Hundreds celebrate winners, new citizens at Gympie’s Australia Day event

Hundreds of Gympie’s residents ignored wet and overcast weather to celebrate the region’s brightest stars, welcome its new citizens, and engage in a classic Australian tradition. GALLERY, VIDEO

Constant drizzle and wet weather could not wash away the smiles and celebrations as hundreds turned out to Gympie’s Memorial Park to celebrate Australia Day 2024.

Longtime volunteer Sean Connelly was one of nine of the region’s brightest stars to take home the region’s awards on Friday morning, which celebrated the nation and welcomed the region’s 40 newest citizens.

Crowds were not disappointed once the ceremony had ended, with many dancing away the morning to the sounds of live music and a game of cricket breaking out in the middle of Memorial Park.

Check out the smiles, winners, and citizens below.

Sean Connelly – Gympie Australia Day 2024 Citizen of the Year award winner.

Sienna Arthur – Gympie Australia Day 2024 Young Citizen of the Year award winner.

Michael Condon – Gympie Australia Day 2024 Resilience Award winner.

Mikaela Sima – Gympie Australia Day 2024 Creative Award winner.

Glastonbury Hall and Recreation Association – Gympie Australia Day 2024 award winner.

Georgina Nugent and Savanna Stey – Gympie Australia Day 2024 Sports Achievement Award winners.

Friends of Amamoor – Gympie Australia Day 2024 Community Group of the Year award winner.

Cooloola BMX – Gympie Australia Day 2024 Community Event of the Year award winner.

Colin and Glenda Bartholomew – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Vince Welk and Pam O'Sullivan – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Belinda, Logan, and Dave Everitt – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Stevie, Sonny and Casey Stevenson – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Bonnie Bate, Fiona Hansen and Jackie Bate – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Daniel Day, Lacey Day, Micaiah Daniels, and Yasmin Daniels – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Tanya and Phil Berrill – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Megan Chandler and Sean Connelly – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Sasha and Polina Klimanev – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Ella, Kim, Olivia and Chris Sindel – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Kay Morrison and John Van Doren – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Frances Klein, Michael Condon, and Mary Condon – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Rob Davies and Avril Crawley – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Dusky and Bernard Hill – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

McKennah Dionsyus, Diane Fogarty, Justin O'Mara, Kylene Rosalies, and Benjamin Buckles – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Brandon Marais and Sahara Guley-Vincent – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Emma Buhse and Michael Condon – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Razz Bailey, Joshua Harnett, and Nathan Harnett – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Peter Jones, Robyn Jones, John Dorosinski and Sheri Dorosinski – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Gina Godden and Kerrie Falzon – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Peter and Lucy Gomes – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Annette and Georgina Nugent – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Gary and Mieke Francis – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Kimm Felsman and Peter Rogers – Gympie Australia Day event at Memorial Park, 2024.

Peter Barros Gomes – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Reeta Shrestha – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Olivia Jefferys, Wayne Jefferys, Nadine Struys – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Veronica Valero Cortazar – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Jeremy Depuydt – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Olga Romanova – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Freda Paison – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Nicole Edwards – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Samuel Murphy, Kate Murphy, Elijah Murphy, Isaac Murphy, Luca Murphy – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Major Singh – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Rapeeporn Chanthana and Thiraphat Chanthana – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Debra Higgs – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Motorcyclist rushed to hospital following Bruce Hwy truck collision

Diane Rival – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Grant Clouston – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Byron Moriarty – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

James Marsh, Natascha Marsh, Didi Marsh – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Jane Stewart and Jace Miro – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Kimberley Morrison – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Vaughan Smith – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.

Luciana Ninomiya Gomes – Gympie's newest citizens for 2024 celebrate at Australia Day event.