We are thrilled to share that Luca Muir Anderson was named the 2026 Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year after first receiving the Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award at the 2026 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards.

Held at Pan Pacific Perth, on Friday 3rd July, the awards celebrated the remarkable achievements of young Western Australians making a positive impact across their communities. Selected from hundreds of nominations, Luca was one of only five finalists in the Community Service and Volunteering Award category. As Luca was unable to attend, his mother, Kathleen Anderson, accepted the award on his behalf from Mr Peter Kirwan, Chairman of the Board of Masonic Care WA. Later in the evening, the Hon Hannah Beazley MLA, Minister for Youth, announced Luca as the overall 2026 Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year.

Luca, from Shenton Park, is a passionate community serviceman whose dedication to preserving Western Australia’s military history and serving his community has inspired people of all ages.

As Founder and Director of the 44th Australian Infantry Battalion Memorial Inc., Luca established a registered charity dedicated to honouring the legacy of the 44th Battalion AIF, one of Western Australia’s most significant First World War battalions. Under his leadership, the organisation has raised more than $45,000 towards the creation of a physical and virtual memorial, developed a dedicated website documenting the stories of the battalion’s soldiers, and coordinated major commemorative events attended by hundreds of volunteers, schools, community groups and dignitaries.

At just 18 years of age, Luca demonstrated remarkable vision, determination and leadership, taking on a project of significant historical and community importance. His passion has not only preserved the stories of Western Australian soldiers but has also inspired others to value and protect our shared heritage

Beyond his work with the memorial, Luca serves in the Australian Army, including operational deployment, and volunteers with Surf Life Saving WA, Disaster Relief Australia, the State Emergency Service, Legacy WA and several veterans’ organisations. His commitment to community service has already been recognised with the King’s Birthday Award for Outstanding Community Service, reflecting his passion for serving others and preserving Western Australia’s rich history.

Masonic Care WA, together with The Grand Lodge of Western Australia, proudly champions the recognition of young Western Australians who selflessly dedicate their time, leadership and compassion to strengthening their communities. Each year, the Community Service and Volunteering Award celebrates individuals whose commitment to serving others creates meaningful and lasting change. We are honoured to have recognised Luca’s extraordinary contribution and congratulate him on receiving not only the Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award, but also the prestigious title of 2026 Western Australian Young Achiever of the Year.

We also congratulate this year’s outstanding finalists in the Community Service and Volunteering Award category: Tayla Taseff, Oliver Lim, Emily Cheng and Joshua Yates. Their dedication to improving the lives of others reflects the incredible spirit of service found across Western Australia.

We acknowledge and congratulate all award winners, finalists and nominees across the award categories, with special mentions for the nine category winners:

• Isabella Chalker –Department of Communities Young Women Leader Award
• Zoey Portilla –Insurance Commission of Western Australia Road Safety Advocate Award
• Dr Rachael Wu – Aroha Services Health & Wellbeing Award
• Beth Cusack – Garlett Group Create Change Award
• Luca Muir Anderson – Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award
• Antigone Rogers – The Rinehart Young Leader Award
• Elevare Education – Awards Australia Outstanding School Student Award
• Alex Rumens – Konica Minolta Career Achievement Award
• Fatima Merchant – Awards Australia Tertiary Education Achievement Award

Congratulations to every finalist, winner and nominee whose leadership, passion and commitment continue to make a positive difference in communities across Western Australia.