Australia Day Awards

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Regional Citizen of the Year Award, the nominee must:

• Not have received the Regional Citizen of the Year Award in the previous 15 years.

Selection Criteria

The Regional Citizen of the Year will be selected on the following criteria:

The nominee:

• 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. 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Regional Young Citizen of the Year Award, the nominee must:

• Be 16 to 30 years of age as at the 26 January of the year the award is given.
• Not have received the Regional Young Citizen of the Year Award in the previous 15 years.

Selection Criteria

The Regional Young Citizen of the Year will be selected on the following criteria:

The nominee:

• 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. 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Local Creative Arts Award, the nominee must:

• Not have received the same award in the previous 5 years.

Selection Criteria

The Local Creative Arts Award will be selected on the following criteria:

The local person or group:

• 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.

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. 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Local Sports Award (Junior), the nominee must:

• Be 18 years or under as at 26 January of the year the award is given.
• Not have received the same award in the previous 5 years.
• Be competing in their chosen sport at a minimum level of selection in a State team or have won a State Title (or equivalent) in their chosen sport.

To be eligible for the Local Sports Award (Senior), the nominee must: 

• Be 19 years or over as at 26 January of the year the award is given. 
• Not have received the same award in the previous 5 years. 
• Be competing in their chosen sport at a minimum level of selection in a State team or have won a State Title (or equivalent) in their chosen sport.
• Where the nominee has had to leave the Western Downs Region in order to participate in their sport, an exemption to the residency stipulation of the policy can be granted.  

Selection Criteria

The Local Sports Award (Junior) will be selected on the following criteria:

The nominee:

• Is an outstanding sportsperson with a noteworthy record of achievement in sport.
• Has represented their sport in a fair and positive manner.

The Local Sports Award (Senior) will be selected on the following criteria:   

The nominee: 

• 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. 

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.   

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Local Volunteer of the Year Award, the nominee must:

• Not have received the same award in the previous 5 years.
• The act or service recognised must be voluntary in nature (i.e. not their paid profession).

Selection Criteria

The Local Volunteer of the Year will be selected on the following criteria:

The nominee:

• 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. 

Eligibility Criteria

Note: this category is not open to individuals or businesses

To be eligible for the Local Community Organisation Award, the Community Organisation must:

• Be a local community group or organisation based within the Western Downs Regional Council Area or alternatively, where this is not the case, the nomination must demonstrate that a significant contribution has been made by the nominee to the Western Downs Regional Council community and that they are considered to be part of the community.
• Not be a Council initiated event, project or program.
• Not have received the same award in the previous 5 years for the same event/project/initiative. 

Selection Criteria

To be eligible for the Local Community Organisation Award, the Community Organisation must demonstrate:

• The social, cultural and/or economic benefits the contribution has brought or will bring to individuals, community organisations or the community in general.
• Significant volunteer involvement.
• Excellence in their field or previous awards or recognition received.
• Brings recognition or credit to the community or region. 

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

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

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

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