Australia Day

Over 26 years of age.

A local person who has demonstrated vision, leadership, innovation or creativity, has been a positive role model for their peers/community/region, shown significant and outstanding contributions to their community and demonstrated a high level of personal, academic or professional achievements with demonstrated benefits for others.

Judging Criteria

• Demonstrated a high level of personal, academic, or professional achievements with demonstrated benefits for others.
• Positive role model for their peers/community/region.
• Demonstrated vision, leadership, innovation or creativity within personal life and Community involvement.
• Goes above and beyond, displays continued excellence.

Under 26 years of age.

A local person between the ages of 16 and 25 who has demonstrated leadership, innovation or creativity ,has shown outstanding achievement in their chosen field (e.g. academic, sporting, cultural, environment or civic responsibility), is a role model that other young people can aspire to and has shown a significant contribution to the community.

Judging Criteria

• Demonstrated leadership, innovation or creativity within their personal life and community.
• Shown outstanding achievement in their chosen field (e.g., academic, sporting, cultural, environment or civic responsibility).
• Positive role model that other young people can aspire to.
• Has shown a significant contribution to the community.

A local person or group that has shown vision, leadership, innovation or creativity and has made an outstanding contribution bringing long or short-term benefits to the arts and/or cultural community of the Balonne Shire.

Judging Criteria

• Shown vision, leadership, innovation, or creativity through contribution to arts and culture life within the community.
• Increases awareness and encourages participation of arts and culture.
• Made an outstanding contribution bringing long or short-term benefits to the arts and/or cultural community of the Balonne Shire.

There are 3 categories for this award as below:

Senior (Over 17 years of age)

A person or group who has excelled in their sporting achievements, conducted themselves in the spirit of fair sportsmanship and has made a positive impact in their sport and community. Open to people older than 17 years of age as at 26 January in the award year.

Judging Criteria

• Excelled in their sporting achievements.
• Conducted themselves in the spirit of fair sportsmanship.
• Made a positive impact in their sport and community.

Junior (Under 17 years of age)

A young person or group who has excelled in their sporting achievements, conducted themselves in the spirit of fair sportsmanship and has made a positive impact in their sport and community. Open to people younger than 18 years of age as at 26 January in the award year.

Judging Criteria

• Excelled in their sporting achievements.
• Conducted themselves in the spirit of fair sportsmanship.
• Made a positive impact in their sport and community.

Sport Administrator (Over 17 years of age)

A local person who has made a significant contribution to their sporting community, and displays inspirational leadership, energy and enthusiasm in their role as a sports administrator, coach or official.

Judging Criteria

• Actions to inspire, enrich and encourage others.
• Displays inspirational leadership, energy, and enthusiasm in their role.
• Outstanding management and Administration.
• Goes above and beyond for the sport they are involved in.

A local person who has made a significant contribution at community level through their volunteering and has shown a personal effort that has made a lasting and significant difference to the community.

Judging Criteria

• Noteworthy contribution to the community.
• Enhanced social interaction among the community.
• Demonstrates significant personal effort that has made a lasting and significant difference to the community.

A local community group or organisation whose contributions have brought or will bring social, cultural and/or economic benefits to individuals, community organisations or the community in general as well as having significant volunteer involvement or excellence in their field.

Judging Criteria

• Have brought social, cultural and/or economic benefits to individuals, community organisations or the community in general.
• Significant volunteer involvement or excellence in their field.
• Strengthened social cohesion within culturally diverse communities.
• Proven commitment and delivery of a service to improve lives and opportunities for the community.

A group who has staged an event in the past year that has created a positive impact in the Balonne Shire and helps create a vibrant community utilising our public spaces or online platform.

Judging Criteria

• Made an outstanding contribution to the community.
• Has created a positive impact in the Balonne Shire.
• Helped create a vibrant community utilising our public spaces or online platform.

The Balonne Australia Day Award recipients for 2024 are:

Citizen of the Year Award – Sally Rigney

Young Citizen of the Year Award – Ashleigh Ferguson

Volunteer of the Year Award - Win Salmon

Cultural Award – Jacob Hiles

Senior Sports Award – Sam Rollins

Junior Sports Award – Mataya Turnbull

Sports Administrator Award – Scott McKechnie

Community Event of the Year Award – Dirranbandi Pastoral & Agricultural Association's 100th Show

Community Group of the Year Award – QCWA Thallon-Daymar

The Balonne Australia Day Award recipients for 2024 are:

• Citizen of the Year Award – Mark Bartlem
• Young Citizen of the Year Award – Phoebe Olive
• Volunteer of the Year Award – Jacque Hemming
• Cultural Award – Nia Hadenfeldt
• Senior Sports Award – Tom Perkins
• Junior Sports Award – Rhyder Hooper
• Sports Administrator Award – Justin Schultz
• Community Event of the Year Award – Thallon Pub Choir
• Community Group of the Year Award – Hebel Rodeo Association Inc.

The Balonne Shire Australia Day Awardees for 2023 are:

• Citizen of the Year Award - Richard Marsh
• Young Citizen of the Year Award - Julia Killen
• Volunteer of the Year Award - Victoria Nancarrow
• Community Group of the Year Award - QCWA St George Branch
• Community Event of the Year Award - National Breast Cancer Foundation Fundraiser (organised by Kymberly Wilson, Courtney Dwyer, Sophie and Holly Cooke)
• Cultural Award - St George State School
• Sports Administrator Award - April McLaren
• Senior Sports Award - Nate Davis
• Junior Sports Award - Sienna Beardmore

Balonne Shire Australia Day Awardees for 2022 are:

• Ben Gardiner - Citizen of the Year
• Yasmin Sullivan - Young Citizen of the Year
• Andrew Killen - Volunteer of the Year
• Thallon Progress Association - Community Group of the Year
• Thallon Truck Pull - Community Event of the Year
• Balonne Fijian Community Group - Cultural Achievement Award
• SueAnne Bardsley - Sports Administrator Award
• Tom McDonnell - Senior Sports Achievement Award
• Lillian Stenhouse - Junior Sports Achievement Award

Balonne Shire Australia Day Awardees for 2021 are:

• Liz Hill - Citizen of the Year
• Katie Parker - Young Citizen of the Year
• Pam Crothers - Community Service Award
• Marshal Sanford - Junior Cultural Achievement Award
• Peta Hart - Sports Administrator Medallion
• Kym Webster - Senior Sports Achievement Medallion
• Oliver Lockwood - Junior Sports Achievement Medallion
• Dragon Country Sandgreen Cup (St George Golf Club) - Community Event of the Year