Gympie celebrates Australia Day 2023 | Photo gallery

A crowd of more than 200 braved early morning temperatures creeping towards 30 degrees to celebrate the region’s newest citizens, rising sports stars and community leaders. See the photos, watch the video:

More than 200 people braved sweltering early morning temperatures to celebrate and commemorate the Gympie region’s newest citizens and community leaders in an Australia Day ceremony in Memorial Park on Thursday.

Joint Citizen of the Year winners Bernadette O’Neill and Bev Goodall were joined by young school and sports stars, other nominees, and Aboriginal elder Aunty Lillian Burke at the Memorial Park ceremony.

The majority of this year’s crowd stuck to whatever shade they could find as the sun bore down on proceedings.

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Aunty Lillian said she had been in Gympie since 2004, “working with my people and the wider community, that we can all come together the same”.

“Closing the gap with us all.”

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She said the day “had a different meaning to all of us”, from “celebrations” for some and “for us, survival day”.

Click here for the full list of award winners, and the stellar work they have been recognised for.

See the gallery below.

Sourabh Jain and Sakina Ali at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Darcy and Sally Laboyrie with Ella Van Den Berg at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Ivan Friske and Johanne Mutton at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Nathan and Janelle Chapman at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Heike and Violet Brennan at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Kellie O'Neill with Hayley and Sharon James at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023. Hayley was the 2023 Creative Award winner.

Lisbeth Gustaf-Poels and Rens Poels at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Zeke and Sam O'Neill at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Lacey Monk with Jessie and Sam Gilliland at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Steven and Emz Ross at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Keira McGrath, Eva Ford and Jess Dean at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Clare and Ryan Bailey at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Alan and Suzanne Lohse at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Imogen and Naomi Wilson at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Linda and Lindsay Wells with Aunty Lillian Burke (middle) at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Bodhi, Mandy and Meadow Irvine at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Bev Goodall and Bernadette O'Neill, joint winners Citizen of the Year, Gympie Australia Day Awards 2023.

Austin Van Twest, Young Citizen of the Year Gympie Australia Day Awards 2023.

Kym Walters and other representatives of Little Kids Day Out, which won the Community Group/Event Organisation of the Year at the Gympie Australia Day Awards 2023.

Rachael Lehmann, Resilience Award Winner Gympie Australia Day 2023.

Xander Jacobi, Sports Award winner Gympie Australia Day 2023

Lessia Rodriguez, Patricia Wilson, and Cindy Buchan at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Talitha Hartwig and Leonora and Rhiannon Cox at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.

Bruce and Emily Devereaux at Gympie's 2023 Australia Day Awards ceremony at Memorial Park on Thursday January 26, 2023.