Mayor's Community Message

28 January

CITIZENS RECOGNISED

I want to thank everyone who took part in the City of Ryde’s Australia Day Celebrations at Meadowbank Park on 26 January – I cannot think of a better way to celebrate our great nation than by spending this significant date with our friends, family and neighbours.

I’m especially proud to recognise and honour the nominees and winners of the 2026 Mayor’s Citizen of the Year awards, which were held for the first time on Australia Day, immediately prior to the Meadowbank Park celebrations.

Former SES NSW Ryde Unit Commander Keiran Gibson is a worthy Citizen of the Year. Keiran retired from the role in 2025, leaving behind a wonderful legacy of community service as the longest serving Unit Commander in the 50-year history of the Ryde Unit. 

Christian Lane, Epping Boys High’s 2025 School Captain, was named our Young Citizen of the Year, having exemplified exceptional leadership, service, and achievement through his dedication to community engagement, wellbeing initiatives, and sporting excellence.

Congratulations also go to our Sportsperson of the Year, Macquarie University Table Tennis Club founder Dr Yagiz Aksoy, and our Environmental Citizen of the Year, Sam Star, whose tireless grass-roots environmentalism reminds us that every contribution counts.

COMMUNITY GRANTS

I’m pleased to announce that Round 1 of City of Ryde’s 2026 Community Grants Program opens on Wednesday 4 February, supporting high quality projects that deliver positive outcomes for our local community.

Through the Community Grants Program, funding is available across key categories including Arts & Culture, Community Wellbeing, Events, Facilities and Equipment, and Sport and Recreation, supporting initiatives that foster creativity, connection, participation and active lifestyles. 

These grants aim to empower local organisations and groups to bring innovative ideas to life and strengthen community engagement across the City of Ryde.

For details, click here.

YOUTH CREATIVE COMP

Our City’s talented young people get their chance to shine with the return of Council’s Youth Creative Competition in 2026.

Entries to this fantastic competition, which is open for artists and writers aged 12-24 years old, are now open and will once again showcase the enormous benefits that art, and the message behind it, can provide us.

This year’s theme is ‘Your Dream’ and a total prize pool of $6,000 is available across all categories. For details, click here.

Sincerely, 
Trenton Brown – Mayor