North Burnett Australia Day award winners 2025
The winners of North Burnett’s Australia Day awards include volunteer extraordinaire Vivien Smyth, who has received the highest honour. Read our full list of award recipients, six local legends and their inspirational stories:
Central & North Burnett
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central & North Burnett. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Vivien Smyth was awarded the North Burnett Citizen of the Year for 2025 at a ceremony on Australia Day, January 26, at Monto Community Hall.
Ms Smyth has been actively involved in various Mundubbera community organisations for more than 40 years, and was honoured for her “unwavering commitment” to the community and region.
She has worked with Meals on Wheels, the Mundubbera Hospital Auxiliary, Mundubbera Lions Club, and the Mundubbera Seniors Home, where she co-designed and ran a Tai-Chi exercise program for arthritics.
In addition, for many years she has volunteered her time to record the local newspaper onto cassette tapes and mailed these tapes to the vision impaired or non-readers.
Across the many organisations she worked with over the last four decades, her combined contributions equal more than 100 years of consecutive service.
She is well known for her kindness, generosity, dedication, selflessness, and resilience.
“Her unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of the others is of irreplaceable value to the community and region.”
North Burnett Young Citizen of the Year Courtney Spry,\
Courtney Spry, 19, has been recognised for her “community spirit and dedication to her community”.
Ms Spry volunteered with the Biggenden Show Society, was the 2024 Show Girl and Rural Ambassador coordinator, and was instrumental in increasing youth engagement at the 2024 Biggenden Show.
She has volunteered at the local pony club and Biggenden Apex Club, and regularly assists with community events.
As well as working full time and studying, Ms Spry has also recently taken on the role of secretary for the Biggenden Swimming Club.
“Courtney demonstrates leadership, drive and commitment to her community and is an inspiration to others, young and old.”
North Burnett Volunteer of the Year
Bill Forster was recognised for his community spirit and his unwavering efforts to lend a hand at every community event.
Even when he is not a member of an organisation or society, he will still volunteer his time at every opportunity.
He volunteers for Eidsvold Op Show, Lions Club, Race Club, Cattle Drive, Historical Society, Hospital Auxiliary, Show Society, Eidsvold State School P & C fundraisers, and even puts up the town Christmas decorations.
“A wise person said recently, ‘every town needs a Bill’.”
Trevor Jack Randall was also awarded the Volunteer of the Year, and was recognised for his lifetime of service to the Biggenden community.
Mr Randall has volunteered as the groundsman for the Biggenden Show Society since 1963, is the volunteer greenskeeper for the Biggenden Bowls Club, as well as having served for the local SES, assistant curator at the Biggenden Museum, and many more.
“He demonstrates an unquestionable work ethic, a natural diplomacy to bring the best out of others and is truly inspiring to many.”
Monto Magic Tourism Action Group and Monto and District Historical Society Organisations of the Year
Monto Magic Tourism Action Group, a local non-for-profit organisation, led the planning of Monto’s Centenary Festival in October 2024.
The organising committee spent 18 months planning the event, resulting in a “uniquely local” festival that highlighted Monto’s history and what makes the community special.
Monto Magic have also contributed to the community through the establishment of native gardens, decorating the town for Christmas, and installation of the mural art trail.
The Monto dand District Historical Society have worked tirelessly to preserve the community’s history and to make sure the important stories are told.
The society planned and facilitated Heritage Day as part of the Centenary Festival, which included live demonstrations of time-lost skills featuring horse-drawn cultivation methods, heating and fitting a steel tire on a wooden wagon wheel, and a working demonstration of a gold stamper.
The committee was integral to the installation of an Honour Board at the Historical Society grounds, which recorded the names and settlement details of 240 pioneering individuals and families.
North Burnett Cultural Award Monto Performing Arts
The Monto Performing Arts group is a relatively new organisation to the region, established in 2022, but has become woven into the cultural fabric of the community.
They offer a variety of workshops and training sessions, as well as theatre and musical performances.
The group has also raised money for cancer research, through the production of Silk Rags the Musical, a play that broached the topic of cancer and how to talk about it with friends.
“The Monto Performing Arts Group have demonstrated incredible community spirit in their willingness to share their talents and time to bring music and theatre to the Monto community and beyond, and a much-needed creative outlet for local performance artists.”
North Burnett Sportsperson of the Year Lillian Hagan
Lillian Hagan is the very first Australian Champion for drag bike racing and the second ever female to win a national championship on a drag bike.
She also holds the unofficial Australian record for both the “elapsed time” and “speed” in Junior Drag Bike.
In addition to her dedication and passion for the sport, Ms Hagan is involved with the Army Cadets.
“Lillian is supportive of many young up and coming racers, is a passionate advocate for her sport, is a positive role model and an inspiration to many for her dedication and positive attitude.”
North Burnett Service to Sport Kathy Spry
Kathy Spry has been an important part of the Biggenden Swimming Club for the past 20 years, and is often described as the “backbone of the club”.
She has held numerous positions within the club over the years, and is currently the race secretary, giving her time each week to keep a record of every participant’s race times.
“At every opportunity she encourages and supports young participants to strive for their best and acknowledges their achievements through certificates and swim records, which they can keep for a lifetime.”
2025 Biggenden Local Legend Tonya Ravenscroft
Tonya Ravenscroft is known for her generosity and compassion in the Biggenden community, where she fundraised to install a defibrillator on the main street, volunteers her time catering for many local events, and tirelessly collects donations for RACQ LifeFlight.
2025 Eidsvold Local Legend Vanessa Murray
Vanessa Murray has served the Eidsvold community for more than 10 years, as president of the state school P&C, helping establish and run Little Athletics, volunteering with Meals on Wheels and the Pony Club, and in multiple positions in the Eidsvold Race Club.
2025 Gayndah Local Legend Christine Taylor
Christine Taylor has used her talent and skills in social media and graphic design to raise the profile of the Gayndah Art Gallery.
In addition, as a creative arts therapist she regularly holds wellness workshops, which have helped increase the gallery’s engagement with young people.
2025 Monto Local Legend David Schulz
David Schulz has served on the management committee for the Monto and District Show Society since 1995, and goes out of his way to ensure the grounds and buildings are well maintained. He has also held an important role in the Cania Dam Fish Stocking Association, where he is in charge of weighing fish at competition weekends.
2025 Mundubbera Local Legend Dr Graham Rowles
Dr Graham Rowles has served the Mundubbera community for 25 years, where he has delivered many babies, performed lifesaving procedures, and has been an advocate for rural health initiatives.
He is known for his willingness to make out of hours calls, even after working a full day in his practice.
2025 Mt Perry Local Legend Tom Curran
Tom Curran has devoted his time to many organisations in the community, including the Mt Perry Men’s Shed, Car Club, Historical Society, Museum and Mt Perry Arts Group. Additionally, he makes trophies for local motorcycle and car club events, sets up equipment for the markets, and helps local community groups with fundraising efforts.
‘Horrific, disastrous’: Backlash against new solar farm proposal
A proposed 1200ha solar farm between Monto and Eidsvold has met with backlash from the local community, and follows an incident earlier this month where angry protesters tore down the fence around another nearby solar farm.
Shock police figures that shame Qld drivers after record road toll
More than 420 drivers have been caught either drink-driving or speeding every single day across Queensland over the past six weeks – even as the state reels from the worst road toll on record.