Australia Day

Over 26 years of age.

A local person who has demonstrated vision, leadership, innovation, or creativity, has been a positive role model for their peers/community/region, shown significant and outstanding contributions to their community and demonstrated a high level of personal, academic, or professional achievements with demonstrated benefits for others.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated a high level of personal, academic, or professional achievements with demonstrated benefits for others.
• Positive role model for their peers/community/region.
• Demonstrated vision, leadership, innovation or creativity within personal life and Community involvement.
• Goes above and beyond, displays continued excellence. 

Under 26 years of age.

A local person between the ages of 16 and 25 who has demonstrated leadership, innovation, or creativity, has shown outstanding achievement in their chosen field (e.g., academic, sporting, cultural, environment or civic responsibility), is a role model that other young people can aspire to and has shown a significant contribution to the community.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated leadership, innovation or creativity within their personal life and community.
• Shown outstanding achievement in their chosen field (e.g., academic, sporting, cultural, environment or civic responsibility).
• Positive role model that other young people can aspire to.
• Has shown a significant contribution to the community.

A local person who has made a significant contribution at community level through their volunteering and has shown a personal effort that has made a lasting and significant difference to the community, as well as enhanced social interaction among the community. 

Selection Criteria

• Noteworthy contribution to the community.
• Enhanced social interaction among the community.
• Demonstrates significant personal effort that has made a lasting and significant difference to the community.

A local person or group that has shown vision, leadership, innovation or creativity, increased awareness and encourages participation of arts and culture and has made an outstanding contribution bringing long or short-term benefits to the arts and/or cultural community of the Balonne Shire.

Selection Criteria

• Shown vision, leadership, innovation, or creativity through contribution to arts and culture life within the community.
• Increases awareness and encourages participation of arts and culture.
• Made an outstanding contribution bringing long or short-term benefits to the arts and/or cultural community of the Balonne Shire. 

There are 3 categories for this award as below:

Senior (Over 18 years of age)

A person who has excelled in their sporting achievements, conducted themselves in the spirit of fair sportsmanship and has made a positive impact in their sport and community.  Open to people older than 18 years of age as at 26 January in the award year.

Selection Criteria

• Excelled in their sporting achievements.
• Conducted themselves in the spirit of fair sportsmanship.
• Made a positive impact in their sport and community.

Junior (Under 18 years of age)

A young person who has excelled in their sporting achievements, conducted themselves in the spirit of fair sportsmanship and has made a positive impact in their sport and community.  Open to people younger than 18 years of age as at 26 January in the award year.

Selection Criteria

• Excelled in their sporting achievements.
• Conducted themselves in the spirit of fair sportsmanship.
• Made a positive impact in their sport and community.

Sport Administrator (Over 18 years of age)

A local person who has made a significant contribution to their sporting community, and displays inspirational leadership, energy, and enthusiasm in their role as a sports administrator, coach or official.

Selection Criteria

• Actions to inspire, enrich and encourage others.
• Displays inspirational leadership, energy, and enthusiasm in their role.
• Outstanding management and Administration.
• Goes above and beyond for the sport they are involved in.

A local community group or organisation whose contributions have brought or will bring social, cultural and/or economic benefits to individuals, community organisations or the community in general as well as having significant volunteer involvement or excellence in their field.

Selection Criteria

• Have brought social, cultural and/or economic benefits to individuals, community organisations or the community in general.
• Significant volunteer involvement or excellence in their field.
• Strengthened social cohesion within culturally diverse communities.
• Proven commitment and delivery of a service to improve lives and opportunities for the community.

A group who has staged an event in the past year that has created a positive impact in the Balonne Shire and helps create a vibrant community utilising our public spaces or online platform.

Selection Criteria

• Made an outstanding contribution to the community.
• Has created a positive impact in the Balonne Shire.
• Helped create a vibrant community utilising our public spaces or online platform.

The Balonne Australia Day Award recipients for 2026 are:

• Citizen of the Year Award: Thomas McKenna
• Young Citizen of the Year Award: Tomas Kunde
• Volunteer of the Year Award: Terry Salmon 
• Sportsperson of the Year Award: Connor Taylor-Langton
• Community Event of the Year Award –Bollon Polocrosse Carnival
• Community Group of the Year Award - St George Fishing & Restocking Club
• Cultural Award: Nullawokka First Nations Gallery and Tours

The Balonne Australia Day Award recipients for 2025 are:

• Citizen of the Year Award: Sally Rigney
• Young Citizen of the Year Award: Ashleigh Ferguson
• Volunteer of the Year Award: Win Salmon
• Cultural Award: Jacob Hiles
• Senior Sports Award: Sam Rollins
• Junior Sports Award: Mataya Turnbull
• Sports Administrator Award: Scott McKechnie
• Community Event of the Year Award: Dirranbandi Pastoral & Agricultural Association's 100th Show
• Community Group of the Year Award: QCWA Thallon-Daymar

The Balonne Australia Day Award recipients for 2024 are:

• Citizen of the Year Award: Mark Bartlem
• Young Citizen of the Year Award: Phoebe Olive
• Volunteer of the Year Award: Jacque Hemming
• Cultural Award: Nia Hadenfeldt
• Senior Sports Award: Tom Perkins
• Junior Sports Award: Rhyder Hooper
• Sports Administrator Award: Justin Schultz
• Community Event of the Year Award: Thallon Pub Choir
• Community Group of the Year Award: Hebel Rodeo Association Inc.

The Balonne Australia Day Award recipients for 2023 are:

• Citizen of the Year Award: Richard Marsh
• Young Citizen of the Year Award: Julia Killen
• Volunteer of the Year Award: Victoria Nancarrow
• Community Group of the Year Award: QCWA St George Branch
• Community Event of the Year Award: National Breast Cancer Foundation Fundraiser (organised by Kymberly Wilson, Courtney Dwyer, Sophie and Holly Cooke)
• Cultural Award: St George State School
• Sports Administrator Award: April McLaren
• Senior Sports Award: Nate Davis
• Junior Sports Award: Sienna Beardmore

The Balonne Australia Day Award recipients for 2022 are:

• Citizen of the Year: Ben Gardiner
• Young Citizen of the Year: Yasmin Sullivan
• Volunteer of the Year: Andrew Killen
• Community Group of the Year: Thallon Progress Association
• Community Event of the Year: Thallon Truck Pull
• Cultural Achievement Award: Balonne Fijian Community Group
• Sports Administrator Award: SueAnne Bardsley
• Senior Sports Achievement Award: Tom McDonnell
• Junior Sports Achievement Award: Lillian Stenhouse

The Balonne Australia Day Award recipients for 2021 are:

• Citizen of the Year: Liz Hill
• Young Citizen of the Year: Katie Parker
• Community Service Award: Pam Crothers
• Junior Cultural Achievement Award: Marshal Sanford
• Sports Administrator Medallion: Peta Hart
• Senior Sports Achievement Medallion: Kym Webster
• Junior Sports Achievement Medallion: Oliver Lockwood
• Community Event of the Year: Dragon Country Sandgreen Cup (St George Golf Club)