Manningham Council has officially opened nominations for its 2026 Manningham Community Awards.
Mayor, Jim Grivas, encouraged local residents to get behind the awards program, which has eight categories available for nomination.
“We have so many amazing people and groups doing incredible things in Manningham,” Mayor Grivas said.
“This is our opportunity to recognise the efforts of those truly special people and groups who make such a difference and thank them for their service to our community.”
Winners will be announced at a gala Awards Ceremony on Thursday 13 August, with one overall winner to be named Manningham Citizen of the Year.
The award categories are:
- Doreen Stoves Excellence in Volunteering
- Active Community
- Ageing Well
- Artistic Achievement
- Community Excellence
- Community Health and Wellbeing
- Inclusive Community
- Young Achiever
Mayor Grivas commended the winners of 2025 awards, including Citizen of the Year and Doreen Stoves Excellence in Volunteering Award winner, Leon Moore (pictured).
Mr Moore is a passionate volunteer who established the Laughing All Abilities Really Friendly Singers (LAARFS) choir. He said LAARFS had grown from a group of five stroke survivors to more than 100 people, including those with chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis and cancer, as well as others seeking connection and community.
“We have wonderful stories, we have had folks here who have had a traumatic brain injury, who have started speaking again. People who feel they can now make a noise,” Mr Moore said.
“We have only two rules, no negativity, no criticism. The benefit is to allow people to grow… to find their own strengths.
“We don’t see disabilities, we only see abilities and focus entirely on that,” she said.
Nominations for the Manningham Community Awards are open until 5pm on Wednesday 3 June.
For more information about each of the award categories and to nominate, visit Manningham Council’s website, manningham.vic.gov.au/community awards.
