Peter earns top honours in Moorabool Australia Day awards

BACCHUS Marsh identity Peter Shilton is the Moorabool Shire’s 2026 Citizen of the Year.

Mr Shelton was announced as the winner during the Shire’s Australia Day celebrations at the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall on Monday.

Others to receive awards were the Big Freeze in the Marsh 2025 (Community Event of the Year) and the Bacchus Marsh Little Athletics Centre (the Mayor’s Award).

The Shire presents the awards annually to recognise individuals and organisations who make significant contributions to the Moorabool community through leadership, volunteering and overall community spirit.

Mr Shilton is a well-known and respected Bacchus Marsh resident, recognised by locals for his long-standing commitment to volunteering and community services.

A former veterinarian and local business owner, he chairs the Pentland Hills Landcare Group and is an active Rotary member.

He has chaired the Rotary Art Show for many years and is a familiar face at community events, whether cooking sausages at Rotary barbecues or playing saxophone in the Rotary band.

Mr Shilton has continued to volunteer extensively since his retirement and is known for a humble, hands-on approach and his dedication to helping others.

Held each May at Maddingley Park and organised by Anne Phyland, Big Freeze in the Marsh is a major fundraising event supporting Neale Daniher’s FightMND organisation.

It features icy slides, football games and fundraising, with participants ranging from local businesses and MPs to footballers, children and professional boxers.

It raised $85,000 and attracted hundreds of spectators in 2025.

The little athletics centre, meanwhile, was recognised for its fundraising efforts for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. In March last year, the centre ran a five-hour relaython at Masons Lane Reserve in which athletes were challenged to keep a relay baton moving continuously from 7am until noon.

The event attracted athletes, families, life members, residents, businesses and MPs, and raised a total of $9430.47 as participants completed 227 laps – the equivalent of 90.8 kilometres.

As a result, the centre was awarded ‘The Royal Children’s Hospital Largest Centre Donation’ citation by Little Athletics Victoria and was invited to take part in the televised Good Friday Kid’s Day Out cheque presentation.

It was presented with the award at the Little Athletics Victoria 2024-25 gala awards in July.

Certificates of appreciation in the Citizen of the Year category were presented to Sharon Murphy, Elizabeth Bamford and Dr Jodie Valpied, and to Philosophy in the Library, Peppertree Parkrun and Elaine Thru the Lens in the Community Event of the Year category.