The Ballina Players cast from the recent hit Georgy Girl led the audience on the National Anthem and a moving rendition of I Am Australian.

Hutchinson received the top honour at Ballina Shire Council’s Australia Day ceremony before a capacity crowd at the Lennox Head Cultural Centre this morning..

The annual ceremony recognised outstanding community contribution across seven categories and welcomed 21 new Australian citizens to the shire (main photo).

Mayor Sharon Cadwallader told the packed audience the awards reflected the values that define Ballina Shire.

“This year we received a record 65 nominations,” she said, praising the depth of service, volunteering and community spirit across the shire.

Hutchinson was recognised for his calm professionalism, extensive maritime experience and willingness to respond at any hour, often in difficult and dangerous sea conditions.

In the past 12 months alone, he personally attended 37 rescues and assists, including 10 searches for missing persons.

He also spearheaded fundraising efforts for the unit’s new rescue vessel by writing, producing and selling the history book Shipwrecked.

Among the operations cited was a 3am mayday response to a sinking trawler east of Lennox Head, where two fishermen were rescued moments before the vessel went under.

Hutchinson also led Marine Rescue Ballina’s four-day response to the search for a missing Queensland police officer off Broken Head, skippering hundreds of kilometres in demanding seas, and later undertook a 19-hour offshore mission to locate and tow a stranded jet ski back to Ballina.

Geoff Hutchison receives his award from Mayor Sharon Cadwallader

Senior Citizen of the Year Kenneth Brown gets a hug from the mayor.

Accepting the award, Hutchinson thanked his wife Debbie for her support and stressed the collective nature of emergency service work.

“I’m just one member of a team,” he said. “Marine Rescue, Surf Life Saving, SES — we all get out there and do our bit to save lives.”

The ceremony opened with a recorded Welcome to Country from Bundjalung elder Julia Payton, followed by the national anthem led by members of Ballina Players as Air Force cadets raised the flags.

Later in the morning, cast members from Ballina Players returned to the stage with a stirring rendition of I Am Australian.

Young Citizen of the Year was awarded to 16-year-old Tyler Causley-James, an operational member of both Ballina SES and Marine Rescue.

Volunteer of the year joint winners John Smith and Peter Hill, from Marine Rescue Ballina.

In an unscripted moment, Tyler asked his fellow nominees to stand again, telling them the award belonged just as much to them.

“Despite the fact I’m the one on this stage, you guys deserve to be up here,” he said, thanking them for their work in the community.

Senior Citizen of the Year went to Kenneth Brown for more than four decades of service with SES and NSW Ambulance, and for continuing to mentor younger volunteers in retirement.

Volunteer of the Year was shared by John Smith, recognised for more than 50 years of community volunteering, and Marine Rescue Ballina, cited for responding to 49 incidents in the past year.

Cr Michelle Bailey receives the Community Event of the Year award for the North Coast Show and Shine

Jim Hawkins from the Ballina Shire Concert Band is congratulated by the mayor

Sam Miller- honoured for her contribution to surf life saving

Arts and Culture Award recipient Jim Hawkins was honoured for more than 40 years with the Ballina Shire Concert Band.

Environmental Award went to Lennox Head Landcare and partners, acknowledged for long-running work protecting Lake Ainsworth.

Sports Award was presented to Sam Miller for more than two decades coaching surf sports at the Lennox Head Alstonville Surf Life Saving Club.

Community Event of the Year was awarded to the North Coast Show and Shine, which raised more than $35,000 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Accepting the award, organiser Michelle Bailey said the cause was deeply personal.

Her husband Martin was unable to attend as he continues to recover from his latest surgery — his 38th — following a serious fall from a roof several years ago.

She told the audience the rescue helicopter attended that incident, allowing her husband to survive.

“This event is our way of giving back to a service that helped save my husband’s life,” she said.

The ceremony also formally welcomed 21 new Australian citizens from countries including England, Germany, India, Italy, Nepal, New Zealand, Sweden, the Philippines, Uruguay and the United States.