Citizen of the Year Awards

Zyntaurus has been a member of the Baludarri Wetland Bushcare Group since 2011. He first joined the City of Parramatta Bushcare Volunteer Program as a Scout, and since 2020 has taken on the role as Convenor of the group. Zyntaurus has gone above and beyond removing weeds, planting native local plants, and removing rubbish to transform a defunct landfill site into a viable salt marsh.

He inspires younger volunteers like himself to join environmental fields and Bushcare programs to ensure lands and waterways are protected for years to come. He is also involved with the Parramatta River Catchment Group; assisted with the successful running of the Refugee Alternatives Conference; and in 2022 won the Youth Award for Bushcare. Through his efforts, Zyntaurus has positively benefitted both the local community and environment, showing what can be done to help protect and promote bushlands.

Julz is a Parramatta local that has been an active volunteer within the community for more than 10 years. She is a passionate environmental educator involved with many community groups that she has founded, leads, organises and campaigns for. She is the founder of the Boomerang Bags Parramatta group, empowering local communities to tackle plastic pollution at its source. Julz is a co-founder of the Friends of Toongabbie Creek group, where locals can adopt and care for Toongabbie Creek. Julz also runs a waste-to-art program called PluckFastic, and her work has been featured at regional art shows and galleries in Sydney and won numerous awards and prizes. Julz is an extremely dedicated local with her volunteering efforts extending to the Parramatta Women’s Shed, Greener Gatherings, and Plastic Free Parramatta.

Jocelyn has been volunteering with the City of Parramatta Community Care services for almost 10 years. Jocelyn has volunteered in several roles with fervour and shown an exemplary commitment to enriching the lives of the vulnerable people she supports. As a Community Connector with the Social Inclusion services, Jocelyn took on the role of supporting people with disability and teaching them life and digital skills. Jocelyn also volunteers her time with the Over 55's Leisure and Learning service, making herself available for any enquiries ensuring that new participants feel welcome, while also teaching computer skills at the Seniors Computer kiosk. She also offered her support at the Social Lunch program with the Meals on Wheels service, where she was matched with a participant who was in the early phase of Alzheimer’s disease, delivering meals and providing support.

The Parramatta State Emergency Service (SES) is a group of volunteers selflessly serving the community. Day and night, weekdays and weekends, 365 days a year, the crew at Parramatta assist in all emergency events within the Local Government Area. This passionate group volunteer outside of their work and family commitments to make the community a safe place to live and work. Sydney had some significant weather events in 2022, and the SES served the community tirelessly during this time saving lives and protecting property. The SES volunteers are everyday members of the community with jobs, families, hobbies, and interests. In undertaking their service to the community, they often put their own wants and needs second to those that they serve. The Parramatta SES deliver an outstanding service and are a highly regarded crew.