Crystal Brook 2026 Australia Day Awards
Crystal Brook once again celebrated the strength, generosity and spirit of its community with the announcement of the 2026 Citizen of the Year, Junior Citizen of the Year and Event of the Year award recipients.
This year saw an exceptional number of high-quality nominations, reflecting the depth of volunteerism and community involvement within Crystal Brook. The judging panel acknowledged that selecting recipients was no easy task, given the outstanding contributions made by so many residents.
Citizen of the Year – Anne Clothier
The 2026 Crystal Brook Citizen of the Year award has been proudly awarded to Anne Clothier, in recognition of more than 40 years of dedicated volunteer service to the community.
Over several decades, Anne has been involved in an extraordinary range of organisations, including Rural Youth, Telecross, the Kindergarten Parent Club, School Parent Club, CAFHS, the Crystal Brook Tennis Club and the Crystal Brook Swimming Club, where she served as secretary for nine years. She has also supported the Primary School at many levels, taught religious instruction at the Catholic Church and served on the steering committee working to establish a Bendigo Bank branch in Crystal Brook.
Anne has devoted 30 years to the Crystal Brook Show, becoming its first female President and later receiving life membership. Most recently, she has completed 17 years - and continues to serve - as a volunteer Ambulance Officer, a commitment formally recognised by the South Australian Ambulance Service.
Beyond her formal roles, Anne is known as someone who is always willing to help - whether transporting others, providing support, cooking, selling raffle tickets or stepping in wherever needed. Her quiet dedication and selfless service make her a truly deserving recipient.
Junior Citizen of the Year – Isaac Smart
The 2026 Crystal Brook Junior Citizen of the Year award has been awarded to Isaac Smart, an outstanding young community member who excels both on and off the sporting field.
Isaac is a highly accomplished sportsman who holds multiple school and regional records in his chosen sport of swimming. He is a recipient of South Australian Secondary Schools gold, silver and bronze medals, is the Crystal Brook Swimming Club (CBSC, the Comets) Champion and has competed at SA State Country and State Championships.
Beyond his personal achievements, Isaac is a respected mentor to younger participants, generously giving his time to support and encourage others. He also contributes through various administrative roles within sporting clubs. His sporting involvement extends to futsal, golf and basketball, and he was awarded the David Zanker Memorial Trophy for exceptional sportsmanship. Most recently, he claimed victory in the community race at the Crystal Brook Classic winning $300 for the CBSC.
Isaac is widely regarded as a hardworking, humble, and community-minded young person and a very worthy role model.
Event of the Year – Inaugural Statewide Women’s Sand-Green Championship
The Crystal Brook Event of the Year has been awarded to the Crystal Brook Golf Club for hosting the inaugural Statewide Women’s Sand-Green Championship.
Held over three days in August 2025, the event attracted 84 players from 32 clubs across South Australia. Securing the opportunity to host a championship of this calibre was a significant achievement, particularly as such events are usually held on prepared green courses. Following a prolonged drought, countless volunteer hours were dedicated to course preparation, catering and administration, ensuring the event’s success and showcasing Crystal Brook as a welcoming and capable host community.
A Certificate of Merit was also awarded to the Crystal Brook Show Society for Despite the Dry, an inaugural event held in February 2025. Designed to bring people together after a challenging year of drought, the event exceeded expectations and featured live music, street food and cocktails. Strong community support and positive feedback highlighted the resilience and connection within Crystal Brook; with many attendees hoping the event will become an annual fixture.