Australia Day Awards

Nominations Now Open - McKinlay Shire 2025 Australia Day Awards:

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2024 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year – Debbie Godier
Young Citizen of the Year – Olivia Fegan
Volunteer of the Year – Kylie Cook and Luke Spreadborough
Junior Cultural Award – Madeline Murphy
Senior Cultural Award – Beth Leech
Small Community Event – Julia Creek State School - Community Festival
Large Community Event – Julia Creek ICPA - QLD ICPA State Conference
Senior Sports Award – None Awarded
Junior Sports Award – Emaya Fegan
Sports Administrator Award - Tenneil Cody
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award – The Late, Duncan Fysh
Australia Day Committee Award - Recognition of Service - Marg Woodhouse

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2023 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year – Neil Warner
Young Citizen of the Year – Ava Ballantyne
Volunteer of the Year – Neil (Tex) Wright
Junior Cultural Award – Ruby-Jayne Gabbert
Senior Cultural Award – Maggie Rudolph
Small Community Event – Julia Creek State School – Remembrance Day
Large Community Event – Julia Creek Dirt & Dust Festival
Senior Sports Award – Peter Verhoeven
Junior Sports Award – Breanna Verhoeven
Sports Administration – Ben Mussig
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award – Julia Creek State School Chaplaincy

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2022 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year - Kylie Burke
Young Citizen of the Year - Kalan Lococo
Volunteer of the Year - Peter Golledge
Senior Sports Award - Jake Curr
Junior Sport Award - Bronte Pratt
Junior Cultural Award - Alice Hacon
Large Community Event - “The Big Weekend” hosted by Julia Creek Combined Sporting Association
Small Community Event - “2021 Back to Julia Creek Reunion” hosted by Julia Creek Lions Ladies
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - Burnett Family of Lara Downs Station

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2021 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year - Tanya Johnson
Young Citizen of the Year - Toby Fitchett
Volunteer of the Year - Stephen Malone
Large Community Event - Ron Wall Charity Rodeo hosted by Community Volunteers under Yelvertoft Draft
Small Community Event - Let's Brunch; Breast Cancer Support Group Fundraiser hosted by Women of the West
Junior Sports Award - Jedd Fegan
Junior Cultural Award - Madeline Murphy
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - Colin Malone

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2020 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year - Beryl Murphy
Young Citizen of the Year - Lindsay Malone
Volunteer of the Year - Dane Crocker & Tim Pratt
Large Community Event - Flood Relief Lunch hosted by Emily Curr
Small Community Event - Julia Creek Amateur Swimming Club Gold & Black Ball
Senior Sports Award - Tanya Parry
Junior Sports Award - Tom Scholes Jnr
Sports Admin Award - Shayne Gabbert
Cultural Award - Toby Fitchett
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - Dr Vanessa Slack-Smith

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2019 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year - Kathryn Fels
Large Community Event - Julia Creek Campdraft Novice Draft and Campdraft School Weekend
Small Community Event - Julia Creek Lions Ladies Seniors Christmas Luncheon
Sports Administration Award - Benjamin Martin
Junior Sports Award - Tyra Martin
Senior Sports Award - Christopher Sollitt
Volunteer of the Year - John Lynch
Junior Cultural Award - Lucy Gabbert
Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award - Susan Walker

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2018 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year – Christopher Hewlett
Small Community Event of the year Award – Julia Creek Pony Club – Endless Muster
Junior Sports Award – Breana Verhoeven
Senior Sports Award - Eddie Maxwell
Sports Administration Award – Kate Frazer
Volunteer of the Year – Rebecca Climie

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2017 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year – Aileen Gabbert
Volunteer of the Year – Ellen Sills
Large Community Event - Crocodile Dundee 30th Anniversary Celebrations
Junior Sports Award – Toby Fitchett
Senior Sports Award - Tanya Parry
Sports Administrator – Calem Fegan
Junior Cultural Award - Sam Pratt

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2016 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year – Pauline Fegan
Young Citizen of the Year – Renae Hick
Volunteer of the Year – Colin Malone
Large Community Event - Julia Creek Turf Club Beach Races
Small Community Event - Sedan Dip Pony Club Getting Back in the Saddle Weekend
Junior Sports Award – Sam Lyttle
Senior Sports Award - Andrew Sollitt
Sports Administrator – Sheree Pratt
Junior Cultural Award - Abbie Pratt

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2015 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year – Laurie Blacklock
Young Citizen of the Year – Elizabeth Batt
Volunteer of the Year – Desmond Hansson
Large Community Event - Sedan Dip Sport & Rec
Small Community Event - Julia Creek Pony Club Youth Camp
Junior Sports Award – Clay Malone
Sports Administrator – Naomi Smith
Cultural of the Year Award– Ellen Sills
Junior Cultural Award - Rachel Fels

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2014 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year – Justin Vardy
Young Citizen of the Year – Taylor Daniell
Volunteer of the Year – Philip Alexander
Volunteer of the Year – Beryl Murphy
Large Community Event - CSA Town vs Footy
Small Community Event - Julia Creek CWA – 90th Birthday Celebrations
Highly Commended Junior Sports Award – Ben Smith
Junior Sports Award – Molly Lyttle
Senior Sports Award – Chris Sollitt
Sports Administrator – Chris Smith
Cultural of the Year Award– Catharine Charlish
Outstanding Community Involvement Award – Ellen Warner
Outstanding Community Involvement Award - Beryl Murphy

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2013 Australia Day Awards:

Citizen of the Year - Maree Lapworth
Large Community Event - John McKinlay 150th Celebration
Sports Administration Award - Sharon Mulligan
Sports Administration Award Highly Commended - Bec Climie
Junior Sports Award - Rachel Fels
Highly Commended Junior Sports Award - Toby Fitchett
Highly Commended Senior Sports Award - Corrina Sollitt
Volunteer of the Year - Lyn Dever
Junior Cultural Award - Rachel Fels
Cultural Award - Cat Charlish

Winners of the McKinlay Shire 2012 Australia Day Awards:

Small Community Event - Julia Creek Players
Large Community Event - Saxby 50th Year Celebration
Sports Administration / Coach Award - Bec Climie
Young Citizen Award - Cody Jackson
Junior Sports Award - Rachel Fels
Highly Commended Junior Sports Award - Sam Lyttle
Citizen of the Year - Kat Cagney
Senior Sports Award - Kenny Daniel
Volunteer of the Year - Tanya Johnson
Volunteer of the Year Highly Commended - Ira Sollitt