Recognise a local hero with an Australia Day Award nomination

And what better recognition is there than being nominated for a 2021 Mackay Regional Council Australia Day Award?

Nominations are now open and recognising a local hero takes just a few minutes of your time.

There are eight award categories including:

Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Arts and Culture, Environmental Achievement, Lori Burgess Community Volunteer, Community Group, Senior Sports and Young Sports Award.

This year’s Citizen of the Year Charlie Symons said he was incredibly humbled to be nominated and to be able to sit amongst so many deserving peers.

“When they called my name out, I was quite tongue-tied to be truthful – it was one of the few times in my life I was quite flabbergasted,” Mr Symons said.

Mr Symons said the effects of COVID-19 meant that many people in our community were doing it tough this year and he encouraged residents to put the names forward of those people who had stepped up to lend support to those in need.

Mayor Greg Williamson echoed this sentiment.

“Look, 2020 was tough on many people, but there’s an old saying about when the going gets tough, the tough get going, and we saw a lot of that in our region,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Rather than giving up on their goals or community projects, some truly inspirational people stepped up, worked harder than ever and found innovative ways to overcome social distancing restrictions,” he said. “It’s time those people were recognised for their efforts.”

To nominate someone for an Australia Day Award visit council’s website or return a hardcopy version of the form to one of council’s Client Service Centres.  Nominations close January 6, 2021.

All award winners and nominees will be recognised at a special awards ceremony at the MECC on Monday, January 25, 2021.  The Australia Day Awards are proudly sponsored by P. Comino and Sons and Tropical Exposure and are supported by Star 1019.