Deserving residents from across the region have been publicly recognised today through the Central Highlands’ Australia Day Awards program.
The winners were announced at Australia Day events in Blackwater, Emerald, Rolleston and Capella this morning, with plenty of people coming to celebrate this extraordinary nation and the people who make it great.
‘I would like to congratulate and thank each award winner and nominee for their valuable contributions to all of the communities within the Central Highlands region,’ Mayor Kerry Hayes said.
‘It is people like this who work tirelessly to ensure the Central Highlands region is such a great place to live, work and play.’
The 2020 Australia Day Award winners are as follows:
Blackwater / Duaringa
- Citizen of the Year – Kelli Willmott
- Young Citizen of the Year – Brodie Brandenberg
- Community Event of the Year – Dingo State School P&C – Dingo Hogs ‘N’ Dogs
- Senior Sportsperson / Administrator – Mariah Storch
- Junior Sports – Brock Olive
- Cultural – Blackwater Art Society
Capella / Tieri
- Citizen of the Year – Donna Bennett
- Young Citizen of the Year – No nominations
- Community Event of the Year – John Hallam – Capella Country Music Festival
- Senior Sportsperson / Administrator – Andrew Jansen
- Junior Sports – Savannah Herbert
- Cultural – Julie Tasker – Agood Acrofit Emerald & Capella
Emerald
- Citizen of the Year – Selwyn Nutley
- Young Citizen of the Year – Thomas Currie
- Community Event of the Year – Comet River Social Association – Bare All Charity Ball
- Senior Sportsperson / Administrator – Ashley Herwin
- Junior Sports – Bella Donaldson
- Cultural – Andrew Doyle
Springsure and Rolleston
- Citizen of the Year – Trina Patterson
- Young Citizen of the Year – Brooke Killalea
- Community Event of the Year – Springsure Working Horse Association fundraiser weekend
- Senior Sportsperson / Administrator – Glen & Sandra Knight
- Junior Sports – Gabriella Ferry
- Cultural – No nominations