Inspirational community champions celebrated at Australia Day Gala

Citizen of the Year - Rebecca Cooper

Rebecca Cooper has been a passionate volunteer and a true champion for community spirit throughout 2023 and 2024.

With her boundless energy and deep compassion, Rebecca has led and supported a wide range of community events and groups, becoming a bridge that connects people of all ages across the Mackay Northern Beaches. Her dedication has created meaningful connections, empowering individuals to come together, build lasting relationships, and experience a stronger sense of belonging within their community.

The initiatives Rebecca has either initiated or actively volunteered in have provided vital opportunities for people to improve their social health and overall wellbeing. By bringing people together through fun, inclusive activities, Rebecca has nurtured a spirit of connection and support, helping to foster a vibrant, resilient and caring community that continues to thrive as the Mackay Northern Beaches area grows.

Some of the impactful volunteer initiatives Rebecca has contributed to and led include:

*The Mackay Northern Beaches Community Week, a 10-day event that brought together 30 activities and encouraged connection and creativity.

*Mackay Northern Beaches Community Playgroup, a playgroup that welcomes more than 100 children each week and connects about 60 families.

*Mackay Northern Beaches Community Network, a network that uses art activities to activate and connect the community.

*Rebecca is also an active volunteer with the Northern Beaches Lions where she contributes her time to community events like the Seaview Parkrun.

Rebecca's selflessness and kindness are an inspiration to those around her – especially to her three young children – showing them the incredible difference that an individual with a kind heart and boundless determination can make. She embodies the idea that when we show up for each other, we all grow stronger together.

Young Citizen of the Year - Murray Macgroarty

When Cadet Sergeant Murray Macgroarty became aware of the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide and the associated prevalence of veteran homelessness, he determined that the efforts of individuals in the community would make more of a difference for local veterans.

Murray also became aware of a walk that Mackay RSL President Mr Ken Higgins OAM undertook from Mackay to Townsville to raise awareness of Vietnam Veterans more than 30 years ago. With considerable planning and partnering with the Mackay RSL and other supporters, Murray undertook to do a similar distance walk from Komiatum Barracks Mackay to Lavarack Barracks Townsville, 382km, to raise funds for and awareness of local veteran homelessness. Murray walked the astonishing distance in nine days, doing circuits of the Bluewater Trail instead of walking the Bruce Highway. Not only did Murray raise more than $11,000, but he also connected with the Mackay homeless community that lived around the trail, arranged for the provision of warm clothing supplies, distributed essentials packs, and increased awareness of access to medical health and mental health professionals.

Murray had the support of Local, State and Federal government members, his efforts being highlighted in a speech in Federal Parliament. Murray has continued to raise funds for homeless veterans through a variety of means and has since doubled his original fundraising to about $22,000. He is hoping to continue his public awareness and fundraising into the future.

Lori Burgess Community Volunteer of the Year Award – Bonnie Spratt

Gloria Spratt, known to most as Bonnie, dedicates her life to volunteering in the Mackay community. Bonnie, 81, volunteers at many organisations in the Mackay region and has done so for about 15 years.

Bonnie is a dedicated volunteer to ESA Australia - Alpha Rho (Mackay Branch). She has helped raise more than $500,000 that has been contributed to the Cancer Council of Queensland as well as the Leukaemia Foundation. Donations are also given to almost a dozen local charities.

Every year, Mackay locals have come to “expect” to see the ladies gift-wrapping at Caneland Central, as well as catering weekly at the local Bunnings with a sausage sizzle. All the collected money goes toward a deserving local non-profit organisation. Bonnie hand makes thousands of gift tags and volunteers six to eight hours every day in the months of November and December, gift wrapping in the shopping centre.

Every Wednesday Bonnie is a dedicated volunteer to Golden Years, cooking and catering morning tea for the senior citizens of Mackay. Bonnie also volunteers a day a week at Care Kitchen Cooking School, located at St Paul's Uniting Church Kitchen, creating an opportunity for adults with disabilities within the Mackay community to learn to prepare, cook and present food.

When Bonnie is not volunteering at the above organisations, you will find her dedicating her time to her family of four sons, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

The Brenden Borellini Access and Inclusion Achievement Award - Peter Sumpter

Peter Sumpter’s biggest passion is advocating for people with disability and coaching adaptive sports.  Most notably, Peter has coached the Mackay Machines Wheelchair Basketball Team for the past 17 years. Peter played an integral part in the formation of Disabled Sport & Rec Mackay Inc, a local association that provides adaptive sports for people with a disability in the Mackay region.

Peter volunteers as the program’s coordinator, running the association’s weekly programs, such as Wheelchair Dancing, Friday Fun and Wheelchair Basketball. As a volunteer, Peter choreographs and participates in “Strictly Dancing”, a wheelchair dancing group.

Under Peter’s coaching, the Mackay Machines Wheelchair Basketball Team has become a formidable force in North Queensland. Peter has also been head coach of North Queensland Wheelchair Basketball, and coached Queensland’s Men’s, Women’s and U23 Junior’s Wheelchair Basketball Teams.  All of this is done in a voluntary capacity.

Peter also volunteers his time to run wheelchair basketball workshops at local primary and high schools, where he gives young people an opportunity to explore reverse inclusion through participating in an adaptive sport.

