The nominees for the Wagga Australia Day Awards were unveiled this week, ahead of the official presentation on January 25. 

There were eight nominees for the 2018 Citizen of the Year award. 

Among the names were Phillip Sheather, Phillip Hoey, Michael Georgiou, Geraldine Duncan, Amy Gray, Tony Aichinger, Annette St Clair and Fay Walters.

A devoted volunteer and one of Wagga’s rising leaders, Francis Elliott-Rudder, was the only nominee for the Young Citizen of the Year award. 

Two residents were also nominated for the Ted Ryder Memorial Award, which honours great contributors to Wagga’s sporting world. 

Robert Hay ‘Bob’ who has been involved with the city’s Little Athletics Club for close to 16 years and the Wagga Junior Brothers for close to 20 years was nominated alongside Wagga Croquet Club member Peter Lloyd.

Mr Hay was described as the backbone of the athletics club, having secured grant funding and helped to bring regional and state carnivals to Wagga across the years. 

Mr Lloyd was also commended for having expanded croquet across Wagga and around the region through schools, carnivals, coaching and more. 

The Walk of Honour Award, which recognises past and present contributors to the Local Government Area, will not be presented this year, with no nominations meeting the prestigious award’s criteria. 

The Australia Day Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 25 January from 7pm in the Victory Memorial Gardens, with all residents invited to attend. 

Two athletes are also set to be inducted into the cit’s Sporting Hall of Fame, with one citizen inducted into the hall’s Local Legends category. 

A free picnic and movie night will also be held on Thursday at the Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre from 7pm to 9pm.

Australia Day celebrations will begin with a free community breakfast courtesy at the Victory Memorial Gardens from 7am, followed by a range of family-friendly activities. 

This year’s events will also feature Wagga’s Australia Day Ambassador artist Yianni Johns.

At 9am, 28 individuals from nine countries will become Australian residents at the Civic Centre Forecourt

Mayor of the City of Wagga Mayor Greg Conkey said the awards honoured the hard work and dedication of people in the community, who made the city a better place.

“The award nominees represent some of Wagga’s many unsung heroes,” Mr Conkey said. “I would like to congratulate them on behalf of our city.”