Four Boroondara citizens were honoured for their community efforts at the Australia Day citizenship ceremony.

The winners of the annual awards were recognised for their passion to contribute to the betterment of the community, their commitment to civic responsibility and their participation in activities that benefit Boroondara, as well as other criteria.

The winners for 2010 are:

Citizen of the Year

In a lifelong career of service, Basil Richardson, Glen Iris, has supported a host of groups from the Friends of St John’s Community Service Group (25 years) to the Royal Flying Doctors Service Auxiliary (19 years) and the Boy Scouts (40 years).

 He is a well-known volunteer at local nursing homes and hostels. He assists people with transport for medical appointments and shopping, has grown thousands of plants to raise funds for Camcare, Anglicare and overseas aid, and was elected by parishioners as a representative of St Johns on Melbourne Synod and Vestry member.

Young Citizen of the Year

Philip Mallis, Balwyn North, is 17 years old and runs a not-for-profit youth community organisation called Twenty4 Community Media. He produces The Sutton for his local area with the assistance of youth volunteers. Phillip also founded and runs the Australian Youth Climate Change Council, which aims at raising awareness and educating youth. He volunteered at the Boroondara Eisteddfod from 2006-09, and was their youngest ever volunteer, and has been a volunteer for St John’s Ambulance since 2007.

Certificates of Recognition

Fran Van Brummelen, Hawthorn, and Clare Poyser, Balwyn, were recognised for their outstanding community service.

Fran, who contracted polio at an early age and has been wheelchair bound for most of her life, trained as a personnel officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital before doing social work at Preston and Northcote Community Hospital. She was a social worker at Kew Cottages for 23 years and maintains contact with many former residents and staff. Upon retirement, she volunteered as an English language tutor to migrants (four years) and has tutored at Glenferrie Primary School (eight years).

Claire was former school house captain at Boroondara Primary School, editor of Camberwell Girls Grammar school magazine in 2009 and is an active player, coach and umpire for the Boroondara Netball Association, as well as contributing with off-court duties.

She assists with the Foundation Boroondara Christmas Lunch, volunteers with the Australian Children’s Trust and participates on the Red Cross Youth Advisory Council. She also participated in the UN Youth Conference as representative for China.