Australia Day
The Australia Day Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate members or organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the wider Maranoa community. Awards are presented in each category for each region within the Maranoa, with the awards presented at local ceremonies on Australia Day 2026.
Australia Day Award Recipients
2026
Citizen of the Year
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds - Doreen Smith
- Injune & Surrounds - Janice Humphreys
- Mitchell & Surrounds - Donna McCarrol
- Roma - Bob Kunde
- Surat & Surrounds - Wendy McAlpine
Community Contribution
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds - Maria (Ree) Price
- Injune & Surrounds - Doris McKay
- Mitchell & Surrounds - Maggie Caskey
- Roma - Marlene Auld
- Surat & Surrounds - Laurel Bridge
Community Organisation
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds - Calico Cottage
- Injune & Surrounds - Injune Collective
- Mitchell & Surrounds - Mitchell Golf Club – Outback Masters
- Roma - Roma Bush Gardens Association
- Surat & Surrounds - Warroona Retirement Village
Cultural Award
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds - Lorraine Cormack
- Injune & Surrounds - Cultural Heritage Injune Preservation Society
- Mitchell & Surrounds - Mungallala & District Progress Association Inc – Memorial Hall’s 70th Sub Committee
- Roma - Roma on Bungil Art Gallery Inc
- Surat & Surrounds - Ross Mundy
Junior Sport Award
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds - Kealey Harland
- Injune & Surrounds - Violet Humphreys
- Mitchell & Surrounds - Eliza Schafer
- Roma - Darcy Towns
- Surat & Surrounds - Jaxon Green
Andrea Murray Memorial Award Recipient
Wallumbilla & Surrounds
Injune and Surrounds
Mitchell & Surrounds
Roma
Surat & Surrounds
2025
Citizen of the Year
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds – Heather Price
- Injune & Surrounds – Debbie Duff
- Mitchell & Surrounds – Sheryn Hanna
- Roma – Elizabeth Nolan
- Surat & Surrounds – Mel Sutton
Young Achievers Award
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds – Payton Leahy
- Mitchell & Surrounds – Bray Kenafake
- Roma – Georgia Pearce
- Surat & Surrounds – Jesseeca Ward
Community Organisation Award
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds – Jackson CWA – 100 year Celebration
- Mitchell & Surrounds – Mitchell Amateur Swimming Club Inc
- Roma – Roma Park Run
- Surat & Surrounds – The Cobb & Co Festival
Cultural Award
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds – Billa Bite Night – Wallumbilla Long Table Dinner
- Injune & Surrounds – Creative Injune Inc
- Mitchell & Surrounds – Booringa Heritage Museum
- Roma – Sculptures Out Back Committee
- Surat & Surrounds – Gwenda Proud
Sports Award
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds – Jed Price
- Injune & Surrounds – Jayden Wilson
- Mitchell & Surrounds – Kayleen Silvester
Community Contribution Award
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds – Trishelle Swan
- Injune & Surrounds – Lyndal Nicol
- Mitchell & Surrounds – Seamus Filan
- Roma – Paul Hutchinson
- Surat & Surrounds – Jake Thompson
Andrea Murray Memorial Award Recipient
- Karly Cicero (Awarded in Mitchell for 2025)
Spirit of Maranoa
- Wallumbilla & Surrounds – Bruce Albeck
- Injune & Surrounds – Pam Girle
- Mitchell & Surrounds – Kaitlyn Pallisier
- Roma – Mary Johnson and Glenda Hacker
- Surat & Surrounds – Kelly Cavanough
2024
Citizen of the Year
- Bendemere - Brendan Seawright
- Booringa - Anthony (Bim) Struss
- Bungil - Cynthia Warrian
- Roma - (Dual Award) Karen Dawes and John Finnigan
- Warroo - Danni-Leigh Horrobin
Young Achievers Award
- Bendemere - Joey Hussey
- Booringa - Lalitha Cooper
- Roma - Flynn White
- Warroo - Bayley-Jaye Allwood
Community Organisation Award
- Bendemere - Wallumbilla Campdraft Association Inc.
- Booringa - Tooloombilla Rodeo and Campdraft Association Inc.
- Roma - Life Church Roma
- Warroo - Surat and District Development Association Inc.
Cultural Award
- Bendemere - Margaret Dawn Irwin
- Booringa - Kyle Mansfield
- Bungil - (Dual Award) Casandra Sorensen and Brigid Price
- Roma - Debra Schefe
Sports Award
- Bendemere - Bayley Draper
- Bungil - Damian Brennan
- Roma - Alan Steinohrt
- Warroo - Vivien Moore
Junior Sports Award
- Bendemere - Maddison Beetson
- Booringa - Amy Maree Cassell
- Bungil - Millie Warrian
- Roma - Mitch Ford
- Warroo - Grace Ziesemer
Community Contribution Award
- Bendemere - Kristie York
- Booringa - Rebecca Smith
- Bungil - Sherryl Bonisch
- Roma - Fred Hewitt
- Warroo - Katie Goodwin
Andrea Murray Memorial Award Recipient
Spirit of Maranoa
- Spirit of Bendemere - Kristen Seawright
- Spirit of Booringa - Jeremy Heslop
- Spirit of Roma - Leesa Murray
- Spirit of Warroo - Danille Koster