There are so many people in our community who are doing great things and who are helping to make great things happen.

When I started writing these profiles one word which kept popping up was “passion”. Everyone on this list is passionate about their particular focus — whether it’s community, history, racing, music or education.

Not everyone is going to agree with the people I have put on this list, and I encourage everyone to contact me with their suggestions.

Let’s acknowledge the people who help to make the bayside community the great place it is to live.

5. Frank Box

Frank is passionate about our local environment and making sure our community stays beautiful.

He helped establish and develop the Keep Sandgate Beautiful Association in 1971 and is currently president, a position he has held (on and off) over the years.

He has been involved in leading a number of KSBA projects including The Glider Alliance (which aims to conserve squirrel gliders across north Brisbane) and the Small Bird Reserve Bushcare Project in Curlew Park (which aims to conserve and promote habitat for small birds).

He is also a regular participant in Clean Up Australia Day.

4. Dean & Vanessa Gibson

Dean and Vanessa are a power couple on the bayside — and they use their power for the good of the community.

They started Sandgate Parkrun along the foreshore in 2012 — launching with 119 participants and now averaging 350-400 runners each week. They were also involved in starting the annual Sandgate Sunset Run (which raises money for charity) in 2014 and are still heavily involved with both events.

They share a creative background — Dean in filmmaking and Vanessa in radio journalism.

Dean’s short film Welcome to Country was selected for the prestigious FlickerFest International Short Film Festival in Sydney in January. He’s passionate about making films which raise awareness of Indigenous communities and their stories.

It is something he does locally as well; for the past couple of years he has held flag raising ceremonies on Shorncliffe Pier every day during NAIDOC Week.

He is also a community advocate who is genuinely interested in what is best for the community.

3. Zoli Mauritz

Zoli is director of Music By The Sea, which has been holding a monthly concert series since 1997, bringing national and international stars to Sandgate (often bypassing other Brisbane city venues), hosting numerous world premieres and supporting emerging artists.

He’s also producer of the Music By the Sea Festival, which has been held annually for 16 years.

Zoli established the Seaside Symphony Orchestra (which invited musicians at all levels to join) and Sandbag’s Unplugged Cafe program (which is still going 12 years later).

He lives the Music By the Sea motto: “that art is essential for the wellbeing of the community”.

2. Bill Gollan

Bill helped breathe new life into the Sandgate & Districts Chamber of Commerce when he became president late in 2015.

He is passionate about promoting the bayside community and making it an attractive destination for both visitors and businesses.

As well as continuing to support the annual Bluewater Festival, he has been the driving force behind the Chamber’s Long Table Dinner on Shorncliffe Pier, the Jingle All The Bay Christmas festival in the centre of Sandgate and the Day on the Bay music festival, all of which have become annual events.

He has been vocal, persistent and relentless in his attempts to see the central business district of Sandgate revitalised and to get a Council commitment to update the Sandgate Neighbourhood Plan.

He has a vision for Sandgate and was one of the driving forces behind the Chamber’s Vision 2020 community consultation process.

1. Rod Chiapello

Behind nearly every successful bayside event stands Rod Chiapello, whether it’s giving his time or making a donation. If there’s an event or issue he’ll be the one asking “what do we need to do to make this happen?”

He has been a long-time supporter of schools, sporting groups, community events and individuals in the northern suburbs and the wider community.

He has been known to step in to help a member of the community doing it tough or, for example, supply food and cook it for all volunteers at the 2012 Deagon Picnic Race Day.

He is an active member of Bracken Ridge Central Lions Club and can often be spotted driving a steam train around the track at McPherson Park on the club’s monthly miniature train days.

On Australia Day 2015 he was recognised by the Lord Mayor by being named Citizen of the Year.

Despite all he does and all who he helps, he remains incredibly humble and is reluctant to accept individual praise. He is a true community champion.