Australia Day Awards

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Please be advised that nominations have now closed. 

Council acknowledges that our region is built by amazing people who are deserving of recognition for their efforts.

Every year Council asks the community who they think has made a notable contribution in the form of nominations for our annual Australia Day Awards. These awards are incredibly special as they allow us to shine a light on those who contribute to the community of the Western Downs and help make our region the place we love. 

We are proud to annouce the recipients of the 2025 Australia Day Awards. 

2025 Australia Day Award Recipients

Local Creative Arts Award

2025 Local Creative Arts Award Winners

Awarded to one nominee in each district (Chinchilla, Dalby, Jandowae, Miles, Tara or Wandoan) who:

  • Has provided outstanding contributions bringing long or short-term benefits to the arts and/or cultural community.
  • Shows vision, leadership, innovation or creativity in the arts and/or cultural community.  

Chinchilla & District: Maggie Pyke

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Dalby & District: Katie Robertson

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Miles & District: Ian Perry

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Local Sports Award

2025 Local Sports Award Winners

Awarded to one nominee in each district (Chinchilla, Dalby, Jandowae, Miles, Tara or Wandoan) who:

  • Is an outstanding sportsperson with a noteworthy record of achievement in sport. 
  •  Is a role model that people can aspire to.
  • Has represented their sport in a fair and positive manner. 

Chinchilla & District (Junior): Eve Radke

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Chinchilla & District (Senior): Alexander Schoff

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Dalby & District (Junior): Maxwell Carson

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Jandowae & District (Junior): Tenille Hubbard

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Miles & District (Junior): Joe Volker

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Tara & District (Senior): Robert McDonald

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Wandoan & District (Junior): Hugh Baker

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Local Volunteer of the Year Award

2025 Local Volunteer of the Year Award Winners

Awarded to one nominee in each district (Chinchilla, Dalby, Jandowae, Miles, Tara or Wandoan) who:

  • Has made a significant contribution at community level through volunteering.
  • Has shown a personal effort that has made a lasting and significant difference to the community.
Chinchilla & District: Ruth Lindsay

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Dalby & District: Brittany Perkins-Ehrich

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Jandowae & District: Jaime Fanning

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Tara & District: Linda Davis-Petersen

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Wandoan & District: Rebecca Cadzow

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Local Community Organisation Achievement Award

2025 Local Community Organisation Achievement Award Winners

Awarded to one nominee in each district (Chinchilla, Dalby, Jandowae, Miles, Tara or Wandoan) who:

  • Brings or has brought social, cultural and/or economic benefits to individuals, community organisations or the community in general.
  • Has significant volunteer involvement.
  • Displays excellence in their field or previous awards or recognition received.
  • Brings recognition or credit to the community or region.  

Chinchilla & District: Chinchilla Polocrosse Club

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Dalby & District: Dalby Toastmasters

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Miles & District: Saints Weightlifting Club

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Tara & District: Tara Local Ambulance CommitteeAus-Day-2025-LCOAA-Tara.png

Wandoan & District: Juandah's Little Patch of Country

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Regional Awards

Regional Citizen of the Year

Awarded to one nominee in the region who:

  • Has been an inspiration/positive role model for their peers/community/region.
  • Has shown a significant and outstanding contribution to the community.
  • Has demonstrated a high level of personal, academic or professional achievement with demonstrated benefits for others.
  • Shows vision, leadership, innovation or creativity. 

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Ray Duncombe may be the Captain of the Miles Fire Brigade, but to his community he is so much more than that - he is a friend, a leader, and a mentor who is always willing to lend a helping hand and an understanding ear. As Fire Captain Ray has made an enormous contribution to the Miles community, often supporting other service agencies during disasters and emergencies. A true leader, Ray always takes the time to reach out to those affected by jobs he's responded to and provide any assistance and support he can. He's been described as the sort of person you'd want on your team in any situation. A man who faces challenges with strength, determination, professionalism and a positive mindset, Ray's can-do attitude is contagious. His ability to keep his head in a crisis, communicate with people of diverse backgrounds, and lead by example is an inspiration to those who know him, and encourages all those who work with him to hold the same high standards. Ray's understanding, kindness and dedication to his community proves that in the Western Downs it really is the people that make it.

Regional Young Citizen of the Year

Awarded to one nominee in the region 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.
  • Has shown a significant contribution to the community. 

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Grant Dobel is a rising musical talent and emerging young leader. School Captain of Chinchilla State High School in 2024, Grant is no stranger to stepping up into leadership positions and demonstrating a level of skill and maturity that belies his young age. Grant is a member of the local soccer and tennis clubs, but his true passion lies in music. As conductor of the Chinchilla Big Band and member of the Chinchilla Concert Band, Grant capably and confidently directs people many years older than himself with empathy and kindness. Part of the Young Conservatorium of Music, Grant's immense dedication to his craft has seen him receive numerous prestigious awards and scholarships and has taken him around the world to further hone his skills. A quiet achiever who leads by example, Grant is proof that coming from a small town does not mean that you can't have big dreams.

Regional Creative Arts Award

The Regional Creative Arts Award recognises the person or group showing outstanding achievement in the cultural community and will be selected from the successful nominees of the Local Creative Arts Award.

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Maggie Pyke is a Chinchilla youth advocate with a passion for dance and the arts. She runs her own dance studio offering dance lessons in a wide variety of styles to suit the ages and abilities of all her students. In addition to offering scholarships to support her students' dance educations, she is also a member of the Chinchilla Early Years Connect Committee, conducts mental health and yoga workshops at local schools, and assists the Chinchilla Christian College students in delivering their bi-annual school musical. Her innovative approach and passion for her community brightens and enriches everyone who knows her.

