Toowoomba’s 2023 citizen of the year named at Australia Day awards | Photos
From sporting and cultural achievements, to making a difference to minority and disadvantaged communities, here are all the inspiring winners of the 2023 Toowoomba Australia Day Awards.
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Crowds gathered at Picnic Point on Thursday to recognise the unsung heroes who have made an impact on the local community of Toowoomba.
Indigenous dancers from the Mura Biri Gururu performed, followed by Toowoomba cappella group High Altitude Harmony.
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio, Councillors Geoff McDonald, Tim McMahon and Melissa Taylor were also in attendance, as well as Federal member for Groom Garth Hamilton and State members Trevor Watts and David Janetzki.
Citizen of the Year
When David Radke, 77, was a young boy he remembers collecting pretty stones – a pastime which has grown into his biggest passion over the years.
An active member of the Toowoomba Lapidary Club for the past three decades, Mr Radke has served in many volunteering roles at the organisation including president.
The club which involves the practice of shaping stone, minerals or gemstones into decorative items has more than 50 members.
“When you put up your hand to do a job, you just get on and do the best you can,” he said.
“Not once do you realise you could go on to win an award just for doing your job.”
In addition to his work with the Lapidary Club, Mr Radke has also championed the continued to growth of GemFest and won several awards at state, national and international competitions.
With a background in agriculture and geology, discovering what hides underground and sharing his knowledge with others has always been his greatest love – other than his wife Beverley.
“The club has done a lot for me in my life, so it would be very remiss of me not to pass that on to other club members,” he said.
“No man is an island. It’s very humbling but you do feel quite uncomfortable when you’re singled out for an award when it’s really a team effort.
“(Beverley) is really the only one who knows how far behind the eight-ball I would be if it wasn’t for her help and support, so this award is for (her) also.”
Awarded Toowoomba Citizen of the Year at the 2023 Australia Day ceremony, he received the award for several reasons which included being a positive role model for others.
Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Toowoomba Citizen of the Year
From the moment she was born Jamie-Lee Wagner, 31, who is a proud Kaurareg woman, has battled assumptions, acceptance and equality all because of her heritage and the colour of her skin.
The 2023 Toowoomba Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Citizen of the Year award recipient has advocated for refugees and First Nations people since she was a young girl.
Passionate about making systemic change and removing the barriers minority groups face, the active volunteer has restored faith that everyone can follow their dreams, regardless of their background.
“As a first nations woman, I understand what it’s like to be separated from my family and my heritage due to circumstances outside of my control,” she said.
“Due to government polices and poorly kept records, my father and I will never know our family members and have been stripped of so much of our identity.
“I grew up being told mediocrity was all that I could achieve … in my first year of high school I was given an award for merely turning up to school on time and wearing my uniform because that made me an exemplary member of my race.
“In my later years at the same school, all the First Nations students were taught how to fill out Centrelink forms because it was assumed we would all depend on welfare at some point in our adult lives.”
Ms Wagner worked hard to gain entry into a competitive university course and she later graduated with a Masters in art.
Majoring in humanity and communications, the inspiring Torres Strait Islander woman centred her studies on refugee and migrant populations.
Over the years she has facilitated several workshops for primary aged children from non-native English speaking backgrounds, on healthy eating and hygiene practices.
She partnered with local organisations to pilot the Safe Families initiative to assist refugees and migrants experiencing domestic violence.
An active Zonta International member, Ms Wagner was also the guest speaker at a 2021 flag raising ceremony to commemorate the International Human Rights Day.
“Given my personal experience, I align strongly with the refugee community who now call Toowoomba home,” she said.
“These new Toowoomba residents have been separated from their land, their loved ones and their cultural heritage and my understanding of their plight has driven me to work with these communities.
“Just because of the colour of your skin or your heritage, it doesn’t make you any less of a person – it’s actually something to celebrate and be proud of.”
While the 2023 Australia Day award recipient said she respected January 26 was a day of happiness for many people, it was a day of sorrow and mourning for others.
“It’s a hard day for my people and not a day of celebration … even I find it to be quite a hard day,” Ms Wagner said.
“But I also know for the refugees I work with, this is a day of celebration because they are so proud to be Australian and celebrate this country.”
Full list: 2023 Australia Day award recipients – Toowoomba:
• Citizen of the Year – David Radke
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Citizen of the Year – Jamie-Lee Wagner
• Young Citizen of the Year – Mahsa Nabizada
• Senior Sport – Shenae Ciesiolka
• Junior Sport – Kaylin Van Greunen
• Community Group / Event of the Year – Hike to Heal Australia
• Cultural – Matthew Henry
• William Groom Scholarship – Farhan Khudir
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