Australia Day Award Winners Recognised

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Published
26th January 2022

Australia Day Award Winners Recognised

Whitsunday Regional Council has marked Australia Day 2022 by honouring our region’s high achievers, while also welcoming those who took the pledge to become our newest Australian Citizens.

Community celebrations and official ceremonies were held across the Whitsunday region in Collinsville, Bowen and Proserpine.  Due to Covid restrictions the events were invitation only and limited to nominees/nominators and their elected guests.  The Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Proserpine and surrounds Australia Day Awards were held separately on Tuesday, January 25 due to the large number of new citizens at the Proserpine Citizenship ceremony.

Mayor Andrew Willcox said it is a great honour to be part of such a special day across our nation and be amongst the people that call the Whitsunday region home.

“I am fortunate in my role to be involved with many different facets of our community and I can proudly say our Whitsunday residents truly represent the Australian values,” Mayor Willcox said.

“The winners and the nominees of the Awards come from all walks of life and have excelled in different areas but the one common theme I see amongst them is that they are genuine community minded people.

“Across the Whitsunday region on Australia Day we welcomed 69 new Australian citizens coming from more than 10 different countries.

“Many of these new Australians have already contributed a great deal to our Whitsunday workforce and community.

“It’s really exciting to see how much becoming an Australian means to them and hear about the journey they’ve been on to get to this point.”

The full list of the Whitsunday Region Australia Day Award Winners 2022 are as follows:

Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Proserpine & surrounds

Citizen of the Year – Helen Mathewson

Young Citizen of the Year – Declan Coull

Senior Sportsperson Award – Marteaka Hoffman

Junior Sportsperson Award – Jy Parkinson

Environmental Achievement Award – John Gaskell

Arts & Cultural Award – Jessica Begun

Wally Hinschen Volunteer of the Year Award – Ronald McCall

Collinsville

Citizen of the Year – Janet Lobegeier

Young Citizen of the Year – Sarah Wilson

Arts and Cultural Award – Collinsville Youth Coalition

Junior Sportsperson Award – Abby Plate

Volunteer of the Year – Nathan Reinke

Community Event of the Year – Collinsville State High School 2021 Bacon Busters

Bowen

Citizen of the Year – Tracey Bazzo

Arts and Cultural Award – Nicole Rowan

Senior Sports Award – Sylvie Thureau-Martin

Young Sports Award – Shaniah Power

Volunteer of the Year Award – Robyn & Arthur Burrell

Community Event of the Year – Bowen Seagulls Junior Rugby League Club Bowen Summer 10’s Carnival

Community Event of the Year – Proserpine State High School: “We Will Rock You” Musical