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 2025.
2026 Australia Day Award Nominations Now Open
Do you know an individual, group, or organisation making a difference in our community?
Nominations for the 2026 Australia Day Awards are now open. Celebrate and recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions of our local heroes.
Nominations close Friday, 31 October 2026.
Australia Day Award Recipients
-
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
-
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
- Tanya Denton
Spirit of Maranoa
- Spirit of Bendemere - Kristen Seawright
- Spirit of Booringa - Jeremy Heslop
- Spirit of Roma - Leesa Murray
- Spirit of Warroo - Danille Koster