Meet our citizens of the year

For the first time, Central Coast Council has named a group, and not an individual, as Citizen of the Year in its Australia Day Awards.

Taking out the major award for 2025 was Happiness Habits Inc, a not-for-profit organisation that supports disadvantaged women through free mentoring, positive psychology, empowerment training and social connection.

The organisation has made a significant impact in community services by delivering transformative programs tailored to the needs of disadvantaged women on the Central Coast.

Its comprehensive approach combines mentoring, skill-building workshops and community engagement to foster long-term resilience.

The organisation excels in supporting women facing social isolation, domestic violence and mental health challenges.

Providing a safe environment, it helps women rebuild their lives, regain confidence and reintegrate into the community.

It also promotes community safety and advocates for services supporting vulnerable women, creating a ripple effect that benefits the broader community.

The awards ceremony was held on Thursday, January 23, at the The Art House, Wyong.

Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said the annual awards were a way for Council and the wider community to acknowledge those who were going the extra mile and were making a real difference.

“The nomination process always brings to the forefront many of the unsung heroes of the Central Coast that make an outstanding contribution to their local community and worthy of the spotlight and recognition,” she said.

Central Coast Council Mayor Lawrie McKinna said these annual awards celebrated and recognised those who enriched and served the community.

“It’s been an honour to present the awards to this group of remarkable local residents and organisations, spotlighting the selfless work they do within our local community that positively impacts the lives of so many,” he said.

“Congratulations to each of the 2025 awards winners, and to those nominated.

“Thank you all for your outstanding work that truly demonstrates the generous and caring community spirit on the Central Coast.”

Taking the Community Group Award was The Bikers Hand Inc, which began its journey in 2015 with a mission to make a real difference in the lives of those in need, driven by a passion for charity rides and helping the homeless.

Since 2018, the group has become a helping hand for more than 50 Central Coast charities and schools, supporting a wide range of initiatives including breakfast programs, domestic violence assistance and homeless support.

Its annual Christmas Toy Run brings joy to children and families during tough times, and the group hosts various events to uplift the community and replenish its supplies.

The Bikers Hand also supports animal shelters and groups dedicated to rescuing and rehoming animals.

Louise Chiekrie was named Community Life Award winner.

A resident of Lake Munmorah, her true passion is music, especially drumming.

After years as a drummer in a band, she established Happy Tappers with Lou, a one-woman act that facilitates drumming and music circles in residential aged care facilities across the Central Coast.

She travels throughout the northern areas, bringing accessible drumming equipment and inviting residents to enjoy and participate in activities tailored to their needs.

Staff report that the sessions are the week’s highlight for residents.

Through Happy Tappers, Chiekrie brings joy to older adults on the Central Coast and fosters a sense of community in residential aged care.

The Senior Citizen Award Winner was Betty Brown, a 96-year-old Long Jetty resident with a rich history of community service.

After retiring from teaching subjects like sciences and geography, she pursued computer skills through local community college courses.

Brown joined the Long Jetty Senior Citizens Club, where she was unexpectedly asked to teach computer classes, meeting the growing demand for computer literacy among seniors.

Her classes were always full, and she has taught hundreds of students over the years.

She has also held several leadership roles in the EDSACC Croquet Club, where she is a life member.

She was the club’s secretary for 12 years and later became the publicity officer.

Brown also lectured on Australian geography at U3A and was invited to speak at organisations like Probus and Rotary.

She has written several essays over the years for Council’s GOALL magazine and created the masthead title which stands for Growing Older and Living Life.

Joint Volunteer Award winners are Derryck Klarkowski and Paul Mikkelsen.

Klarkowski, from Wyongah, is the founder and volunteer CEO of We Care Connect (WCC), a local charity providing pre-loved clothing, cots, prams and car seats for disadvantaged children.

Since its inception, WCC has supported more than 26,000 children throughout the Central Coast and Hunter regions, addressing the needs of families facing extreme financial hardship, family violence and other critical issues.

Through community donations, WCC has rehomed more than 803,000 items, saving more than 500 tonnes from landfill.

Klarkowski has built a referral network of more than 500 caseworkers from 120 social support agencies.

He has taken on various roles, from repairing cots to creating an online database, all while keeping costs low.

His leadership and big-heartedness continually drives WCC’s mission to improve the lives of vulnerable children.

Mikkelsen, from East Gosford, is a long-serving volunteer at Coast Shelter Community Centre.

For more than 22 years he has made a significant impact by preparing meals Monday to Friday, helping to provide lunch and dinner for those in need.

He arrives every Tuesday to volunteer and ensures that dinner preparations are ready before he leaves.

Recently, he has focused on lunch services but continues to support the dinner program.

He also helps with Christmas meal preparations and assists with food rescue collections, providing essential ingredients for the community centre.

Matilda Taylor was announced winner of this year’s Young Person Award.

The Noraville resident is a dedicated firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and made history by being appointed deputy captain at Toukley Fire Station at the age of just 21.

This achievement positions her as the youngest deputy captain in both FRNSW history and at Toukley.

Joining FRNSW in 2021 as an 18-year-old, Taylor quickly distinguished herself through her proactive attitude and eagerness for leadership roles.

Her influence extends beyond her firefighting duties; she is also a mentor to her peers, recognised for her incident management skills.

Her success serves as an inspiration to younger women in traditionally male-dominated fields and highlights how ambition and hard work can inspire the next generation of leaders.