Stirling Scene

Stirling Scene is the City’s monthly e-newsletter, full of events and important updates. Subscribe to find out what’s new at www.stirling.wa.gov.au/subscribe

We honoured some of our most inspirational residents at our 2026 Community Citizen of the Year Awards on Australia Day last week. These awards, delivered in partnership with Auspire – Australia Day Council of WA, allow us to give recognition to high-achieving citizens while giving the community role models to look up to.

Our 2026 Community Citizen of the Year is Vicky Young, the president and co-founder of Perth-based charity Dandelions WA. This year, Ms Young and her team of volunteers will deliver 17,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to vulnerable children, while also supporting people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, hospitalisation and other forms of hardship. Through her leadership and compassion, children walk into school with dignity and Western Australians in crisis feel seen and supported.

We also recognised:

• Terence Merchant, Senior Community Citizen of the Year
• Alexandria Nielsen, Young Community Citizen of the Year
• Perth Rhinos Basketball, Active Citizenship Award.

You can read more about these winners later in this edition of Stirling Scene. If you know someone who deserves recognition, nominate them today for the 2027 Community Citizen of the Year Awards.

Our Australia Day event was also about welcoming new citizens, with 143 people from 36 countries taking their final step to Australian citizenship at the City’s Reception Hall. It is one of the highlights of our role as elected members that we get to share in the joy of these moments at citizenship ceremonies throughout the year. Each of these new Aussies brings their own stories and strengths to our community and we are delighted they have chosen to call the City of Stirling “home”.

Mark Irwin
Mayor