Peter Sumpter is an outstanding contributor to our community. His initiative, enthusiasm and dedicated service to voluntary work in supporting people with a disability to be more active has changed countless lives.

Environmental Achievement Award - Maya Harrison

Maya Harrison is a tireless volunteer, an inclusive educator, a passionate environmentalist, an environmental photographer and artist, and a driving force for every person to have access to nature.

As president and secretary of the Friends of the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens, Maya is behind many events, projects and initiatives that educate the community, beautify the Gardens and improve the experience for visitors.

Most weekends you will find Maya at the Botanic Gardens undertaking guided walks, answering questions and engaging with excited children.

Maya’s extensive engagement with the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens is driven by her deep desire to make the natural environment accessible and understood by all members of the community.

Maya’s work does not end with the Gardens. She is also involved with the Butterflies and Other Invertebrates Club, the Society for Growing Australian Plants, Toad Busters and the Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) network.

On her Land for Wildlife property at Mt Blackwood, Maya nurtures a beautiful collection of native plants and even maintains a tadpole hatchery and an insect specimen collection to share with children at free school talks and holiday session.

Arts and Culture Award – Steven Pritchard

Steven Pritchard is a champion of local Mackay history who shatters the stereotype that history is only for older people. Since 2013, Steven has been a pillar of Mackay’s Historical Society and Museum, especially in his roles as research and publicity Officer, and vice president.

His efforts have resulted in the promotion and education of Mackay’s local history to its citizens. Key achievements include the research and authorship of dozens of history feature articles written for the Daily Mercury; running of the Historical Society’s various displays at the Volunteers Expo and other locations; conducting Heritage Walks around Mackay City Centre to support the local school curriculum; speaking at various events or interviews on behalf of the Historical Society and researching for major events like the Queensland Health Maternal and Child Health’s 100th Birthday celebrations and Caneland Central’s 40th Birthday display.

Steven dedicates a great deal of personal time, outside of his commitment to the Historical Society, to fulfil other requests for research. His passion for history is based on his belief that “everything has a story”. He is a wonderful example to younger generations of keeping our stories alive, something that cannot be accomplished without the selflessness and hard work of people like Steven.

Community Group Award - The North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club

The North Mackay Sinkers have been a beacon of community spirit and inclusivity in the Mackay region for more than 31 years. The club has continuously expanded its efforts beyond the pool, focusing on holistic well-being, social connection and support for the broader community. Through its programs, events and fundraising activities, the club has made a profound impact on the Mackay community.

The North Mackay Sinkers have run a Multiple Sclerosis Super Splash event since 2015 and, cumulatively, the club has raised about $64,000 to fight MS.

The club’s annual calendar also includes the Starlight Super Swim to raise money for the Starlight Foundation and the Laps for Life event, to raise money to prevent youth suicide. In 2024, the club actively participated in three major community fundraisers, collectively raising more than $20,000 to support mental health, well-being and improved outcomes for individuals with neurological and other health challenges.

Its achievements in fundraising, safety awareness, cultural diversity, and health promotion reflect an unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for residents in the Mackay Regional Council area. The North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club is a shining example of how a local organisation can inspire and enrich a community.

Young Sports Award - Monique Bobongie

Monique Bobongie is taking the Women’s National Basketball League by storm.  She was named Basketball Queensland’s Female Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024.

Recently signed by the Canberra Capitals, making her the youngest starter in the WNBL this season at just 17, Monique stands out as a role model and inspiring leader.

Last year, Monique was an integral part of the U18 Australian Girls Gems team in China at the FIBA Asian Cup. She captained the gold medal championship game, which they won, and was the second highest point scorer for Australia, with 23 points and seven rebounds.

She is a proud young Indigenous woman representing her Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Australian South Sea Islander heritage and she sees herself as being a role model, actively encouraging other young Indigenous athletes.

When home, Monique helps coach at camps Mackay Basketball holds for younger players. She also spends time talking to young students at various schools and teaching them basketball skills.

Senior Sports Award - Dr Lutie van den Berg

Lutie van den Berg Sensei is a seventh degree blackbelt and the head coach for the JKA Australian Karate team. He has run his dojo in Mackay since 2000 and, in that time, has changed the lives of thousands of students. He has coached multiple world karate champions who attribute much of their success to his prolific coaching and instructional skills.

As a dedicated coach, mentor and karate instructor, Lutie exemplifies the qualities that this award seeks to recognise – leadership, dedication and a profound commitment to inspiring others. Over the years, he has not only demonstrated his own excellence as a karate practitioner, but has consistently given his time, energy and passion to develop and empower others.

One hundred competitors from all over Australia went to Japan in October 2024 for the World Championships in Takasaki with Dr van den Berg as the national head coach. It was one of the largest teams worldwide.

What is notable is that of the 100 Australian team members, 31 were from the Mackay Dojo.

His coaching philosophy is rooted in respect, discipline and an unwavering belief in the potential of everyone. He invests countless hours in nurturing talent, both in training sessions and through personal mentoring.

His tireless volunteer work, whether organising events, managing competitions, teaching karate, or simply offering a listening ear, has enriched the lives of many and contributed significantly to the success and cohesion of the Mackay and the Australian Karate community.