Apply, pay & book Apply, pay & book child pages
Services Services child pages
Community Community child pages
Explore Boroondara Explore Boroondara child pages
Get involved Get involved child pages
Boroondara Arts Boroondara Arts child pages
Your Council Your Council child pages
City of Boroondara is proud to announce Teresa Molella as our 2026 Citizen of the Year Award winner and Dr Rion Ahl as our Young Citizen of the Year Award winner.
Teresa and Rion were recognised for their outstanding contributions to our community by Mayor Wes Gault at Boroondara’s Australia Day citizenship ceremony at Hawthorn Arts Centre yesterday.
Several finalists were also recognised for their work in the community too and we thank all entrants and their nominators.
Teresa is celebrated for her outstanding and sustained contribution to community wellbeing through more than a decade of volunteer leadership.
A Camberwell Rotarian since 2013, Teresa has served as Operations Manager of the Hawthorn Makers’ Market, helping raise approximately $30,000 annually for Rotary community projects.
She is a Board member of Servants Community Housing, supporting people at risk of homelessness, and has volunteered with the St Vincent de Paul Society. As a former Board member of the Boroondara Cares Foundation, Teresa has contributed to addressing issues such as educational disadvantage, homelessness, social isolation, drug abuse and family violence.
Teresa also supports young people through the Chances program and coordinates a Friendship Group at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Deepdene, fostering strong social connections across the community.
Rion has made a lasting impact on the Boroondara community through his work in youth education, healthcare and public engagement.
As co-founder of 50Coach.com.au and 100Coach.com.au, Rion has helped make high-quality tutoring more accessible to students, including many in Boroondara.
His free online resource, Free VCE Notes, continues to support thousands of Victorian students by reducing the financial pressures of study.
Rion visits schools across the region, sharing practical advice on motivation, resilience and wellbeing. He uses his medical and research background to promote healthier, informed communities.
Sophie van Haalen was recognised for her courage and compassion following her diagnosis with Triple Negative Breast Cancer at 36. Inspired by the support her family received, Sophie founded the Sparkle Therapy Foundation, delivering more than 180 uplifting experiences to over 700 Victorians affected by cancer.
Pauline McKinnon OAM was acknowledged for over 40 years of service to mental health and wellbeing through Stillness Meditation Therapy. A counsellor, psychotherapist and author, Pauline has helped thousands manage anxiety and stress and has made lasting contributions to national meditation education.
Matisse Stafford was a nominee in our Young Citizen of the Year category and recognised for her exceptional civic service, including leadership at Monash University, volunteering with Australian Red Cross and Lifeblood, training a detector dog for the Australian Border Force and serving as a volunteer lifeguard with Life Saving Victoria.
A variety of other Council-run awards and events are held throughout the year to celebrate our community and the fantastic people that make Boroondara such a special place. Find out more and spread the word about these other awards.
