Mackay Australia Day Awards: Every winner in the 2023 ceremony
Eight people honoured for their selfless contributions all shared one sentiment in common: they each thought others were more deserving of recognition. READ THE FULL LIST
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Eight “incredible” people honoured for their selfless contributions all shared one sentiment in common: they each thought others were more deserving of recognition.
They were the winners of the 2023 Mackay Regional Council Australia Day Awards, narrowed down from an “outstanding” record of 173 nominations across eight categories.
Mayor Greg Williamson said the awards celebrated “wonderful people (who) through their selfless actions they not only bettered themselves (but) they have enhanced the lives of others”.
“Just to have your name put forward (for consideration) by a fellow citizen is very humbling,” he said.
Three minutes of applause rang out across the Mackay Entertainment Convention Centre on Wednesday night as the full list of 87 nominees were read out for Citizen of the Year which went to Nigel Dalton.
READ THE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES BELOW
The Mackay Crime Prevention Unit Sergeant has profoundly impacted the Mackay community including through developing the Anger Rage Regret program currently being trialled in North Queensland.
“His job is as a community policeman but he gives so much more,” Mr Williamson said, adding there would not be a school, church group, or motoring group who did not know or had interacted with Sergeant Dalton.
“He was a very deserving winner.”
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Also recognised was 2023 Young Citizen of the Year Keira Brown – who, as an active member and current co-ordinator of the Valley District Youth Council, volunteers countless hours to run events, fundraise and support her community.
“I love it (the council) so much,” Miss Brown said.
“You get to meet so many new people … and also just helping out in the community is just something I’m very passionate about.”
The 2023 Lori Burgess Community Volunteer of the Year is Mackay Riding for the Disabled coach of 30 years Jody Burrows.
MC David Perkins revealed Ms Burrows had only ever cancelled one lesson “and that was because of a cyclone”.
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Ms Burrows said she was “overwhelmed” and “in awe of all the wonderful people” in the room.
“Every one of you deserves this (award),” she said.
The Arts and Culture Award went to Alison Richardson, Environmental Achievement Award to Dr Judith Wake, Community Group Award to Pioneer Valley Machinery Preservationists Society, Senior Sports Award to Brenda Windsor and Junior Sports Awards to Connor Parish.
Citizen of the Year: Nigel Dalton
Sergeant Nigel Dalton is the Police District Crime Prevention Coordinator and an active community volunteer.
He has worked in crime prevention since 2006 and has shown enormous dedication to the role, often working almost as many hours off the clock as he does in the office.
Sergeant Dalton has implemented strong education programs for students and worked closely with business and community groups, as well as Neighbourhood Watch members, victims of crime and other like-minded organisations and government departments.
In 2018 Sergeant Dalton received a bronze award for customer focus at the Queensland Police Service Awards for Excellence and the year before he received the Queensland Police Liaison Officer Award.
His police district activities are labelled as outstanding, particularly Choices – a dramatic musical theatre collaboration with students and teaching staff at the CQUniversity that has underlying messages aimed at Year 12 school leavers – and Safety Circus talks across various age groups.
Safety Circus began in May 2013 and is aimed at Grade 3 students, also delivered as a musical theatre presentation with themes of non-motorised transport safety, anti-bullying and child personal safety.
Sergeant Dalton is also the Mackay Community Based Crime Action Committee secretariat, which organises projects to help disengaged youth from offending.
And he recently created, launched and led a new assault reduction project called Anger Rage Regret in the Mackay Police District.
Aside from his work with QPS, Sergeant Dalton is a member of Beaches Baptist Church and had led a bread run and pick-up for disadvantaged youths to Sunday school. He still has contact with these young people in the community.
He is an active member of Shed Happens, a men’s group that works on hearts not projects, and an avid swimmer – he has been vice president of North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club since 2019.
“Coming from a background of policing in the Royal Ulster Constabulary during the Northern Ireland conflict where he had friends and mentors murdered, Nigel could easily have become hardened and bitter,” Mr Williamson said.
“Instead, he carries a message of forgiveness, kindness and healing that comes across in all his dealings with the community.”
Sergeant Dalton said he “tried to get out and about” in the community.
“If you sit down for too long you get stale, so I just think keep moving and it’ll be a much better place for everyone,” he said.
In accepting his award, Sergeant Dalton shared a favourite bible verse he applied to his own life: “Do nothing of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of others.”
Young Citizen of the Year: Keira Brown
Keira Brown is a great example of a young person who makes her community better by her attitude and actions.
The current Valley District Youth Council co-ordinator has been instrumental in working towards the group’s main goals of giving a voice to Pioneer Valley youth, developing leadership, and building a regional youth community.
