Rye resident Mechelle Cheers has been awarded the prestigious Dame Phyllis Frost Local Hero Award at the 2025 Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards, recognising her extensive contributions to environmental conservation and community development in the township.
Cheers has been instrumental in several key initiatives, including the Rye Coastal Wetland Project, conservation efforts for the vulnerable Moonah Woodland, the establishment of the Rye Beach Patrol, and advocacy for accessible infrastructure and cultural heritage recognition.
Her leadership has significantly contributed to Rye’s recognition as Victoria’s Tidy Town for 2024, and its shortlisting among six communities for the national Tidy Town of the Year title.
Two of Rye’s community-driven projects received national commendations:
- ‘Rye – A Foreshore for All’, which was highly commended in the Liveable Communities category for delivering accessible infrastructure using universal design principles.
- Peninsula Rotaract, a youth-led volunteer group, was highly commended in the Young Legends category.
Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh praised the community’s efforts, stating:
“It’s great to see Rye’s community efforts acknowledged nationally. These projects reflect a genuine care for place and people.”
Nepean Ward Councillor Andrea Allen added:
“It’s such an achievement for Rye to be recognised on the national stage. Congratulations to Mechelle Cheers for winning the Dame Phyllis Frost Local Hero award. It is a very well-deserved acknowledgement of all her hard work on various initiatives over many years for our local community.”
Rye’s ongoing transformation is further supported by the Rye Township Plan, a strategic vision co-designed with the community to improve the foreshore, streetscape, and town centre.
The recognition of individuals like Mechelle Cheers and the collective efforts of the Rye community underscore the township’s growing reputation as a leader in sustainability, liveability, and grassroots civic pride.
