2018 Citizens of the Year

Newtown’s Sarah Midgley - NSW Co-Convenor of Australian Marriage Equality - is Inner West Council’s 2018 Citizen of the Year.

Since moving to the inner west six years ago, Sarah has spent vast amounts of time volunteering to help LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, and questioning) people achieve social inclusion.

Her roles include committee member of the world's largest soccer club, the Flying Bats, and committee member of Sydney's Pride History Group.

As NSW Co-Convenor and Director of Australian Marriage Equality, Sarah spent many hours helping at early morning market stalls, running community forums after work and on weekends, rostering, and managing other volunteers.

“Hearing that Australia voted YES and then seeing the legislation pass through Parliament were both amazing moments for me,” Sarah said.

“I experienced so many emotions - relief, unbelievable joy, pride in what the Australian people had achieved and an optimism for the future. It was a privilege to be a part of it,” Sarah said.

Sarah’s nominator said, “Sarah‘s commitment - which has been incredible and sustained - her positivity, and the mentoring she has given others has advanced the rights of LGBTIQ people in the community and helped towards creating a fairer and more equal society.”

Bundjalung-Munajali woman Euphemia Bostock is Senior Citizen of the Year.

As a founding member of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative (she designed the Boomalli logo), she has worked across a variety of media including textile, sculpture and printmaking, and tirelessly promoted the work and improved the lifestyle of Aboriginal artists across Australia for more than 50 years.

Euphemia - and her brothers Lester and Gerald - were founding members of Sydney’s Aboriginal Black Theatre in 1972.

Young Citizen of the Year is mental health awareness advocate Anne Maree Hoang.

Anne Maree has openly and honestly shared her mental health journey with those she has come into contact with - whether family, friends, peers or the public.

Her volunteer work with the national youth mental health foundation ‘headspace’ has assisted in raising awareness of mental health generally, and among culturally and linguistically diverse communities in particular.

The Citizens of the Year will be officially announced at Council’s Australia Day event in Enmore Park at 3pm.

For biographies of the Citizens of the Year and print quality images, contact the Communication team.

2018 Citizens of the Year

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