Australia Day Awards

Nominations Now Open – 2025 Australia Day Awards!

Do you know someone who makes an outstanding contribution to our community? Nominations are now open for the 2025 Australia Day Awards!

Help us celebrate local heroes by submitting your nomination before 5 December 2025.

Nomination forms can be downloaded below or completed online via this link.

Completed forms can be dropped into Council Reception or emailed to community@mckinlay.qld.gov.au.

Let’s recognise the people who make McKinlay Shire a great place to live!

Downloadable Nomination Forms:

Explore the Previous Years' Winners and celebrate the legacy of community excellence.

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2025 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Ellen Dallavanzi
Volunteer of the Year - Sheree Pratt
Sports Admin - Wendy Wockner
Senior Sports - Darcy Wockner
Senior Cultural - Sylvia Crawford
Large Community Event - Julia Creek Artesian Express Race Day
Small Community Event - Women of the West International Women's Day
Duncan Fysh Award - Stephen Malone and Chris Ray
Southern Gulf Sarus Crane Award - Norm Gabbert

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2024 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Debbie Godier
Young Citizen of the Year - Olivia Fegan
Volunteer of the Year - Kylie Cook and Luke Spreadborough
Junior Cultural Award - Madeline Murphy
Senior Cultural Award - Beth Leech
Small Community Event - Julia Creek State School - Community Festival
Large Community Event - Julia Creek ICPA - QLD ICPA State Conference
Senior Sports Award - None Awarded
Junior Sports Award - Emaya Fegan
Sports Administrator Award - Tenneil Cody
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - The Late, Duncan Fysh
Australia Day Committee Award - Recognition of Service - Marg Woodhouse

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2023 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Neil Warner
Young Citizen of the Year - Ava Ballantyne
Volunteer of the Year - Neil (Tex) Wright
Junior Cultural Award - Ruby-Jayne Gabbert
Senior Cultural Award - Maggie Rudolph
Small Community Event - Julia Creek State School - Remembrance Day
Large Community Event - Julia Creek Dirt & Dust Festival
Senior Sports Award - Peter Verhoeven
Junior Sports Award - Breanna Verhoeven
Sports Administration - Ben Mussig
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - Julia Creek State School Chaplaincy

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2022 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Kylie Burke
Young Citizen of the Year - Kalan Lococo
Volunteer of the Year - Peter Golledge
Senior Sports Award - Jake Curr
Junior Sport Award - Bronte Pratt
Junior Cultural Award - Alice Hacon
Large Community Event - "The Big Weekend" hosted by Julia Creek Combined Sporting Association
Small Community Event - "2021 Back to Julia Creek Reunion" hosted by Julia Creek Lions Ladies
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - Burnett Family of Lara Downs Station

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2021 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Tanya Johnson
Young Citizen of the Year - Toby Fitchett
Volunteer of the Year - Stephen Malone
Large Community Event - Ron Wall Charity Rodeo hosted by Community Volunteers under Yelvertoft Draft
Small Community Event - Let's Brunch; Breast Cancer Support Group Fundraiser hosted by Women of the West
Junior Sports Award - Jedd Fegan
Junior Cultural Award - Madeline Murphy
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - Colin Malone

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2020 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Beryl Murphy
Young Citizen of the Year - Lindsay Malone
Volunteer of the Year - Dane Crocker & Tim Pratt
Large Community Event - Flood Relief Lunch hosted by Emily Curr
Small Community Event - Julia Creek Amateur Swimming Club Gold & Black Ball
Senior Sports Award - Tanya Parry
Junior Sports Award - Tom Scholes Jnr
Sports Admin Award - Shayne Gabbert
Cultural Award - Toby Fitchett
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - Dr Vanessa Slack-Smith

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2019 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Kathryn Fels
Large Community Event - Julia Creek Campdraft Novice Draft and Campdraft School Weekend
Small Community Event - Julia Creek Lions Ladies Seniors Christmas Luncheon
Sports Administration Award - Benjamin Martin
Junior Sports Award - Tyra Martin
Senior Sports Award - Christopher Sollitt
Volunteer of the Year - John Lynch
Junior Cultural Award - Lucy Gabbert
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - Susan Walker

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2018 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Christopher Hewlett
Small Community Event of the year Award - Julia Creek Pony Club - Endless Muster
Junior Sports Award - Breana Verhoeven
Senior Sports Award - Eddie Maxwell
Sports Administration Award - Kate Frazer
Volunteer of the Year - Rebecca Climie

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2017 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Aileen Gabbert
Volunteer of the Year - Ellen Sills
Large Community Event - Crocodile Dundee 30th Anniversary Celebrations
Junior Sports Award - Toby Fitchett
Senior Sports Award - Tanya Parry
Sports Administrator - Calem Fegan
Junior Cultural Award - Sam Pratt

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2016 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Pauline Fegan
Young Citizen of the Year - Renae Hick
Volunteer of the Year - Colin Malone
Large Community Event - Julia Creek Turf Club Beach Races
Small Community Event - Sedan Dip Pony Club Getting Back in the Saddle Weekend
Junior Sports Award - Sam Lyttle
Senior Sports Award - Andrew Sollitt
Sports Administrator - Sheree Pratt
Junior Cultural Award - Abbie Pratt

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2015 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Laurie Blacklock
Young Citizen of the Year - Elizabeth Batt
Volunteer of the Year - Desmond Hansson
Large Community Event - Sedan Dip Sport & Rec
Small Community Event - Julia Creek Pony Club Youth Camp
Junior Sports Award - Clay Malone
Sports Administrator - Naomi Smith
Cultural of the Year Award- Ellen Sills
Junior Cultural Award - Rachel Fels

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2014 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Justin Vardy
Young Citizen of the Year - Taylor Daniell
Volunteer of the Year - Philip Alexander
Volunteer of the Year - Beryl Murphy
Large Community Event - CSA Town vs Footy
Small Community Event - Julia Creek CWA - 90th Birthday Celebrations
Highly Commended Junior Sports Award - Ben Smith
Junior Sports Award - Molly Lyttle
Senior Sports Award - Chris Sollitt
Sports Administrator - Chris Smith
Cultural of the Year Award- Catharine Charlish
Outstanding Community Involvement Award - Ellen Warner
Outstanding Community Involvement Award - Beryl Murphy

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2013 Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year - Maree Lapworth
Large Community Event - John McKinlay 150th Celebration
Sports Administration Award - Sharon Mulligan
Sports Administration Award Highly Commended - Bec Climie
Junior Sports Award - Rachel Fels
Highly Commended Junior Sports Award - Toby Fitchett
Highly Commended Senior Sports Award - Corrina Sollitt
Volunteer of the Year - Lyn Dever
Junior Cultural Award - Rachel Fels
Cultural Award - Cat Charlish

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2012 Australia Day Awards

Small Community Event - Julia Creek Players
Large Community Event - Saxby 50th Year Celebration
Sports Administration / Coach Award - Bec Climie
Young Citizen Award - Cody Jackson
Junior Sports Award - Rachel Fels
Highly Commended Junior Sports Award - Sam Lyttle
Citizen of the Year - Kat Cagney
Senior Sports Award - Kenny Daniel
Volunteer of the Year - Tanya Johnson
Volunteer of the Year Highly Commended - Ira Sollitt

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