2024 Citizen of the Year Award winners

Our 2024 Citizen of the Year Award winners have gone above and beyond in contributing to The Barossa Council community.

Citizen of the Year Debbie Miles epitomises the expression ‘if you need something done, ask a busy person’.

In fact the Tanunda resident has given so many years of service, she has earned life membership with four community-based organisations including Tanunda Netball Club, Tanunda Show and Meals on Wheels.

But like many volunteers, Debbie is happiest “behind the scenes”, and asks nothing for her effort.

“Just a simple thank you, you know; thanks that it worked out well or thanks for being there – that’s all very special,” Debbie says.

Describing her volunteering as “totally rewarding”, Debbie’s involvement with Tanunda Show began over 35 years ago as an entrant in the craft section, which soon led to an office-bearer role.

“I turned up with my entries late one year and Wilf Noack was then president and he said, well you’ll just have to come and help us out, won’t you! 1987 was when I first took on the role of secretary,” said Debbie.

“I love seeing the people coming in; some people I see only but once a year and it’s like a little catch up, you know. Just the faces of people when they walk in the Show Hall after judging has finished and the excitement of the children, it’s fantastic.

“It’s important to keep these things going and hopefully get the young people involved to continue with these traditions…that’s what I would love to see.”

Debbie’s service to Meals on Wheels began delivering meals with her mum, and has kept hundreds of people well fed and socially connected over the years.

“It’s just rewarding being able to spend those few moments with people and just make sure that they’re okay as well. Some of the clients don’t have local family in the area so having that day-to-day contact, it’s a wellbeing check for them as well,” says Debbie.

With the support of husband Brian every step of the way, Debbie has also contributed thousands of hours to the local and regional netball community, earning life membership with Tanunda Netball Club and the Barossa, Light and Gawler Netball Association.

Debbie says she has truly received more than she has given.

“Just meeting a different diversity of people in the community, and the broader community as well, and having that good working relationship with them – and if I ask them to help out, they just might!” laughs Debbie.

While the Barossa Vintage Festival has come and gone, 21-year-old Casey Miles continues to be an outstanding young ambassador for the region.

The sixth-generation Barossa resident is advocating for improved public transport, both for visitors to the region and for local residents commuting outside the Barossa, including young people.

“Initially within my participation in the Barossa Young Ambassador program, I got to connect with our Local MP and we talked about what are the key issues that the Barossa faces,” said Casey.

“Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Australia, we pinpointed that public transport in the Barossa is something that is not so reachable for everyone.”

Describing the Young Ambassador experience as “incredible and an honour to be a part of”, Casey said her participation in the Barossa Vintage Festival also highlighted the importance of volunteering.

“I’ve grown up in the Barossa my whole life but I’ve never really immersed myself into that rich culture that we have here and all the events that we hold, and what the community really does to pull together,” said Casey.

“And to see the people’s faces who come and watch it, and know you’ve pulled that together as a brilliant team, is just amazing.”

With Ashton Hurn MP as her mentor, the Young Citizen of the Year feels she has much more to give, both as a volunteer and a champion for regional issues.

“As well as continuing to be that voice and advocate, I would love to step forward into being some sort of leading role for our community – wherever that takes me in the future, I’m happy to do it,” said Casey.

“If I could say that I’m an advocate for the Barossa, I absolutely would – I only want to see it grow and see it get better, and see people come and experience it and love it just as we do living here. That would be amazing.”

Matt Hale could not be a more deserving winner of an award that celebrates Active Citizenship.

The Williamstown resident is active in every sense of the word, championing physical and mental fitness as well as the importance of social connectedness.

As the founder of Barossa Outdoors with wife Faye specialising in kayaking, e-biking and hiking in the southern Barossa, Matt is a strong advocate for nature-based therapy to assist in health and wellbeing.

He especially has a heart for youth advocacy and wellbeing, driven by his teenage son Ethan’s experience with autism.

“Sometimes I think when we live somewhere…we forget about what beauty we live in, what opportunities are right on our doorstep to get out there in the wild, and for me, that’s what I’m all about,” says Matt.

This philosophy has seen Matt co-ordinate and support a range of community nature-based activities including the highly successful Santa Dash and ROAR Barossa in conjunction with Southern Barossa Alliance, creating opportunities for both local residents and visitors to see the region through the lens of nature.

“I see it as another way to promote the community that I live in as well and what we’re offering in the southern Barossa area,” Matt says.

While his efforts have earned him a Walking SA Award for Recreation, Matt is quick to credit the work of others in the community.

“When I got the phone call from Mayor Lange, I said for once in my life you’ve got me to shut up,” says Matt. “I said I was absolutely gobsmacked and I still can’t believe it, because there’s so many people out in the Barossa, so many people that are doing incredible things, who give so much, not expecting anything back and putting a lot of effort into their local community.

“They don’t do it for an award, they don’t do it sometimes even for a thank you, they just do it because it’s right and it drives them. So (I feel) absolutely honored, really really grateful, really really happy.”

Matt says this strong sense of community is what makes the Barossa unique.

“It’s a successful community because there is a community. If we’re all strangers and we don’t know our neighbours, then it falls down and that’s what I love about the Barossa.”

In a region known for wine, the Barossa Medieval Fair is certainly an event with a difference on the Barossa’s annual calendar.

Attracting around 14,000 people to Lyndoch in 2023, the Fair event celebrates medieval and middle ages traditions including art, literature, music, armour, combat and village life, as well as skills in metal forging and carpentry skills.

Authentic re-enactments are a highlight every year, and local school students also participate in a village walk.

Organiser Henry Carter says the event provides both colourful entertainment and education, often introducing people to a little-known chapter in history.

“Everyone seems to enjoy the event,” says Henry. “You do have the puritans that have to be in period costume (but) I’m more interested in getting people to engage in the history in the first place.

“If mum and dad and their two kids dress up and have a good day, I think that’s great.”

The Fair also supports local community groups and not-for-profits, something Henry hopes continues to grow.

“It’s great that all these people come and enjoy it and I do want it to be taken up by the community so people benefit, socially and community-wise, to make it better.”

Henry believes it’s important to have a diversity of events that are not wine-related, to attract new audiences.

“The Barossa needs to be more than a wine tourism destination. It’s great to have something else that brings people here and has that knock-on effect,” said Henry.