Australia Day Citizen of the Year awards given to Layan Saadeh and Craig Scott

Where Layan grew up, she missed much that we take for granted here – beaches, football, schools. Now the young citizen of the year works to help all enjoy them.

SA's Citizen of the Year Craig Scott and Young Citizen of the Year Layan Saadeh. Picture: Dean Martin

Layan Saadeh grabs opportunities with both hands.

South Australia’s Young Citizen of the Year for 2021 is one of 13 people and two events recognised in this year’s Australia Day Awards.

Layan, 17, is a surf lifesaver, a football player, a school and community volunteer and is about to embark on Year 12.

A Palestinian Jordanian, she lived her first 10 years in Saudi Arabia, before moving to Adelaide with her family in 2014.

“When you come from a country that doesn’t have any of these opportunities, like football or even a good beach, the school opportunities; people don’t realise how many opportunities we have,” she said.

“That’s why I’m not taking any of these opportunities for granted.”

Layan is the youngest vice club captain in the 95-year history of the Henley Surf Life Saving Club and serves as the lifesaving services manager.

She has played football for the Henley Sharks for four years, captained her school team in 2020 and recently was selected to start training with West Adelaide.

“I was probably going to quit footy in a couple of years,” she said.

“I thought it wasn’t going to take me anywhere but now we’ll see.”

Layan also has a vision to establish a centre to support her local Arabic community and is considering studying international law or political science.

She said she was “shocked and in disbelief” at being named Young Citizen of the Year.

Just one suburb separates Layan, who lives at Henley Beach, from South Australia’s Citizen of the Year for 2021, Craig Scott, at West Beach.

The pair had plenty to talk about in the lead-up to receiving their awards at Government House on Monday night when they learned they belonged to rival football clubs.

Mr Scott, 57, has been involved with the Goodwood Saints club for more than 43 years.

Raised at Cumberland Park, he joined the club at 14 and described himself as “a lazy full forward”.

Not so lazy as an administrator, Mr Scott is in his fifth year as club president.

He has overseen the development of the female football program and the SANFL Inclusive League and has supported charitable causes.

A senior sergeant with SA Police, he said his club involvement had helped him in his work role as a training and development co-ordinator.

“My passion for the football club is to provide a safe place for young people to come and be involved,” he said.

“I just love it and I’ve made so many friends.”

Australia Day Council of South Australia chief executive officer Jan Chorley said the Australia Day Awards recognised the commitment of great South Australians who worked unnoticed, were big-hearted and made their communities a better place.

“The Australia Day Awards recognise those outstanding efforts made by people all around South Australia,” she said.

“The actions of the 2021 recipients is something special that enriches the lives of those around them.

“They don’t do it for the praise, or for the recognition – they do it simply because it makes a difference for people in their communities. These are the unsung heroes that we pay tribute to on Australia Day.”