Maribyrnong celebrates community champions at 2026 Civic Awards

Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan OAM, Abbot of Quang Minh Temple in Braybrook, has guided Australia’s Vietnamese Buddhist community since 1997. Arriving as a refugee in 1981 and ordained the same year.

As Chair of the Buddhist Council of Victoria, he advocates for spiritual wellbeing and community service. Under his leadership, the temple has raised millions for hospitals, disaster relief, and humanitarian causes, including COVID-19 support.

Nationally and internationally, he has mobilised aid, welcomed global leaders, and inspired generosity. Through faith in action, Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan strengthens social cohesion, supports critical health infrastructure, and demonstrates the profound impact of humble, compassionate service. 

Taihan is a young civic leader who served as Youth Premier of the 39th Victorian Youth Parliament and co-chaired the Australian Government Youth Steering Committee.

He has championed youth engagement and represented young people locally on MYAC and Footscray Youth Advisory Committee. Taihan has led initiatives improving safety, including a new pedestrian crossing, and fostering intercultural connection through Maribyrnong Community Iftar.

His leadership extends to child safety, climate action, and digital wellbeing. Through research, advocacy, and public service, Taihan elevates youth voices at local, state, and national levels, demonstrating that young people can influence tangible change across Maribyrnong.

Amanda is the founder of Conversations That Matter, a community-led movement advancing gender equity, women’s safety, and financial independence across Maribyrnong.

Since early 2025, Amanda has facilitated trauma-informed forums, community panels, and events including the Women in Finance Roundtable at Parliament House, Voices for Change, and 16 Days of Activism gatherings. Her work educates, empowers, and mobilises residents and organisations to take meaningful action on gendered violence and financial abuse.

Amanda’s leadership has strengthened cross-sector collaboration, elevated Maribyrnong’s voice at state and local levels, and created safe spaces for survivors and advocates. Her initiatives have directly impacted hundreds of individuals, improving safety, awareness, and community connectedness, while fostering a culture of accountability and support throughout the municipality.

The Seddon Kingsville Yarraville (SKY) Community Group has been fostering connection and local pride in Maribyrnong for over 23 years. Established in 2002 to provide accessible Christmas Carols, SKY has expanded to include multiple schools, volunteer performers, and the Stony Creek Music Festival, offering free live performances from respected Australian artists.

Their events create shared experiences, build intergenerational connection, and strengthen local identity. By bringing together schools, artists, small businesses, and residents, SKY generates excitement, participation, and a tangible sense of pride.

Through grassroots, inclusive events, the group has established Maribyrnong as a welcoming, culturally rich community where connection and belonging are celebrated. 

Reveka is the founder and manager of Papelon, a Latin American restaurant in Footscray. Her community leadership began as a Feast for Freedom ambassador and continues through Papelon, where she fosters connection, multicultural exchange, and inclusion.

She hosts events, workshops, and Independence Day celebrations, elevating Latin American culture and supporting collaboration with local businesses and social enterprises.

As a refugee, Reveka mentors women and young entrepreneurs, demonstrating resilience and possibility. Through her commitment to equity, cultural pride, and generosity – including fundraising initiatives such as Food for Change dinners – she has enriched the City of Maribyrnong’s social and cultural fabric.

Since 2014, Jason has been a cornerstone of the Footscray Angliss Cricket Club Juniors. Within a year of joining, he stepped into leadership roles including Junior Coordinator, Junior President, Coach and Canteen Coordinator, dedicating countless volunteer hours each week.

Over the past decade, Jason has overseen extraordinary growth in the junior program – from just six players to seven junior boys’ teams, two girls’ teams and a Blasters program engaging 50 children. He has coached multiple age groups, led a premiership-winning under-17 side and championed the development of girls’ cricket.

Jason’s leadership extends beyond the field. He creates a welcoming, family-friendly club culture, coordinates weekly canteen operations and fosters strong relationships with local suppliers and sponsors. Friday nights at the club have become vibrant community gatherings for families.

Snuff Puppets is an experimental puppet theatre company operating in Maribyrnong for 33 years, producing large-scale outdoor spectacles, intimate performances, and participatory experiences that challenge conventional theatre.

In 2025 alone, the company delivered 101 performances to nearly 28,000 audience members, hosted over 617 workshop participants, and launched the Snuff Salooon – a monthly experimental performance night at Footscray Drill Hall attracting over 1,000 attendees. Snuff Puppets also provides performance support for community campaigns and festivals, nurtures emerging artists, and represents Maribyrnong on national and international stages.

Their work has generated profound social and cultural impact: building skills, empowering activists, creating accessible arts experiences, and transforming the Footscray Drill Hall into a vibrant cultural venue. With over 1.3 billion viral video views, Snuff Puppets elevates the profile of local artists globally while fostering cohesion, participation, and pride within the Maribyrnong community.

Natalie Gresswell is the founder of Miniature Horde, a cooperative hobby and gaming space dedicated to creating safe, inclusive environments for neurodiverse and trans community members.

Though the business is under two years old, Natalie has long been involved in community gaming through the Warplings club, including serving as President. At Miniature Horde, she has developed a collaborative model that empowers neurodiverse and queer creators, providing opportunities in data entry, painting, design, production, and sales.

By establishing a ‘third space’ beyond home or work, Natalie addresses isolation and social inclusion, offering communal areas where participants can work on hobbies while building skills, confidence, and social networks. Her leadership ensures accessibility, volunteer engagement, and a welcoming environment, creating a space that is transformative for individuals and the wider Maribyrnong community.

Climate Action Maribyrnong (CAM) is a community alliance advocating for meaningful climate action in the City of Maribyrnong since 2019.

Over the past three years, CAM has lobbied government, contributed to Council’s Climate Emergency Strategy, hosted community forums, protests, panels, and sustainability events, and engaged diverse groups including students, retirees, and migrant communities. Their efforts have promoted local participation, strengthened networks, and supported broader climate and social justice movements.

CAM has delivered tangible outcomes including community-led advocacy, education on climate impacts, engagement in policy discussions, and collaboration across local organisations. Their work has empowered residents, increased climate literacy, and fostered an active, informed, and connected community committed to environmental stewardship.

Leigh Leigh’s Charity was founded in 2021 by Lauren Philpot, inspired by her commitment to raising awareness and funds for breast and ovarian cancer research. The Leigh Leighs first participated in the Mother’s Day Classic in 2021 and have continued each year since, building a growing community of supporters.

After the heartbreaking loss of her mother in 2023, just days after they walked together in the Mother’s Day Classic, Lauren strengthened her advocacy as an Ambassador for the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation. In 2025, Leigh Leigh’s hosted its first official Mother’s Day Classic event along the Maribyrnong River, raising more than $50,000 for life-saving research.

Through community events and partnerships, including fundraising initiatives such as Pink Sports Day, Lauren continues to unite the community around a shared goal she once held with her mother – a future with zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.

Imam Rabih Baytie is a Melbourne-based Muslim leader and respected community figure at Maidstone Mosque. Through his role with Human Appeal Australia, including serving as a director of the Melbourne office, he has supported a range of humanitarian and community outreach initiatives both locally and internationally.

Imam Baytie is known for his commitment to community care, interfaith understanding, and support during times of crisis. Following the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, he travelled to Christchurch, New Zealand, to stand in solidarity with the affected community and offer support during a time of profound grief.