AR Bluett Memorial Award
The AR Bluett Memorial Award has been awarded annually since 1945. The award is contested each year by councils in NSW who would like to be recognised as being the most progressive in the state.
Entries for the 2024 Awards will be accepted from 3 June until 31 July 2024.
General purpose councils that are members of Local Government NSW are eligible to enter.
An entry fee of $850 is payable to cover the costs incurred in judging and administering the award. On receipt of the council’s entry in the Award, Local Government NSW, on behalf of the Trustees, will invoice your council.
The Trustees favour neat, concise entries that tell the council’s story and highlight its progress, projects and achievements. Councils are requested to adhere to the guidelines of limiting the entry to 1000 words for each principal activity and only one photograph (if necessary) for each project or significant achievement.
For technical difficulties, please contact LGNSW on 02 9242 4063.
There are two categories for the Bluett Awards:
- City and Regional Councils – this includes city, metropolitan and major regional rural councils.
- Rural Councils – this includes all other rural councils. The Trustees believe the two categories provide fairness and equity for all councils, while at the same time preserving the original intent of the Trust Deed to judge councils on relative progress.
For further details on how to enter and to learn how the Awards are judged, download the flyer below.
AR Bluett Awards Entry Information
Who was Albert Robert Bluett?
Albert Robert Bluett was an outstanding figure in Local Government, serving as the Secretary and Solicitor to the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW for 30 years. He was the authority on local government law and his opinion was respected by the legal profession and Ministers of the crown. He helped to write the Local Government Act of 1919.
Following Bluett's death in April 1944, the councils of NSW subscribed to a fund as a permanent memorial to his work. This money funds the bronze plaques, awarded to the winning councils each year. His legacy also lives on through the Bluett Local Government Handbook, often referred to as the Local Government bible.
2023 Winners
Winners of the 2023 Awards were announced at the LGNSW Annual Conference on 13 November 2023:
- Inner West Council – Metro/Major Regional category
- Singleton Council – Regional/Rural category
The 2023 AR Bluett Awards winners: Inner West Council (left) and Singleton Council.
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