By Mikayla van Loon and Callum Ludwig
For years the name Sharyn Manning has been associated with the township of Lilydale, for her work on improvements, beautification and bringing the community together.
Now, Ms Manning’s name will be known for being honoured with Citizen of the Year by Yarra Ranges Council in its Community Awards for 2024.
Having worked as a real estate agent in Lilydale for a number of years, Ms Manning came to understand the disconnections occurring and quickly became part of the action groups when the opportunity arose.
“This all started from a meeting we had with the council, Connect Lilydale, and a number of [people from the] community gave feedback on what we wanted in Lilydale,” she said.
“Then myself and a couple of other people formed the Lilydale Beautification Group and from that grew Lilydale Township Action Group.”
She now sits as secretary of the Lilydale Township Action Group, president of the Lilydale Business and Traders Group, secretary of Lilydale Community House and is a member of the Lilydale Revitalisation Board.
From coordinating Main Street’s Christmas decorations to helping host the outdoor cinema in Melba Park throughout summer, Ms Manning is kept busy in bringing the community together.
Working with last year’s Citizen of the Year recipient, Bec Rosel, the pair have been the brainchilds behind the Lilydale Street Fair.
Attempting another major event, Big Day At The Lake, on 4 February, Ms Manning told Star Mail in November she had always wanted to hold a music event in Lilydale but knew “Melba Park wasn’t big enough”.
“We received funding from the Lilydale Revitalisation Board and we’ve never done anything at Lillydale Lake before,” she said last year.
“Yarra Ranges Council has always loved that we’ve done things in the park because it helps activate it but we wanted to do something bigger.”
Bringing together local musicians, performers, Eesha Elephant, face painting and some surprise activities, the free event is just another part of Ms Manning’s noted effort to enhance the community feel in Lilydale.
But despite receiving the award for herself, Ms Manning was quick to acknowledge the “team based” environment each of the groups works under.
“Although I’ve been nominated as a citizen of the year, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this stuff without the volunteers that are in the community and part of our groups,” she said.
“I’m very surprised and very honoured. I feel I’ve been blessed by it and it’s nice to know people appreciate what you’re doing but as I said, it’s all about the team. It’s not about me. But I’m honoured on their behalf.”
Ms Manning received multiple nominations for the Citizen of the Year Award from the community.
Yarra Ranges Council mayor Sophie Todorov said many of the award recipients had
demonstrated a lifelong commitment to their communities.
“It’s been really heartening to read the nominations and citations for these selfless community members – hearing about the ways they’ve touched people’s lives and worked hard to make things better in their corner of the world,” Cr Todorov said.
“It really is such a beautiful thing that our award recipients, young and old, from all corners of our municipality, have done so much that others felt compelled to nominate them for such high recognition.”
