Citizen of the Year winners
Renmark Paringa Council are proud to announce the recipients of the prestigious Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards for 2025.
These awards acknowledge individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Renmark Paringa community and who embody the spirit of Australia Day.
The recipients will be honoured at an Australia Day Celebration held at Jarrett Memorial Gardens, Renmark on Sunday 26 January 2025 where they will be presented with their awards in front of the community, family, and friends.
The Australia Day Celebration will include a free community breakfast from 8am with the awards and citizenship ceremony to follow at 9am.
Local business owners Callum and Lauren Benda will provide the civic presentation on the day.
The Bendas are the owners of the Arrosto Coffee and are a great example of determination and innovation.
The recipients of the 2025 Australian Day Citizen of the Year Awards are:
Citizen of the Year – Alan Eckermann
Award for Young Citizen of the Year Award – Angus Leesue
Award for Active Citizenship – Neil Martinson
Community Event of the Year – Power Up Paringa Open Day
Citizen of the Year – Alan Eckermann
Alan Eckermann, a dedicated Renmark Paringa resident, has contributed to his community for over six decades. As President of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Riverland Support Group for 33 years, he helped raise over $1 million for RFDS SA/NT, improving healthcare for rural areas. Alan remains an active volunteer and passionate ambassador, frequently guiding tours of the local Patient Transfer Facility. He was awarded the RFDS Meritorious Service Award in 2016 for his dedication.
Alan also played a key role in founding the Paringa Football Club in 1960, where he played 194 games over 16 seasons and served in various club and committee positions alongside his late wife, Kath. A Life Member of the Paringa Football Club, Alan also represented independent clubs on the Riverland Football League (RFL) committee and served as RFL patron.
Alan’s commitment extends to 57 years of service with the Emergency Fire Service (EFS) and later the Country Fire Service (CFS), where he worked as a firefighter and later as a radio operator during major fire events. He is a Life Member of the CFS.
Additionally, Alan served as the last Mayor of Paringa before its amalgamation with Renmark and worked on community projects such as establishing a Muslim burial area at the Paringa Cemetery. His contributions include serving as a Justice of the Peace, as a board member for Renmark Paringa Hospital, and as a member of Renmark Cottage Homes, where a facility in Paringa was named in his honor.
Alan’s lifetime of service continues to inspire and make a lasting impact on his community.
Award for Young Citizen of the Year Award – Angus Leesue
Renmark High School Year 10 student Angus Leesue was recently selected as a 2024 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize recipient, winning a spot on the 2025 study tour to Vietnam.
Angus' outstanding commitment and skill to researching the story of former Renmark High School student and Second World War hero, John Lill reflects his desire, skill and passion for history, its connections to the Renmark community and his own life.
Angus' achievement, determined through a rigorous judging process that included the creation of an essay and an interview, will be celebrated in a few weeks with an award ceremony at ANZAC House with the Premier and Minister for Education along with Military and RSL members in attendance.
Award for Active Citizenship – Neil Martinson
After a hiatus of more than five years, the Renmark Christmas Pageant returned with great fanfare in 2023, thanks in no small part to the tireless efforts of Neil.
As a leading figure in the newly established Renmark Christmas Celebrations Committee Inc., Neil has played a pivotal role in delivering this much-loved community event.
The pageant draws thousands of attendees from across the Riverland, bringing festive cheer and a renewed sense of community spirit.
The event featured an array of attractions, including the highly anticipated parade, Santa’s Cave, face painting, roaming clowns, games, food trucks, and a spectacular fireworks display to cap off the evening.
Neil’s passion, dedication, and countless hours of work were instrumental in coordinating every aspect of the pageant’s success, from securing sponsorships and organising logistics to fostering community engagement.
The event not only marked a joyous start to the holiday season but also united the community in celebration, leaving smiles on the faces of many children and families.
Neil’s commitment to Renmark extends far beyond the pageant.
With over 40 years of volunteer service, he has made an indelible mark on the community through roles in education, sports, and civic leadership.
He served four terms as Renmark Paringa Mayor (2006-2022), contributed 20 years to Renmark schools in various leadership roles, and umpired over 600 games in the Riverland Football League.
A life member of the Riverland Football League, Riverland Umpires Association, and Paringa Tennis Club.
Neil embodies the spirit of active citizenship. His tireless efforts to enhance community life, including volunteering as a Red Cross driver and Justice of the Peace, inspire all who know him. The pageant’s triumphant return is a testament to Neil’s vision and commitment, ensuring that Renmark’s festive traditions continue to thrive for future generations.
Community Event of the Year – Power Up Paringa Open Day
The Renmark Paringa Community Museum’s Powering Up Paringa Open Day has been recognised as Event of the Year, celebrating the museum’s vibrant volunteer-led contributions to preserving local history.
Held as part of the 2024 SA History Festival, the event brought the community together to explore the theme of "Power" through interactive displays, historic demonstrations, and the unveiling of new exhibits.
The open day was a family-friendly celebration that showcased the passion and hard work of the museum’s volunteer team.
A highlight of the day included the iconic PS Industry powering its way under the historic Paringa Bridge at 9:30am, a spectacle that delighted attendees.
At the museum, visitors enjoyed the grand opening of the PS Industry display and the new location of the Black Stump exhibit, showcasing the museum’s dedication to continually enhancing its offerings.
The event also featured the powering up of a vast collection of stationary engines operated by volunteers, and a display from the Riverland Vintage and Classic Car Club.
Visitors were invited to explore the museum’s updates and enjoy catering provided by the Renmark Lions Club.
Situated between the Paringa Bridge and the Paringa Silo Art, the museum offered the perfect setting for a day of historical exploration and community connection.
The museum’s Powering Up Paringa Open Day demonstrated the power of volunteers to create an engaging and memorable experience for the entire community.