Newcastle names joint Senior Citizens of the Year for first time as Sleap wins top gong

newy.com.au – City of Newcastle has announced its annual Citizen of the Year award recipients, naming John Cross and Wanda McInnes-Fogg joint Senior Citizens of the Year, Peter ‘Sleapy’ Sleap Citizen of the Year, Alyssa Wharton Young Citizen of the Year and Jenny’s Place Women’s Refuge Community Group of the Year.

The council said it was the first time in the award’s history that two seniors had shared the top honour, recognising decades of service supporting people experiencing homelessness and helping refugees settle in Newcastle.

Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said the joint award recognised “the extraordinary dedication of two seniors who have spent decades strengthening the city’s social fabric”.

“John and Wanda have each dedicated countless hours, often unnoticed to supporting people doing it tough,” Cr Kerridge said. “John’s consistent advocacy for rough sleepers to access care and Wanda’s work supporting refugee women and children with settling and education both contribute to a stronger community cohesion across Newcastle. We are incredibly proud to honour two people who give so much of themselves to others.”

Cross was recognised for long-running support for Newcastle residents experiencing homelessness, including advocacy to help rough sleepers access care.

One of his “most cherished achievements” was helping reclaim the identity of Vietnam veteran Alwyn “Shorty” Craig, from “decades of anonymity on the streets to long-term housing, medical care and reunion with his family,” the council said.

McInnes-Fogg was recognised for her “long standing, vital role” at Zara’s House, supporting refugee settlement in Newcastle.

Over the past five years, she has served as the Secretary and Public Officer for Zara’s House, with the council saying she forged key partnerships with the Red Cross, University of Newcastle and TAFE NSW to build disaster resilience and create skills and employment pathways for refugee women.

The council said she also helped refugees eliminate debt and coordinated a bilingual early education program, providing teachers with age-appropriate activities tailored to each child.

Citizen of the Year went to Sleap, a Newcastle identity who was recognised for turning his stage four throat cancer survival into “a powerful force for good” through Sleapy’s Foundation.

Since 2019, the council said the charity had delivered financial relief, experiences and practical programs for cancer victims and their families, with 99% of funds going back into the community.

In the past year, Sleapy’s Foundation raised $250,000 at its annual Sleapy’s Day event, supported more than 160 local families, provided Cancer Care Bags for patients at Calvary Mater Hospital and led a $500,000 project to establish a courtyard at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at John Hunter Hospital.

Young Citizen of the Year went to 21-year-old Wharton for leadership in cricket, mentoring young players, organising cricket carnivals and serving as Cricket Blast Coordinator, growing the program from eight to 50 participants in three years.

As the only female umpire in the Newcastle Junior Cricket Association, the council said she pushed for junior girls’ games to encourage visibility and representation and was named Cricket NSW’s 2025 Young Leader of the Year.

Jenny’s Place Women’s Refuge was named Community Group of the Year after supporting more than 1200 women and children in the past year through crisis accommodation, outreach casework and early-intervention programs, with the council noting it also launched a Community Transport Program in 2025.