SHIRE of Mundaring welcomed new Australian citizens and celebrated outstanding local volunteers at its annual Citizenship and Community Awards ceremony held at Boya Community Centre on Australia Day.

Thirty new Australians from 12 countries were officially welcomed into the community, alongside the recognition of three residents and a community group whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact across the shire.

Citizen awards were presented acknowledging contributions that strengthen community connection, inclusion and sustainability with Joan Quinn and Majorie Moyle receiving the inspirational volunteer award, William Pether the young citizen of the year and Jane Brook Catchment Group receiving the long service award.

Shire President Paige McNeil said the ceremony provides a meaningful opportunity to both welcome new citizens and acknowledge those who give their time and energy to supporting others.

“Australia Day provides an opportunity to reflect on what brings us together as a community,” President McNeil said.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have passionate volunteers and community leaders who go above and beyond to make Shire of Mundaring such a connected, inclusive and caring place to live.

“I congratulate Joan Quinn, Marjorie Moyle, Will Pether and Jane Brook Catchment Group and on their well-deserved recognition. Their generosity, leadership and commitment truly reflect the spirit of our community.”

For more than a decade, Joan Quinn has helped shape Mount Helena into the connected and community-driven place it is today.

As Mount Helena Residents and Ratepayers Progress Association president she has encouraged people of all ages to get involved, share ideas and take pride in their town.

She stepped into leadership at a time when the association needed new direction bringing energy, warmth and a strong focus on working together.

Under her guidance, the group has become a trusted voice for the community and a champion for local projects.

Her support for young people has been especially important and she led community efforts to upgrade the Mount Helena Skate Park, delivering new facilities that young people now enjoy every day.

She has also been a strong advocate for local sport helping secure improvements at Elsie Austin Oval, including new accessible changerooms with the upgrades supporting all abilities players, girls’ and juniors’ teams, and the broader Mount Helena community.

Her passion for local heritage has helped reconnect residents with places that matter and she has worked to restore the WWI Lion Mill honour roll, revive the ANZAC Day service and support the Mount Helena Swim Club.

For more than forty years, Marjorie Moyle has been a much-loved and dependable presence in the Mundaring and Eastern Hills community.

She has devoted decades to the Country Women’s Association, serving as treasurer of the Mundaring branch for 40 years and remaining an active member for 49 years.

She has also guided and supported generations of young athletes in her roles in the Eastern Hills Little Athletics including club manager, coach and life member and also helping to re-establish the Mundaring Little Athletics Club and coaching across several local clubs for many years.

Her service extends beyond sport and in 2024 she received two Hasluck volunteer of the year awards and also supported the Firefighters School in Stoneville by preparing lunches for volunteers since 2015.

Will Pether has been a proud part of the Stoneville Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade since he was 15.

He qualified as a firefighter a year later and has been showing up for his community ever since giving his time generously.

He has completed all required training, built strong skills and is always ready to lend a hand, no matter the task.

Brigade members describe him as respectful, reliable and a great person to work with.

The Jane Brook Catchment Group has been caring for the local environment for more than 25 years protecting the natural beauty of the catchment.

The group began in 1989 as the Bugle Tree Creek - Jane Brook Protection Society and became the Jane Brook Catchment Group in 1998.

Since then, volunteers have restored bushland, improved habitat and shared their knowledge across the community.

Members apply for and manage grants, lead restoration projects and support the Railway Heritage Trail and nearby wildlife corridors and run displays, lead bushwalks and work together with other environmental groups to build local understanding and stewardship.