A community football champion who helped refugees integrate into Australian society through sport has been named Parramatta’s 2024 Citizen of the Year, with local volunteers leading the charge at this year’s awards.
Julie Crane has helped transform the Melrose Park Football Club into a vibrant hub of inclusivity and positive community engagement, particularly for newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan, providing them an opportunity to play football and building a sense of belonging.
She also led the ‘Street Football World Cup’, bringing together players form diverse backgrounds, fostering unity and a shared love for the sport.
“Being nominated for an award such as this is reward enough and I am very humbled by the recognition,” Crane said.
“I believe sport is for everyone and truly brings communities together and I have always aimed to help that along the way.
“I haven’t done this on my own and I’d like to thank everyone around me at the Melrose Park Football Club who has helped so many people join our club and our community.”
Crane was honoured at a special Australia Day eve ceremony at Parramatta Park, alongside local volunteer Nass Aoun, who was awarded Young Citizen of the Year in honour of David Shakespeare OAM, for his work in assisting people who are homeless in organising shelter, counselling, job assistance and rehabilitation.
Ronda Gaffey, who worked on heritage protection in Parramatta through her participation in neighbourhood organisations such as the Parramatta and District Historical Society and the Parramatta Female Factory Friends, was named the Senior Citizen of the Year, while Support Organisations for Homeless and Asylum Seekers took out the Community Group Award.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Pierre Esber announced the 2024 recipients alongside inventor and scientist Professor Veena Sahajwalla, this year’s Parramatta Australia Day Ambassador.
“Parramatta is the heart of greater Sydney, known for its diverse, inclusive and supportive community, and that has been shown perfectly in the Citizen of the Year award recipients,” Esber said.
“All nominees and award recipients have gone above and beyond to assist others in need.
“I congratulate all nominees of our Citizen of the Year awards, in particular Julie, Nass, Ronda and the team from Support Organisations for Homeless and Asylum Seekers, whose fantastic achievements and dedication to this city have been recognised today.”
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.