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LOCAL LIFE
Hawkesbury honours nine
Hawkesbury City Council has congratulated the nine recipients of the 2026 Australia Day Awards, presented at a special ceremony held in Council Chambers on Australia Day.
The 2026 award recipients are:
• Citizen of the Year – Bruce Earle
• Young Citizen of the Year – Bailey Carle
• Community Organisation of the Year – Barking with Bianca
• Sportsperson of the Year – Mackenzie Patterson Hollibone and Leanne Leach
• Local Hero Awards – Helen Knobbs and Anne Marks
• Environmental Awards – Stephen Brown and Kevin O’ Connor
Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather said he was delighted to recognise the incredible work undertaken by outstanding members of the Hawkesbury community.
“ To be with all of you while you are honoured with an Australia Day Award is a great privilege. You are people who care deeply about your community and who commit their time and skills to improving it. Today, we recognise that,” Mayor Sheather said.
“ Whether it’ s by inspiring others, helping others or sharing knowledge, your contribution is appreciated and deserves to be commended.” Citizen of the Year – Bruce Earle This award recognises a person who has contributed significantly
to the Hawkesbury, creating longterm benefits for the community while demonstrating selflessness, commitment and involvement.
Bruce Earle has been awarded Citizen of the Year for his long-standing and impactful service with the Freemans Reach Rural Fire Brigade.
A member since the age of 16, Bruce followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, father and mother. He has held almost every position within the brigade and has served as Captain for nearly 20 years.
During his leadership, Bruce rebuilt the brigade from a group with minimal membership into a thriving, highly trained and cohesive team that plays a pivotal role in protecting the community during bushfire season. This was particularly evident during the Gospers Mountain Fire, where Bruce led the Freemans Reach Brigade while also stepping into Divisional Commander roles and coordinating the wider district response.
Humble and passionate, Bruce’ s commitment to the Rural Fire Service is widely respected and admired.
Young Citizen of the Year – Bailey Carle
This award is presented to a person aged 25 or under who has made a significant contribution to the Hawkesbury through commitment, selflessness and community involvement.
Bailey has overcome personal adversity to excel in the sport he loves – basketball. Often playing well above his age group, Bailey trains and plays basketball six nights a week, proudly wearing his mum’ s number, 65.
In 2025, Bailey was selected to train and play basketball with youth teams in the United States and has once again been chosen to return in 2026. He is a terrific ambassador for both basketball and the Hawkesbury.
Community Organisation of the Year – Barking with Bianca
Barking with Bianca, a doggy day care service operating for more than 30 years, was recognised for its outstanding contribution to community wellbeing.
The organisation provides supervised play and socialisation in a safe environment, as well as training, pet sitting and dog walking services. Beyond this, Barking with Bianca is deeply committed to community and charity work.
Owner Bianca collects and distributes pet-related donations to people in need and partners with mental health and emotional support organisations, using therapy dogs to bring comfort and joy. The organisation also runs puppy therapy programs for vulnerable members of the community.
Sportsperson of the Year – Mackenzie Patterson Hollibone Mackenzie is a 19-year-old professional showjumper based in the Hawkesbury who has achieved outstanding success at both state and
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4 ISSUE 189 // FEBRUARY 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT