Dedicated volunteers scoop Australia Day Awards
Two passionate City of Logan residents have been recognised in the 2025 Australia Day Awards.
In a ceremony held at the Beenleigh Events Centre on 26 January, Abdul Khan from Woodridge was named as the Citizen of the Year and Riverbend resident Lilly Rider was announced as Young Citizen of the Year.
Abdul established the Woodridge-based Logan Roos Football Club in 2016 to support refugees and migrants as they transition to a new life.
He has dedicated countless hours through the club to create a safe and welcoming space where individuals can connect, support one another and thrive together.
Abdul has brought people together, bridged cultural gaps and promoted understanding and unity for people from diverse backgrounds.
Lilly, who graduated from Canterbury College in Waterford last year, was instrumental in igniting a passion among her fellow students and teachers to assist Orange Sky Australia, a charity that positively connects people experiencing homelessness through free laundry, showers and conversation.
Above: City of Logan Mayor Jon Raven presents Lilly Rider with her 2025 Young Citizen of the Year Award on Australia Day.
She encouraged a small group in 2021 to take on The Sudsy Challenge for Orange Sky. The group wore bright orange t-shirts for 3 days straight to shine a light on homelessness and raised almost $5000 for the organisation’s work.
Over the past 4 years, the students, led by Lilly, have raised about $103,000 for Orange Sky.
Lilly has also individually raised more than $12,000 with the support of family, friends and her local community network.
Mayor Jon Raven says the City of Logan is a compassionate place where people support others in the community.
‘Australia Day is the perfect time to celebrate community champions like Abdul and Lilly for the wonderful work they are doing,’ Cr Raven says.
‘We have so many locals who quietly go about supporting great causes and the community, and today is about giving 2 of them the recognition they deserve for a job well done through our Australia Day Awards.
‘Our city’s volunteers are the backbone of Logan and we thank each and every one of them for their dedication to making our city a better place.’
Council also welcomed 180 new Australian citizens during the event.
Photo at top: City of Logan’s 2025 Citizen of the Year Abdul Khan at the Australia Day Awards on 26 January.
