About the Awards

The inaugural Ashburton Excellence Awards celebrate the individuals, groups and organisations making a positive difference across the Shire of Ashburton. Recognising achievements in community service, volunteerism, sport and inclusion, the awards honour those who go above and beyond to strengthen and enrich our communities across the towns of Tom Price, Onslow, Paraburdoo and Pannawonica. 

The Shire of Ashburton is pleased to welcome Ben Cousins as host of the 2026 Ashburton Excellence Awards! Ben is one of the most recognisable names in Australian football, having enjoyed a distinguished AFL career that included a Brownlow Medal, six All-Australian selections, AFL Premiership success, and leadership roles at the highest level of the game. Ben will be travelling across Ashburton to deliver the awards while sharing his personal story, reflecting on his football career, life experiences, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. Through an honest and engaging conversation, attendees will gain insight into the dedication, resilience, and perseverance required to succeed, both on and off the field.

Award Categories

Community Excellence

  Sporting Excellence
  • Community Volunteer of the Year
  • Junior Community Volunteer of the Year
  • Community Group of the Year
  • Inclusive Communities Champion of the Year
  • Sports Person of the Year
  • Junior Sports Person of the Year
  • Sporting Group of the Year
  • Sports Volunteer of the Year
  • Coach of the Year

Nomination Period

Nominations will open with an online form on this page form Monday, 31 August 2026 and close Sunday, 20 September 2026.

Eligibility

Nominees must:

  • Live, work, volunteer or contribute within the Shire of Ashburton
  • Have demonstrated achievement or contribution within the previous 12 months
  • Meet the criteria of the nominated category

Self-nominations are welcome.

Award Celebrations

The Ashburton Excellence Awards will be celebrated in a series of community award nights held across Onslow, Pannawonica, Paraburdoo and Tom Price, recognising the outstanding people and groups who make a positive contribution to life in the Shire of Ashburton, featuring special guest...Ben Cousins!

Enjoy sport workshops, youth activations, food, presentations and more, these events provide an opportunity for communities to come together and celebrate local achievements, honour volunteers, recognise sporting excellence and acknowledge those who go above and beyond to make a difference. 

Ashburton Excellence Awards celebrations will take place in each town on the following dates:

Town Day and Date Location
Tom Price Tuesday, 10 November  Minna Oval Sports Club
Paraburdoo Wednesday, 11 November Bowls Club
Pannawonica Thursday, 12 November Pannawonica Sporting Club
Onslow Friday, 13 November Onslow Sports Club