has also trained vets who deliver animal welfare work in Bali and China for the last 22 years.
Yvonne Giltinan
Yvonne Giltinan founded Yarra Gospel Community Choir in 2004. Over the past 17 years, she has grown the choir from just 4 original members to more than 70. A professional musician with 40 years’ experience, she uses her skills and experience to mentor young accompanists and build a supportive community.
Young Citizen of the Year
Aidan Dimitriadis
Young Citizen of the Year recipient Aidan Dimitriadis has spent nearly half his life giving back to his community. The year 5 student volunteers at Four Golden Hearts, a group that supports local families.
His “Build Anything, Be Anything by Aidan” campaign has provided children in need with their own packs of Lego.
Citizen of the Year
Ted Wilkins has been an active member of the community for many years, devoting his time to numerous organisations and community groups including the Rotary Club of North Balwyn, the North Balwyn Uniting Church Council and the Carols Committee of the North Balwyn InterChurch Council.
A long-time Rotarian, Ted has been involved in a wide range of activities raising funds for many charities and community needs, including Rotary’s mental health research fund and the North Balwyn Community Men’s Shed.
“The Men’s Shed has been a wonderful thing that has given older people a sense of belonging,” Ted said. “I was 63 when I got involved in the Rotary and I wish I had got into it sooner. The entire organisation does wonderful work which helps Boroondara but also places around the country, and around the world.”
For over 10 years, Ted’s tireless efforts have also been the driving force behind the delivery of the Carols in the Park event at Macleay Park, from extensive fundraising, to planning, through to on-the-ground event set up and pack up.
“When I first got involved in the event we would see around 1,500 to 2,000 people attend, now we see up to 5000 people there. It’s such a wonderful event getting people of diverse backgrounds, from all areas of the community, together for a happy picnic event - it’s a great night,” Ted said.
Ted is a generous, reliable and astute person, offering a wealth of invaluable advice drawing on his career of over 40 years in insurance. To this day, he continues to live an active and selfless life supporting his family, organisations and causes.