Maranoa Australia Day 2023: Every resident who won award | Photos

Maranoa residents have come out in force at Australia Day award ceremonies across the region, to honour and recognise outstanding community members. Here’s the full list of award recipients.

Roma Citizen of the Year Ken Beitz accepting his award at the Maranoa Australia Day Awards 2023. Picture: Chloe Cufflin.

Hundreds of residents across the Maranoa region gathered to support, acknowledge and congratulate the hardworking residents and community groups who won an Australia Day Award.

FULL GALLERY: Roma Australia Day Awards and Big Rig Great Australian Bites event

Awards ceremonies were held in all corners of the region, including Roma, Surat, Injune, Mitchell, Wallumbilla, Yuleba and Jackson.

Here’s the full list of Maranoa award winners:

ROMA

Citizen of the Year - Ken Beitz

Young Achiever Award - Daniel Francis Tucker

Cultural Award - Maricris Majorine Bracamonte

Community Organisation Award - Roma Historical Precincts Inc – Roma Butter Factory

Community Contribution Award - Dorothy (Dot) Brindley & Beryl Giles

BENDEMERE LOCAL AREA (WALLUMBILLA / YULEBA / JACKSON AND SURROUNDS)

Citizen of the Year - Fergus Seawright

Young Achiever Award - Kealey Harland

Cultural Award - Heather Price

Community Organisation Award - Noonga Community Assoc. Inc.

Sports Award - Liam Jackson

Community Contribution Award - Carolyn Maunder and Brian & Mary Leahy

Roma Citizen of the Year Ken Beitz cutting the cake at the conclusion of the Maranoa Australia Day Awards 2023. Picture: Chloe Cufflin.

BOORINGA LOCAL AREA (MITCHELL AND SURROUNDS)

Citizen of the Year - John Ford

Young Achiever Award - Prudence Johnson

Cultural Award - Brenda Jukes

Community Organisation Award - Queensland Country Women’s Assoc. – Mitchell Branch

Sports Award - Gregory Hamilton

Community Contribution Award - Anthony (Bim) & Susan Struss

BUNGIL LOCAL AREA (INJUNE AND SURROUNDS)

Citizen of the Year - Matthew Bidgood

Cultural Award - Sue Pukallus

Community Organisation Award - Cultural Heritage Injune Preservation Society (CHIPS)

Sports Award - Kane Duff

Community Contribution Award - Veronica Pringle

WARROO LOCAL AREA (SURAT AND SURROUNDS)

Citizen of the Year - Barbara Harland

Cultural Award - Surat Aboriginal Corporation

Sports Award - Jadee Denton

Community Contribution Award - Lorraine McPherson

REGIONAL

Andrea Murray Memorial Award - Michael Maloney

Mandandanji man Aaron Blades, who also goes by his Indigenous name Aaron Dhuril, opening the Maranoa Australia Day Awards 2023 with a traditional smoking ceremony. Picture: Chloe Cufflin.

The Roma Australia Day Awards was held at the Roma Saleyards and was opened with a traditional smoking ceremony by Mandandanji man Aaron Blades (Aaron Dhuril).

Attendees walked through the smoke before they took their seats as a way to “cleanse and purify” themselves.

Australia Day Ambassador Elijah Buol OAM opening the Maranoa Awards Ceremony at Roma. Picture: Chloe Cufflin.

“Anyone who walks through the smoke is protected uner my law,” Mr Blades said.

“It’s a way of acknowledging our ancestors and a way for them to give us permission to be here today.”

Elijah Buol OAM was the ambassador for the Roma event and provided the audience with the years of wisdom he’s gained throughout the course of his life, from starting off as an unaccompanied minor seeking asylum in Australia back in 2002 to pursing university and then recieving an Order of Australia medal for his efforts in advocating for social justice.

“Today is a day about celebrating diversity and citizenship,” he said.

“Australia is the land of opportunities and it really is the best country in the world.”