Shire of Katanning crowns sport club volunteers Joel Anyon & Katherine Anderson as joint citizens of the year

For the first time since 2012, two community members have been awarded the citizen of the year honour by the Shire of Katanning.

At the Katanning Citizen of the Year Awards at Lions Park on January 26, Joel Anyon and Katherine Anderson were honoured for their critical volunteer work with the town’s sports clubs.

Mr Anyon is vice-president of the Katanning Netball Association and has served as secretary while chairing multiple sub-committees, as well as co-ordinating the Katanning Army Cadets for five years and captaining the local squash club.

Ms Anderson carries out administration for juniors at Katanning Wanderers Football Club and Cricket Club, managing player registers, transfers, and permits.

Mr Anyon said he was “honoured” and “blown away” to receive the award.

He said it was “extra special” to share it with Ms Anderson as “a joint achievement”.

He said he hoped his work would provide opportunities for community members to participate while taking the pressure off players so they could focus on enjoying the game.

“Me filling roles gives somebody else the opportunity to get into the sport that they’re passionate about without having to feel they need to cover the secretary, work and volunteer side of things,” Mr Anyon said.

“They go there to de-stress after the week, and if they don’t have to worry about running around doing all the behind-the-scenes stuff, then hopefully I’ve done something good.

“I really enjoy seeing everyone having fun and getting out there doing what they love.”

Shire of Katanning president Kristy D’Aprile said Ms Anderson had made an extraordinary impact on community sports.

“Katherine often steps into vacant or under-resourced roles, improving governance and ensuring these clubs thrive.,” she said.

“She actively seeks sponsorships to provide uniforms for junior teams, fostering pride and belonging among young athletes.

“Her passion for promoting junior sport and creating a healthier community makes her an invaluable asset to our town.”