Miss Brown always volunteers when the youth council needs people to run events or fundraisers and is a friendly, supportive face to both her peers in the group and the adults that help run it.
She recently became heavily involved in the YOL1000 initiative and in the initial planning stages of the Young Mayors project. Her feedback and opinions with these projects were extremely valuable.
She often represents Valley youth at Mackay events and further afield and is a member of her school’s Zonta Club.
Miss Brown has also been a coach and umpire in club netball for teams younger than herself.
The Mirani State High School student said she planned to study university in Brisbane next year but right now she “was just trying to get through Year 12”.
“I think they (my parents) are incredibly proud of me and I just love them so much and I wouldn’t be here without them,” Miss Brown said.
Lori Burgess Community Volunteer Award: Jody Burrows
Jody Burrows has been a consistent force within Mackay Riding for the Disabled and helping to change people’s lives through horse therapy for nearly 30 years including 23 years as a coach.
“I started when I was very young,” Ms Burrows said with a laugh.
“We don’t quit, we don’t stop, we keep going; even if the weather’s bad, we put raincoats on, we find some shelter.
“It’s not so much about horse riding, it’s about providing something that helps with your mind, body and soul.”
Ms Burrows is one of the longest-serving and most committed volunteers for the not-for-profit organisation, which is fully self-funded through fundraising and donations.
She says the charity was the reason she got up in the morning, feeling joy at witnessing persons with a disability connecting with the horses.
“Especially with a vision impairment, they have no idea what they’re dealing with,” Ms Burrows said.
“They've probably patted a cat or a dog before, and we’ll have someone … totally blind with a wheelchair and they’ll go, ‘Oh, nice puppy’ and then they go, ‘ooh, big puppy’.”
There are so many “magical” stories of rider progress, from non-verbal autistic children talking for the first time and showing empathy to riders developing enough strength in their back or core to support life changing surgeries.
Arts and Culture Award: Alison Richardson
Alison Richardson has created a safe place where people of all different backgrounds can enrich their lives through access to an artistic community, workshops, and contemporary performances.
The Crossroad Arts artistic director and chief executive officer is passionate about creating opportunities for people with disabilities, bringing more than 15 years experience in the inclusive arts, theatre and disability sector.
“I was always working with young people at risk or marginalised in some way,” Ms Richardson said.
“I then honed my focus on people with a disability mainly because it was very fun.
“We were always doing dress up and karaoke.
“As I got to know them a bit more I was interested in the fresh unique perspective and stories they had to tell.
“To be able to give them a visible platform and amplify those stories, I don’t take that for granted.”
Ms Richardson’s resume also includes Accessible Arts creative programs co-ordinator, Beyond the Square at Riverside Theatres creative director and Vivid Sydney and Sydney New Years’ Eve access and inclusion co-ordinator.
She has also worked extensively as a director and tutor for community theatre companies.
Environmental Achievement Award: Dr Judith Wake
Dr Judith Wake is an environmentalist, an educator, a scientist and a passionate volunteer who works hard to preserve our local environment.
Before retiring, Dr Wake was a member of CQUniversity’s Land and Water Management Centre and in that role undertook vital research on mangroves in the Mackay district.
Since her retirement she has continued similar work on a voluntary basis – and for a number of years Dr Wake has contributed to the Healthy Rivers Partnership and the Reef Catchments groups.
She has been a member of the Technical Working Group, Native Plants Queensland, volunteers with the propagation group Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens and is vice-chair of the Pioneer Catchment Landcare group.
Dr Wake also acts as a mentor and point of contact for the various Landcare groups from Sarina to Townsville. She volunteers her time to visit their field days and attend meetings.
Community Group Award: Pioneer Valley Machinery Preservationists Society
The Pioneer Valley Machinery Preservationist Club are a group that have a strong sense of community.
Members are constantly looking after each other.
They assist each other to finish projects or find parts, they share transport to shows and events and they are always watching out for members’ health and wellbeing.
Many members are seniors and the social and physical engagement keeps them active and is vital for their mental health.
The group is also integral in the preservation of local history.
They are actively restoring local farming history and preserving this for future generations at their own cost.
They also educate the community at events and older member are always teaching new members new skills.
Younger members who have joined are being taught skills in problem solving, restoration, machinery, fitting, research and more.
Senior Sports Award: Brenda Windsor
Brenda Windsor has dedicated countless hours and kilometres to raise money and shine a spotlight on Bravehearts’ child protection work.
She has run the 777 event twice, and intends on participating in 2023 – it involves running seven marathons, in seven states, over seven consecutive days.
She has had to raise $10k to participate and in doing so has held numerous raffles – she even ran 77.7km (from Koumala to Mackay) to raise funds.
