Message from Christine Whiston, Vice President, The Queen Street & West Woollahra Association

I am delighted to inform members and friends that Woollahra Council’s Outstanding Citizenship Award for 2025 has been presented to Giles Edmonds, President of the Queen Street & West Woollahra Association. The award was presented by Woollahra Mayor Sarah Dixson at council’s Christmas reception on Thursday night.

This year has been celebratory one for the community of Woollahra, and Giles has worked tirelessly throughout, leading his QSWWA committee to bring a series of outstanding community events to fruition.

Giles is a born leader, and his inclusive leadership style, his energy and superb communication skills were at the forefront of what was an ambitious program of community events delivered throughout 2025.

After receiving the award from Sarah Dixson, Giles made the following comments in his thanks to the mayor and councillors.

‘It came as a complete surprise, and I am both delighted and humbled by being awarded it. It has been a very busy year for the association and, I’d like to think, a very successful one. I’d like to thank you, your fellow councillors and the council staff for all your ongoing support and assistance throughout the year. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without such a strong foundation.

‘I am also very fortunate to have a very motivated and capable committee who have all worked extremely hard and without them, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve all that we have done. Finally, I should mention the real unsung hero, my long-suffering wife Heather, who supported me all the way through and has been a rock throughout. I really appreciate the certificate with the photo of both of us, as it reflects a true team effort.’

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Giles, on behalf of the QSWWA committee and the wider community, for his hard work and his inspiration in what has been a truly wonderful year for Woollahra.

Congratulations Giles.

Christine Whiston