Meet the South Australians recognised at this year’s Australia Day Awards: Read the full list

A woman who devised a way to make microchipping pets affordable has taken out a top award for her selfless work – read the full list of inspiring winners.

A woman’s initiative to make microchipping pets affordable has won her the Australia Day Council of SA Citizen of the Year award.

Christine Robertson was acknowledged on Wednesday at this year’s awards after the original ceremony, scheduled to take place on Australia Day, was postponed due to Covid.

The Australia Day Awards aim to recognise some of the most selfless people in the community.

Ms Robertson’s role as director of Lost Pets of South Australia gave her insight into just how many pets were not microchipped.

“We found most owners who didn’t microchip their pets, didn’t because they couldn’t afford to,” she said.

The average price to microchip a pet at the vet is $65. With the help of volunteers, corporate sponsors, government grants and innovation, Ms Robertson was able to provide a microchipping service for $10 a pet.

Ms Robertson’s charity program is the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and more than 43,000 pets have been microchipped in South Australia since it started in 2015.

Christine Robertson won the Australia Day award citizen of the year.

Stephen Hedges was commended for his work in saving penguins at Granite Island.

Elijah Hobby, 21, took out the Young Citizen of the Year Award.

After being subjected to bullying at his old workplace, Mr Hobby knew he wanted to spread positivity. Now you can find him at the Hewett Centre running cooking, craft and brain training classes to participants who are non-verbal or living with dementia.

“It makes me feel really good (to help),” Mr Hobby said.

Retired environmental studies teacher, Stephen Hedges, known by locals as “the Penguin Man” won the award for Active Citizenship for devoting his life to ensuring the penguin colony in Victor Harbor survives.

“I do it so we have penguins for my children and their children,” he said.

Mr Hedges work led him to become the senior environmental adviser to the company leading the Granite Island Causeway Project.

The Inspiring South Australian Women’s Award was given to Liz Habermann who became an advocate for voluntary assisted dying after the death of her 19-year-old son Rhys from terminal bone cancer.