We have now reached the time when it is officially too late to say “happy new year”.

After a weekend of festivities with Music in the Park, the Kiama Show (and fireworks!) and Australia Day celebrations, it would be remiss of us not to celebrate individuals within our community who have been recognised in the Australia Day 2026 Honours list. 

The Illawarra was well represented in the list which identifies individuals for their contributions across many fields and services at a local, regional and national level. 

Special recognition goes to Kiama’s very own Ms Margaret Snelling OAM and Mr Mitchell von Borstel ACM and Mr Shane Wicks OAM from Gerringong.

For Margaret Snelling, the Order of Australia for service to hockey is recognition of a lifetime of playing, coaching, umpiring and mentoring in the sport. 

After six decades of service to the sport, no one has had a more lasting impact than Margaret in shaping the local Kiama hockey community. 

The Kiama Hockey Club, where Margaret is a life member, put it best in their announcement: “Margaret, thank you for all you have done for our club and for hockey. You truly deserve this recognition”.

Did we also mention she volunteered for Kiama Meals on Wheels for 50 years? Margaret is an example of the best of our community, and her enduring contributions and positivity is what makes Kiama great.

Mitchell was conveyed a Meritorious Award, the Australian Corrections Medal, for exemplary service in keeping our prisons and wider communities safe. 

Acknowledged by the Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Graham McCahon for his intelligence-led search operations, calm management of high-risk incidents, and ability to de-escalate volatile situations safely, his leadership, professionalism and operational innovations have strengthened system-wide safety, enhanced accountability, and advanced intelligence-driven correction practice across NSW. 

Shane is the epitome of community and received the Order of Australia for service to the community through emergency response organisations. 

A dual life member of the Gerringong Rural Fire Brigade and Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club, Mr Wicks has made a lifetime of contribution and providing support in two of the biggest threats to our community – bushfires and drownings. 

He also volunteers with the Gezza Cares Program, assisting with the ever-growing issue of mental health with young adults in our community and has worked for the NSW State Emergency Service and NSW Ambulance Service.

The Australia Day honours list is a timely reminder of what makes our town the best place to live in the country, its people. 

Please join us in congratulating all recipients for 2026.