Beanie Fest is the Community Event of the Year

The Centralian Citizen of the Year, Wendy Corkill, as a cardiac nurse has played a key role in building heart health services across the region, including outreach programs that support remote communities.

In 2013, Wendy helped establish CT Cardiac Angiography in Alice Springs, bringing advanced heart testing to The Centre in the absence of a resident cardiologist.

The Young Centralian Citizen of the Year, Ben Russell, has been volunteering at the Alice Springs Public Library for over ten years.

Each week, he comes in with warmth, friendliness, and enthusiasm, assisting with a wide range of tasks that help the library serve the community.

The Centralian Senior Citizen of the Year, Elaine Kngwarraye Peckham, is a senior Central Arrernte Custodian of the land of Alice Springs / Mparntwe and surrounding areas.

Elaine has dedicated her life to human rights, justice and wellbeing, particularly of Aboriginal People.

Elaine established the Central Australian Aboriginal Strong Womens Alliance (CAASWA), empowering Aboriginal women to have a voice in decisions and policies that affect their lives and future generations.

She has also co-founded Elder’s groups to empower Aboriginal voices, protect culture, and support young people to stay connected to Country.

The Community Event of the Year, Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2025, is a much-loved event that attracts interstate and international visitors, showcasing Alice Springs on both the national and international stage.

In 2025, the Alice Springs Beanie Festival celebrated its 29th year. 7000 beanies were entered from around the world, and 6000 visitors attended, making it the biggest festival to date.

The festival included workshops held before the main event in remote communities, local schools and across Alice Springs. Aboriginal women shared their skills, stories, language, and culture with participants and visitors.

The Alice Springs Beanie Festival was made possible by the efforts of 140 volunteers, along with sponsorship from many local businesses. This support highlights the strong connections within the Alice Springs community.

PHOTO: Tourists at the 2005 Beanie Festival.