Community Citizen of the Year: Manjimup’s Luke Carr awarded for his quiet and unwavering devotion to community

A Manjimup resident has been recognised for his dedication and commitment to his community at a local awards event last Thursday. Luke Carr was awarded community citizen of the year at the 2025 Community Champions Exhibition opening ceremony, in front of a room full of individuals who, like him, have had a remarkable impact on their communities within the Shire of Manjimup. Painted Tree Gallery in Northcliffe hosted the ceremony, the second of its kind since the Shire of Manjimup councillors voted to separate local Australia Day events from the annual award program. Nine people were nominated for the award, but Manjimup councillors felt it was Mr Carr’s quite and unwavering devotion to the community which earned him the title. Mr Carr — who has lived in Manjimup for most of his life — said he was “extremely humbled” to have received the accolade. “I wasn’t expecting this at all — I do what I do just to help people, I don’t do it for recognition,” he said. “To see so many people have realised and are taking note of what I do is incredible.” Mr Carr runs his own gardening business, giving out mowing the lawns of elderly locals at no charge every Friday — an act he calls Free Friday. He said it started a few years ago during Movember as a way to give more back to his community, which, using a play on words, he termed Mow-vember. Mr Carr said he encouraged others to get involved in their local communities. “It’s not about how much you do, it’s that you do something — open a door for someone, buy a coffee for the next person in line, if you see someone that’s gone to the effort of dressing nice, tell them they look nice,” he said. “It’s the small gestures that can brighten someone’s day and bring them out of a bad place.” The event also recognised Nicholas Vince as the young community citizen of the year, Jenny Macdonald as the senior community citizen of the year and the Northcliffe 100th Anniversary Celebration as the active citizenship award winner. Shire of Manjimup president Donelle Buegge said the awards provided an opportunity for the shire to recognise the commitment of individuals who often go without recognition. “A huge congratulations to the winners — this year people really have just gone above and beyond,” she said. “Some of the nominees just go about it quietly in the background — they’re the ones I think are the real champions of our town.” The Community Citizen of the Year Awards program is organised by Auspire – Australia Day Council WA and presented by local governments across Western Australia.