Published on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 at 10:39:00 AM
Nannup Celebrates Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Awards Finalists
This year saw a high number of entries from communities across Western Australia, with more than 220 projects submitted across ten award categories. Being selected as a finalist is a noteworthy accomplishment and acknowledges the outstanding work undertaken by local volunteers, organisations and community members.
Heritage and Culture Finalist - Voices of Nannup Oral History Project
Nannup has been recognised in the Heritage and Culture category for the Voices of Nannup Oral History Project, an initiative that celebrates and preserves the stories, experiences and memories that have shaped Nannup's unique identity.
Developed through extensive community engagement, the project invited residents to share their personal histories, resulting in the collection and recording of 19 oral history interviews that were professionally edited into 20 podcast episodes. The stories feature diverse perspectives from across the community and include contributions connected to local organisations such as the Nannup Historical Society, Nannup Music Festival, St John Ambulance, Nannup Lions Club, Nannup RSL and the Nannup Flower and Garden Festival.
The project culminated in a community celebration and official launch in October 2025, featuring the mini-documentary Voices of a Community, Stories of a Lifetime. Since then, the oral histories have been released online, making these valuable stories accessible to both current residents and future generations.
Building on the success of the original project, further funding was secured to continue collecting local stories. During the 2026 Heritage Festival, an additional five oral history interviews were conducted to broaden the collection and ensure even greater representation of Nannup's heritage and community experiences. These new stories, together with a second mini-documentary, are currently available on the Shire Website for the community to enjoy.
Young Legends Finalist - Ruby Carstairs
The Shire is also proud to celebrate Ruby Carstairs, who has been named a finalist in the Young Legends Award category.
At just thirteen years of age, Ruby has demonstrated exceptional leadership, compassion and community commitment through her Big Picture Project at Nannup District High School. Rather than viewing the project as simply a school assignment, Ruby embraced the opportunity to become actively involved in addressing local needs and strengthening community connections.
Ruby volunteers with a number of local organisations, including the Community Kitchen, Op Shop, Pharmacy and Nannup Community Resource Centre. Her willingness to contribute wherever needed, work alongside people of all ages and take on new challenges has made her a valued member of each organisation.
A particularly significant contribution has been Ruby's involvement in the Nannup Compassion Care Project, where she supported efforts to improve access to essential personal care items. Through her volunteer work, Ruby assisted in assembling more than 50 hygiene packs for community members experiencing hardship, helping to promote dignity, inclusion and compassionate community support.
Ruby's leadership, empathy and commitment to helping others exemplify the values of the Young Legends Award. She serves as an inspiring role model, demonstrating that young people can make meaningful and lasting contributions to their communities.
Looking Ahead
Representatives from the Shire of Nannup will travel to Perth on Friday, 27 November 2026, for the State Awards presentation, where category winners and the overall State Winner will be announced.
The Shire congratulates everyone involved in the Voices of Nannup Oral History Project and extends special congratulations to Ruby Carstairs on this well-deserved recognition.
Regardless of the final outcome, being named finalists is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the passion, dedication and community spirit that make Nannup such a special place to live, work and visit.
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