Published on Tuesday, 27 January 2026 at 12:31:23 PM
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Hopetoun Community Centre for the 2026 Australia Day community breakfast and celebrations!
We had a lovely time sharing a meal with everyone and celebrating the 2026 Community Citizen of the Year Award recipients.
These awards recognise individuals and organisations making a notable contribution or providing outstanding service to our community.
Community Citizen of the Year Awards
Community Citizen of the Year: Colin Hughes
Colin has made a valuable contribution to the region over many years. He has generously shared his building skills with a range of local community groups.
He has provided significant support to the Hopetoun Mt Short Aero Club, the Hopetoun Clay Target Club and the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show, assisting with everything from construction and project coordination to installations and event support.
Following the recovery of the 737 plane tail, after it crashed in the national park in 2023, Colin developed and submitted a successful plan on behalf of the Mt Short Hopetoun Aero Club to transform it into a unique tourist attraction.
Working closely with the Shire and local businesses, the project is now well underway, with the installation set to recognise the pilots’ survival and honour volunteer firefighters across regional Australia.
Senior Community Citizen of the Year: Peter MacMahon
Peter has been a dedicated member of the Hopetoun Men in Sheds since its beginning in 2011 and he is one of the driving forces behind the Cash for Cans project.
His work encourages recycling, supports local community groups and helps keep the region clean.
Alongside this, Peter has made an important environmental contribution through his work as a licensed seed collector, supporting conservation and rehabilitation efforts across the state.
Through his ongoing commitment and willingness to share his knowledge, Peter makes a valuable contribution to both the community and the environment.
Active Citizenship (Group or event): Hopetoun Clay Target Shooting Club
Since 2009 the Hopetoun Clay Target Shooting Club has been run by a dedicated group of volunteers.
The club is highly regarded by other shooting clubs across WA and also has state representatives across veteran, junior and women’s teams.
They host an annual three-day carnival attracting shooters from across the country.
And the club has big plans for future events that will continue to attract locals to take up the sport, but also bring people to the region to compete.
Young Community Citizen of the Year: Ella Paige-Groves (not present at the ceremony)
Ella is involved in both the school and local children’s sporting programs and is always ready to support others.
She works especially well with children with special needs, showing patience and care that helps them feel included.
She is a familiar face at community events and coaches the Nippers netball team with dedication.
New Australian citizens
Australian citizenship ceremonies are an important part of our nation’s celebrations, with more people becoming citizens on Australia Day than any other day of the year.
This year more than 14,600 people from over 150 countries were invited to become citizens at ceremonies all over Australia.
Congratulations to Alvina, Ted, Aaron, Dana, Katharine, Ian, Chompoonut and Stacey who took the citizenship pledge in Hopetoun on Australia Day!
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