What a year it has been

As the year comes to a close, it is a great time to look back not only on our work and accomplishments but also on our nation’s story.

This last week has been a time of immense sadness. It has also been a time of witnessing heroic deeds and the exemplars of the very best of our people. People gathering, lighting candles, donating blood, writing letters and coming together in moments of reflection, support and solidarity.

I would like to share a personal story.  I witnessed two young people dressed in traditional Scottish kilts playing bagpipes outside the Adelaide Holocaust Museum.  In speaking with them, I learned that this was their way of expressing their sincere respect and deep sorrow. This is Australia at its best and one of millions of examples of people responding intentionally to the tragedy in Bondi this week.

We are so proud of the achievements in 2025 by all that make up the Australia Day Council of South Australia. Our work and impact nurture connection and social cohesion, and opportunities to collaborate and cultivate our shared sense of belonging. We are thrilled to have partnered with many different organisations across diverse sectors over the last year. Together, we are amplifying and supporting the development of leadership, enhancing the fabric of who we are as South Australians, and building our communities.

I am particularly proud to highlight some of the year’s initiatives:

• Two Inspiring South Australian Student Summits with just under 1,000 students in Adelaide and Murray Bridge meeting and sharing time with Australian and South Australians of the Year and inspiring leaders, including Cathy Freeman OAM, Taryn Brumfitt AM, Richard Harris SC OAM, Tim Jarvis AM, Kylan Beech, and Sam Bloom.
• The 2025 SA Australians of the Year recipients Professor Leah Bromfield, Amber Brock-Fabal, and Sobia Hashmi at International Women’s Day luncheon.
• Regional engagement in Murray Bridge inspired future focused leadership and growth with Tim Jarvis AM, Barry Irvin AM and Commissioner Grant Stevens.
• Emma McKeon AM, 2024 Young Australian of the Year and Australian Olympian, visited Adelaide, connecting with young athletes and students.
• Our deeply valued Patron, Her Excellency Frances Adamson AC, The Governor of South Australia, kindly hosted an acknowledgement at Government House of our generous volunteers who support our work throughout the year.
• The 2026 Australian of the Year Presentation evening ensures the very best of South Australian recipients and nominees are acknowledged and celebrated.
• We delivered the Inspiring South Australian Women Impacting the World and Beyond – Women in Defence event showcasing some of our most outstanding women in Defence, highlighting exciting opportunities in STEM related careers.
• The spectacular 2025 Aus Lights on the River Program culminated in over 26,000 people attending both the Mourning in the Morning, Respecting Country Parade and Aus Lights Official Ceremony and Fireworks, highlighting our nation’s diversity and commitment to inclusion, ensuring everyone feels valued and respected.
• Ambassadors travelled across South Australia to ensure that messages of our great nation were communicated in each community setting.
• We brought the indefatigable Neale Daniher AO, 2025 Australian of the Year, to Adelaide to advocate for better resources for Research of MND and to address the Australian of the Year luncheon.
• We brought together a great number of Young Citizens of the Year to Adelaide to examine the key issues important to young people and to act.
• We celebrated together the recipients of the SA Citizen of the Year, Inspiring South Australian Women, Awards for Leadership in Languages and Cultures and the SA Australian of the Year Award recipients at Government House, and facilitated the Public Service Medal.  These five award programs across the state and ensuring each of these award programs gleaned prominence.
• We hosted a highly successful luncheon with the NGO sector, with Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Professor Leah Bromfield, 2025 SA Australian of the Year and The Hon Nat Cook MP, our special guests.
• The Lord Mayor of the City of Adelaide along with elected members kindly hosted an event at the Adelaide Town Hall to congratulate the SA Australians of the Year recipients, along with business and community leaders, and members.
• We have grown our partnerships, sponsors and members in 2025 and warmly welcome you, our deeply valued supporters.  We look forward to sharing long and enduring relationships with you.

All these accomplishments are underpinned by the great work of our Board, volunteers and team, along with the enduring support of our sponsors, partners and members. It is each and every one of you who has attended, supported, contacted us, provided feedback, and backed us when we have trialed an innovation that has led to these accomplishments.

We extend our sincere gratitude to you.

Jan Chorley

CEO Australia Day Council of South Australia