Community Champion

COMMUNITY CHAMPION Vaughn Arambatzis

In this edition we speak to Vaughn Arambatzis, our summer Community Champion. Vaughn has been passionate about preserving the environment and took advantage of the Return and Earn program to support his favourite charity.

Recently, Vaughn received the Keeping Australia Beautiful NSW, Young Legend’s Award for his environmental efforts. How long have you been a resident of Georges River Council?

I've lived here since I was 4, so for 10 years.

How have you positively impacted your community?

When I realised how important Sydney Dogs and Cats Home was and how they needed so much help I started to collect drink containers and recycle them through Return and Earn. I asked my community to drop their containers off too. My positive impact is that I raise money for SDCH and I get my community to do the same.

Do you have any tips or advice relevant to your contribution to share with the community?

I think everyone should try to make changes because it doesn't matter if what you do is small, it still helps. Every dollar helps the Home continue and every drink container we recycle helps the environment. If people want to help they can drop their containers to one of the Purple Bins or just use the Return and Earn bins themselves.

What do you love about your community?

My community always jumps on a good cause and they help other people. When I started raising money 2 years ago, lots of people supported me and they still continue to do so.

What do you love about the Georges River LGA?

We are really lucky to live in a place with a natural river and so many parks. It attracts lots of birds and wildlife to our area and it's a really special environment. There's always something to do and people come from all over Sydney to spend time here.

We have also registered for a verge garden straight away but we haven't started it yet. We will be doing it as soon as we can and we have lots of ideas for it.

Do you know of someone who is a Community Champion?

We’re on the hunt to feature our next community hero, someone who has positively impacted the Georges River community. If this sounds like you or someone you know, reach out to Council today at

media@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au