Lake Mac Awards

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Congratulations to our 2025 finalists.

We are very excited to announce the finalists for the 2025 Lake Mac Awards. These awards celebrate the incredible people in our community who embody the spirit of Lake Mac, inspiring positive change across the city through their everyday actions.

Thank you to every person who submitted a nomination. We had a large number of very high-quality nominations which a panel of 13 expert judges carefully assessed. If you weren’t successful this time, please try again next year.

Winners will be announced at a formal gala event on Friday 28 March 2025 at Belmont 16s.

Book tickets

Tickets to the gala event include a 2-course dinner, drinks package and entertainment.

If you have any questions, please contact the awards team via email - [email protected]

2025 Lake Mac Awards finalists
 Category  Finalist
Lake Mac Artist and Creator

Demonstrating excellence in the field of arts and creative production

  • Piper Butcher
  • Cleo Doyle
  • Luca Romeo
  • Shannon Smith
  • Goya Torres 
Lake Mac Creative and Performing Arts Leader
Outstanding demonstration of leadership and contribution to the arts
  • Cleo Doyle
  • Susan Hart
  • Shay Perry
  • Matty Smith 
Lake Mac Environmental Leader
Outstanding contribution to the Lake Macquarie environment

 

  • Gayle Russell
  • The Groundswell Collective
  • James Chesterfield & Jed Pennington
  • Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group
  • Wyee Point Reserve Landcare 
Lake Mac Outstanding Contributor with Disability
Outstanding achievement or contribution by a person with disability
  • Tracey Blair
  • John Domandl
  • Jai Lonsdale 
Lake Mac Young Sports Star

Outstanding performance in junior sports (18 years or younger)

  • Melissa Valentina Baez
  • Erika Enderby
  • Xavier Orchard
  • Linkin Rae 
  • Zachary Tait 
Lake Mac Sports Star

Outstanding performance in sports (19 years or older)

  • John Domandl
  • Jenny Enderby
  • Nathan Outteridge
  • Jemma Pollard
  • Shaun Swadling
Lake Mac Sports Leader
Outstanding contribution to sporting life in Lake Macquarie City
  • Dr Alyce Barnes
  • Laraine Dunn
  • Russell Grundy
  • Emma Pollock
Lake Mac Community Event of the Year
Outstanding community event in Lake Macquarie
  • Few For Shoe 
  • Morisset Lake Macquarie Show
  • Orange Ride 4 Child Protection Awareness
  • Westlakes Carnival 2024  
Lake Mac Community Group of the Year
Outstanding community contribution

 

  • 80s Skaties
  • Eastlakes U3A Inc
  • Healing Path to Wellness
  • Repair It Lake Mac
  • Survivor’s R Us Incorporated
  • Toronto Amateur Sailing Club
  • Westlakes Athletics Club
Lake Mac Senior of the Year

Outstanding demonstration of leadership, skills and community contribution

  • Lee Baines
  • Jill Maclachlan
  • Judith Stokan
  • Stephanie Turner 
Lake Mac Volunteer of the Year
Outstanding community contribution

 

  • Lee Baines
  • Sandra Collins
  • Lee James
  • William Knight
  • John Robertshaw
  • Justin Rumore
  • Judith Stokan
Lake Mac Young Citizen of the Year

Outstanding demonstration of leadership, skills and community contribution

  • Nic Cade
  • Cleo Doyle
  • Akash Enjeti
  • Francesca Kelly
  • Jasmine Seidel
  • Emma Walsh
Lake Mac Ambassador
Outstanding contribution to the Lake Mac community
  • Dr Alyce Barnes
  • Aaron Carter
  • Bradley Dunn
  • Rhiannan Iffland
  • Ann-Maria Martin
  • Anna Noon

Sign up to the Lake Mac Awards e-newsletter to stay in the loop and receive information about the gala event and winner information.

Thank you to our major Lake Mac Awards 2025 sponsors.

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Learn more about our sponsors

Allambi Care

Allambi Care is a leading provider of support services for vulnerable children, young people, and families across New South Wales and Victoria. We offer innovative, flexible care in out-of-home care, disability services, foster care and youth programs. Our team is committed to nurturing a sense of belonging, hope, and positive futures for those we work with.

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Avondale University

Avondale is the first and only university in Lake Macquarie. It is one of the newest in Australia but with a more than 125-year history of providing quality higher education. Established in Cooranbong by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1897, Avondale’s pioneering heritage is one of creating opportunities for all students to improve their lives and the lives of those they love.

High-level, inclusive and individual support - including a free wellbeing program - in small classes with easy access to lecturers helps students get the most out of their study. They show this by ranking Avondale as one of Australia’s top-tier universities—number one for overall educational experience (The Good Universities Guide 2024), for example.

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Previous winners

Learn more about the 2024 Lake Mac Awards winners

Since 1981, the Lake Mac Ambassador, formerly known as the Lake Mac Citizen of the Year, has been celebrated for their exceptional contributions to our city.  Explore our history and learn more about these remarkable individuals in Lake Macquarie.