Sheldon Smith says he took a step out of his comfort zone when accepting Wodonga’s Young Citizen of the Year Australia Day award for 2019.
The cub leader with the 3rd Wodonga Scout Group has devoted almost a decade to scouts and received the Queen Scout Award in 2017, the highest possible award in venturer scouting that requires more than 300 hours of service.
“After receiving the award I had to take a step out of my comfort zone and act as a role model for upcoming youth, especially in scouting being that they did take out community organisation of the year (in the Australia Day awards),” Sheldon said.
Sheldon took a moment to reflect on the Australia Day award ceremony at Les Stone Park.
“The day was a blur but it was an incredible day and such a humbling experience, not just for myself, but for the other winners as well,” he said.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be recognised, especially with this award because it’s a real honour.”
Sheldon is now challenging others to nominate a friend or someone they know who is doing something good in the community.
“It’s could be a friend, someone else you know really well or it could be someone in the street that does something extraordinary and we are just ordinary people who do extraordinary things,” he said.
“There’s no harm in applying and it’s easy to do, just jump on the council’s website.”
Sheldon is also known for his many volunteer roles including Interchange, Red Shield appeals, Carevan and McHappy Day and was recently given the opportunity to complete his advanced cub scout leader training in London, the home of scouting.
The Australia Day awards will be presented at the council’s on Sunday, January 26, 2020.
Nominations can be done online at and close on Monday, December 2.