The Sarina grandmother is a fantastic ambassador for health, fitness and safety and she truly leads by example.
She volunteers at Parkrun Mackay and has run more than 180 events herself, often with her grandkids.
Ms Windsor always participates and volunteers in the Lazy Runners Club’s Twilight Runs, the Mackay Marina Run and supports the Beach to Gardens run, a fundraiser for CQ Rescue.
“She is literally travelling all over the country for charity runs – in fact if there is a charity run or volunteer required, you can bet she’s almost going to be there,” Mr Perkins said.
Junior Sports Awards: Connor Parish
Connor Parish has been racing BMX since he was six years old.
BMX is life to the Mirani High School student and his goal is to be chosen for the 2032 Olympic team.
And with a slew of local wins and high placings in regional, state and national competitions, he’s on the right track.
Connor and his brother Aiden competed in the Oceania BMX Championships in Brisbane where they qualified to represent Australia at the World Championships.
Connor brought home a second (24”) and fourth (20”) at the competition.
The pair then travelled to Nantes, France in July 2022 where they competed against 3000 other riders from all over the world and rubbed shoulders with some of their idols.
Connor made the semi-finals (24”) and he also qualified for the 20” competition.
“I am very honoured and really about it (the award),” Mr Parish said, adding he was headed to Gladstone in February for a state-level competition.
2023 Citizen of the Year Award nominees, as read out by Mr Williamson
Allison Blines – “for advocacy for our CBD and for our Art Deco history”
Brenda Windsor – “for outstanding running to raise huge amounts of money for charity”
Carmelo Pasquale – “for his tireless volunteer work across the community”
Col Benson – “for his tireless service to veterans, St Paul's Church, and Mackay Central State School’s P&C”
Denise Home – “was the neighbour who anybody would want in her street”
Djordje (George) Banic – “for bringing orthopaedic surgery to our region’s hospitals”
Doug Petersen – “ambassador and campaigner for Bucasia and the Northern Beaches”
Dr Judith Wake – “educator, researcher, campaigner, volunteering in our environmental sector”
Dr Kerry Summerscales – “for her outstanding healthcare support for our returned service personnel”
Earl Neilsen – “cancer survivor, fundraiser, community volunteer”
Edie Weiss “for unwavering volunteering across the board in our community”
Eunice Armstrong – “for her volunteer support for rugby league, Souths, and the Mackay District South Sea Islander community”
Fallon Drewett – “for support of local women”
Frances Eiteneuer – “for volunteering in our environmental sector”
Gary Minter – “for his dedication to Toastmasters”
Geoffrey Baguley – “for raising large sums of money for cancer research and supporting local music”
George Newton – “for decades of support for veterans and their families”
Jay Shipston – “for the community volunteering that he does and the role (model he is) for struggling people in our community, mental health, and their sexuality”
Jody Burrows – “for 30 years of commitment to the Mackay Riding for the Disabled”
John Edwards – “for his dedication to veterans in the Pioneer Valley”
John Mansfield – “for his work as a volunteer … at the Sarina Pony Club”
Justin Rule – “for his dedication to Masters Athletics and supporting and mentoring”
Kathryn Andrews – “ for tireless support of those in our community with special needs”
Katrina Hoare – “For her service to Scouts and Crimestoppers”
Kay Thrupp – “for her commitment to her elderly neighbours”
Kimberly Doyle – “for her extensive work with Special Olympics”
Krysten Butcher – “for her work as a community services officer and rehabilitation projects”
Lauren Costello “for going above and beyond for SafeTalk”
Leslie Kemp – “for volunteer radio host and promoting upcoming musicians”
Linda Nugent “for 13 years promoting fitness and healthy living in our region”
Luke Mathews – “for his work on the Mackay Community Gardens and sustainable living education”
Margaret Mcgill – “for volunteer service for Meals on Wheels”
Murray Gibbs – “tour guide at Cape Hillsborough, wildlife carer, and animal rights campaigner”
Narelle Klazema – “for working in aged care in Sarina”
Nicole Pasquale – “for her commitment to SES Mackay”
Nigel Dalton – “for community policing, crime prevention, child and youth education”
Penny McMahon – “for volunteering and conservation and Landcare groups”
Raj Sharma – “for opening his restaurant to feed thousands of people at Christmas time for the last three years”
Robert Kidd – “countless hours of volunteering and advocacy across all organisations in our community”
Stephen Oberg – “for his dedication to Toastmasters and the Army Reserves”
Tegan Philpott – “outstanding volunteer across our community”
Tracey Hackfoorte – “for her work as a carer”
Wendy Baynton – “as a teacher, commitment to netball, and being an advocate for breast cancer survivors”
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