Regional Sports Award

The Regional Sports Award recognises the outstanding record of achievement in sport and will be selected from the successful nominees of the Local Sports Awards.  

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Joe Volker is a rising star in athletics, having competed at state and national levels in long jump, triple jump, and the 100m sprint with great success. A dedicated sports-lover from childhood, Joe has participated in a wide variety of individual and team sports, including cricket and football. Joe is not only a talented athlete, he is also known for his excellent sportsmanship, always demonstrating the utmost respect for his teammates, opposition, and officials.

Join us at one of the many Australia Day Award ceremonies across the region to recognise the amazing contribution these award recipients have made to their communities.

For further details about the ceremonies please click below.

Australia Day Award Ceremonies 2025

Please refer to Council's Australia Day Award Policy(PDF, 746KB) and Australia Day Award Guidelines(PDF, 850KB).

Previous Australia Day Award Winners

2024 Award Winners

Regional Citizen of the Year
Helen Devlin

Regional Young Citizen of the Year
Mitchell Sternes

Local Volunteer of the Year

 Chinchilla & District – Noel Deacon

 Dalby & District – Leith Tebbit

Miles & District – Yvonne McMahon

Tara & District – Judith Bridge

Wandoan & District – Tessa Ives

Local Creative Arts Award
Chinchilla & District – Danica McGrath
Miles & District – Darryn Campbell

Local Community Organisation Achievement Award
Chinchilla & District – Chinchilla Touch Association Inc.
Dalby & District – Dalby Filipino-Australian Community Association
Jandowae & District – Bell Race Club
Wandoan & District – Wandoan Community Commerce & Industry

Local Sports Award
Chinchilla & District – Kylie Hindle
Dalby & District – Monique Smith
Jandowae & District – Lara Coombe
Miles & District – Mackensie Patch
Tara & District – Tilly Austin
Wandoan & District – Mitchell Symes

2023 Award Winners

Regional Citizen of the Year
Beth Wood

Regional Young Citizen of the Year
Matthew Butters

Local Volunteer of the Year 
Chinchilla & District – Cath Brandon
Dalby & District – Gary Carey
Jandowae & District – John Alexander
Miles & District – Shirley Makin
Tara & District – Brent Arnold
Wandoan & District – Chrissy Blackley

Local Creative Arts Award
Chinchilla & District – Terri Keller
Dalby & District – Helen Gleeson
Jandowae & District – Bell Art Group Inc.
Miles & District – Anita Thomson
Tara & District – Jude Salter
Wandoan & District – Wandoan Show Society Inc. Photo Challenge Competition

Local Community Organisation Achievement Award
Chinchilla & District – Lions Club of Chinchilla
Dalby & District – Dalby & District Pony & Hack Club Inc.
Jandowae & District – Jandowae Timbertown Festival Inc.
Miles & District – Miles District Rugby League Club
Tara & District – Tara & District Dirt Riders & The Gums Sports Club
Wandoan & District – Wandoan Arts Council Inc.

Local Sports Award
Chinchilla & District – Joshua Griggs
Dalby & District – Macauley (Mac) Nolan
Jandowae & District – Callum McUtchen
Miles & District – Lindsey Doolan
Tara & District – Alan Bougoure
Wandoan & District – Matthew Walsh

2022 Award Winners

Regional Citizen of the Year
Robyn Haig

Regional Young Citizen of the Year
Lachlan Ries

Local Volunteer of the Year 
Chinchilla & District – Ross Cardillo
Dalby & District – Paige Cartwright
Jandowae & District – Linda Wells
Miles & District – Kerry Mulholland
Tara & District – Brigetta Sternes
Wandoan & District – Robert Williams

 Local Creative Arts Award
Chinchilla & District – Grant Dolbel
Dalby & District – Rachel Redlich
Miles & District – Miles Regional Arts Council Playwriting Development Program
Tara & District – Glenmorgan Arts Group
Wandoan & District – Wandoan Arts Council Inc.

 Local Community Organisation Achievement Award
Chinchilla & District – Chinchilla Community Commerce & Industry Inc.
Miles & District – Miles Back to the Bush Festival
Wandoan & District – Wandoan Camel Races Committee

Local Sports Award
Chinchilla & District – Gabrielle Hicks
Dalby & District – Jessika Bliesner
Miles & District – Amity Salisbury
Tara & District – William Hallinan
Wandoan & District – Paige Miles

2021 Award Winners

Regional Citizen of the Year
Marilyn Bidstrup

Regional Young Citizen of the Year 
Karsten Duvel

Local Volunteer of the Year 
Dalby & District – Cecil Woods
Jandowae & District – Donna Woollett
Miles & District – Edward Gibbons
Tara & District – Linda Steinohrt
Wandoan & District – Dinah Fraser

Local Creative Arts Award
Bell & District – Bell Theatre Group Inc

Local Community Organisation Achievement Award
Jandowae & District – Jandowae Squash Club
Chinchilla & District – Chinchilla Netball Inc
Miles & District – Dogwood Motor Auto Group - Miles Motoring Enthusiast Club (DMAG-MMEC)
Tara & District – Tara Futures Group

Local Sports Award
Chinchilla & District – Breanna Collins
Dalby & District – Mitchell Hemmings
Miles & District – Lachlan Moore
Tara & District – Addison Clay
Wandoan & District - Elli Zillman