Mayor Phill Stone with Citizen of the Year Gary Pattingale and wife Colleen.
Hear from Gary Pattingale - 2025 Citizen of the Year
Whyalla City Council is calling on residents to recognise the everyday heroes who make a difference in our community. 2025 Citizen of the Year, Gary Pattingale, knows firsthand how meaningful these awards can be — both for recipients and the wider community.
“I actually didn’t even know I’d been nominated until I got a letter from Council. I’ve spent more than 40 years in community service clubs. There are a lot of awards that come with that, but for me, just helping is enough — that’s the real reward. It’s so important to help the community in whatever way you can. It’s also a great way to meet people and come together to make a difference.”
“Being named Citizen of the Year is certainly an honour, but it was even better seeing all the people receiving awards that day. There are so many people out there doing good things who don’t always get recognised. I’ve actually nominated someone before, and the process is really easy — Council is there to help you through it. I hope these awards inspire more people to get involved, because it’s important for everyone to chip in and help their community thrive.”
Nominations for the 2026 Australia Day Awards close October 31.
Don’t miss your chance to celebrate Whyalla’s local champions — submit your nomination here!