2024 Australia Day Awards winners

Graham Gerlach receives the Horsham Rural City Council, Australia Day 2024 Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of his outstanding community involvement and unsung contributions over many years.

Graham’s involvement in the community includes:

• Horsham Sports & Community Club
• Rotary Club of Horsham (member for 30+ years)
• Rotary Exchange Student Program
• Horsham Squash Club
• Meals on Wheels
• Horsham Spring Garden Festival (member for 10+ years)
• Horsham College Council (member for 10+ years)
• Horsham Motor Sports Club (life member)

Graham is a tireless community member who gives his time freely to many charities and organisations.

There have been many situations where Graham has seen an opportunity to help somebody in need and he has responded accordingly. Examples include arranging transport or organising in-home help for someone he knows or hears about.

Graham is also a member of an advocacy group which is working for the establishment of a Horsham Mental Health facility to avoid the travel currently involved for people requiring ongoing treatment.

Ryan Pfitzner receives the 2024 Young Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership qualities and contribution to basketball.

Ryan is a dedicated member of the Horsham Amateur Basketball Association (HABA) and is heavily involved in the club, commencing as a junior player in 2012 and progressing to the Country Basketball League Men’s Hornets team.

Ryan has coached the Hornets junior boys squads and is a referee for many of the club games, being highly qualified with his ‘B Grade’ badge.

In 2022 Ryan received the Scott Funslow Leadership Award which is awarded to anyone associated to the HABA that shows, through his or her actions, enthusiasm and consistently embodies what it means to ‘Be a Hornet’. 

Ryan drives the pillars of the HABA Strategic Plan being people, inclusion, growth, awareness and leadership, consistently contributing to the association as a whole.  He develops himself and others across age groups, genders and programs, assisting where possible and driving a love of basketball for all.

The U3A Community Groups Expo was held in October 2023 at Horsham Town Hall where more than 50 local groups provided residents, visitors and newcomers the chance to explore organisations and services active in Horsham and district.

The Expo also enabled opportunities for networking and active participation.

More than 300 people attended on the day and enthusiastically interacted with the variety of stalls on offer.

A vast amount of time was contributed by U3A volunteers in organising such a successful event that delivered wide-ranging benefits to the community.