Mackay region asked to celebrate unsung heroes for Australia Day 

Published on 10 November 2025

Council is calling for the community to shine a light on our unsung heroes, community volunteers, inspirational sportspeople and local legends.

Now is the time to nominate residents for the 2026 Australia Day Awards.

The awards will be presented at a gala event on Australia Day eve – Sunday, January 25, 2026 – at the MECC.

Mayor Williamson said there had been so many tremendous nominations last year and our region was extremely lucky to have so many amazing groups and individuals that stepped up for our community.

“We had 136 nominations across the nine categories at the 2025 awards and this year we’d love to build on that,” he said.

He said nominating someone for an Australia Day Award took just minutes and was as simple as filling out a nomination form on council’s website or grabbing a hard copy at council’s customer service centres.

“One thing that every nominee says each year is just how much it means to them to be nominated and recognised for the work they do,” he said.

“If there’s someone you know who goes above and beyond for our community or is achieving great things, then please recognise them today with a nomination.”

There are nine categories to nominate in: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Arts and Culture, Environmental Achievement, Lori Burgess Community Volunteer, Brenden Borellini Access and Inclusion Achievement, Community Group, Senior Sports and Young Sports Award.

Last year was the first time the Brenden Borellini Access and Inclusion Achievement Award had been presented.

Mayor Williamson said the nominations had been outstanding and it was fantastic to present the inaugural award to longtime advocate for disability sports, Peter Sumpter.

“This award honours individuals or groups who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to remove barriers, implement innovative solutions and advocate for the rights and needs of those who may be experiencing disability and/or mobility and access concerns,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Peter has, for more than 17 years now, coached the Mackay Machines Wheelchair Basketball Team for the past 17 years and runs weekly programs such as Wheelchair Dancing, Friday Fun and Wheelchair Basketball for people with disability,” he said.

“Peter is a perfect example of the type of quiet, hard-working community hero that we want to recognise on Australia Day.”

Nominations close January 5, 2026.

Online nominations can be found at mackay.qld.gov.au/australiaday

The Australia Day Awards are proudly sponsored by P. Comino and Sons and Tropical Exposure and are supported by StarFM and 4MK radio and 7NEWS Mackay.

Rebecca Cooper was named the 2025 Mackay Regional Council Citizen of the Year due to her outstanding contribution to the Northern Beaches community.