General News
30 January, 2026
Hindmarsh Shire honours community champions
AUSTRALIA Day started early in Hindmarsh Shire on January 26, with a BBQ breakfast in Rainbow at 7.30am, followed by ceremonies in Jeparit, Dimboola, and Nhill.
Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor Ron Ismay attended all four events on the day, where he addressed the crowd and presented Hindmarsh Shire Council’s 2026 Australia Day Awards.
Citizen Of The Year
Robert ‘Bob’ Blackwood of Nhill was announced as the Hindmarsh Shire Citizen of the Year for 2026.
Active with the Nhill Lions Club, where he has earned himself the nickname ‘BBQ Bob’, he has also helped with maintaining the Lions Rose Garden in Nhill and assisting with the setup for their markets.
Bob also has a long musical involvement with the Nhill and Dimboola Brass Band, and Cr Ismay congratulated him “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,” he said.
Young Citizens Of The Year
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
Along with playing various sports such as golf, bowls, tennis, and football for Jeparit, Jake has volunteered at a long list of community events such as the Jeparit Show, fishing competitions, and Anzac Day services.
He has been president of the Mopoke Club for the past two years – the club is a Jerapit group founded 75 years ago by local business owners who decided that no child should be without a gift on Christmas.
Cr Ismay said Jake was “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, including time out of hours.
She also volunteers with her church and runs the youth group, and Cr Ismay enthusiastically praised 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!” he said.
Community Event Of The Year
Luv-a-Duck’s event ‘Thank Duck It’s Friday’ was a free event organised for the community on Friday, March 21, 2025.
It involved live music, family fun, free giveaways, and face painting for kids at Jaypex Park in 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, and all proceeds and money raised were donated to the Nhill and District Sporting Club.
“Congratulations, Mark and the Luv-a-Duck team for showing the power of community-business partnerships, all the while running a fantastic event for the whole family,” Cr Ismay said.
Lifetime Achievement Award
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, and since then, she has been the driving force behind its continued success and consistent attendance rate.
She has an exceptional community service record over many decades, with her contributions spanning many social, cultural, sporting, and educational avenues.
Bev’s volunteering is characterised by reliability, humility, kindness, and an unwavering willingness to help wherever needed.
Cr Ismay said she had “an incredible legacy” in the Nhill community and deserved to be congratulated.
“The breadth of your service to the community is impressive,” he said.