Mandurah celebrates winners of 2025 Community Citizen of the Year Awards

The winners of the 2025 Community Citizen of the Year Awards have been announced during Mandurah’s Australia Day celebrations.

The annual awards recognise individuals and groups that have made notable contributions to their communities during the year, and those who have given outstanding service over several years.

Mayor Rhys Williams said this year’s winners had worked tirelessly to support the community around them and make Mandurah a better place for everyone.

“We are proud to announce the winners of this year’s Community Citizen of the Year Awards are Chris Stickland, Sue Edge, Brooke McIntosh and the Zonta Club of Peel – a huge congratulations to you all,” Mayor Williams said.

“These local heroes make incredible and meaningful efforts to help others in our community, assisting people in their most distressing times of need and working to build a bright future for all. Their community spirit is inspirational and helps us to form deeper connections with each other.

“It has been a huge privilege as Mayor to recognise and celebrate the contributions of our local champions throughout the years. Chris, Sue, Brooke and the Zonta Club are all very deserving of these awards and we thank them for their unwavering efforts and leadership.”

Community Citizen of the Year was awarded to Chris Stickland.

Chris became a member of the State Emergency Service in 1986 and in 2010 he was appointed the Local Manager of the Mandurah SES branch.

Since this time, Chris has overseen the unit responding to numerous emergency events including storms, flooding and land search (managed by WA Police) as SES Search Commander.

Chris is a strong advocate for cadets and youth in emergency services and was instrumental in establishing the highly successful SES cadet program at Mandurah Senior High School which has provided training and life skills to thousands of young people in the community.

Senior Community Citizen of the Year was awarded to Sue Edge.

Through her tireless dedication to Parkinson’s WA, Sue has significantly enhanced support and awareness for people living with Parkinson’s Disease in Mandurah, helping them to live fuller lives.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010, Sue dedicates her time to supporting people in the community affected by the disease through a range of activities, art and fundraising opportunities.

Young Community Citizen of the Year was awarded to Brooke McIntosh.

After a life-altering accident, Brooke committed to mental health advocacy, raising more than $70,000 for The Blue Tree Project and 20Talk by running 1600km to bring awareness to mental health issues.

Brooke confronts stigma around mental health in male-dominated industries, using her journey to inspire others to seek help, particularly supporting youth and workers in isolated regions.

She demonstrates resilience and courage to spread the message “It’s not weak to speak”.

Active Citizenship - group or event was awarded to The Zonta Club of Peel .

The Zonta Club of Peel has been empowering women in the Mandurah community and wider Peel area for more than 30 years with dedicated service and advocacy, focusing on social change and support for all women.

The group provides scholarships, supports local shelters and organising events that raise awareness about domestic violence and gender equality, enhancing the lives of women and girls.

Each year since 2006, the Peel group hosts a Missing Persons Memorial Service to remember people in the community who have gone missing and never returned, and to offer support to their loved ones. Mandurah is home to the only missing person’s memorial in the state.