A SELECT GROUP WE CAN ALL LOOK UP TO

The winners of this year’s Cairns Australia Day awards are a wonderful bunch of people who give back to their community in so many ways. They represent diversity, care and selflessness, none more so than Ian Roberts of Anglicare Cairns who is citizen of the year.

Mr Roberts is the driving force behind the not-for-profit organisation that has provided support for the homeless, particularly those affected by COVID-19, established food stores and implemented innovative measures to address youth unemployment.

He has worked seven days a week for most of the past year to quickly find accommodation and food for people, including many from Indigenous communities who were unable to return home due to COVID-19 restrictions. Compassion is his middle name.

Junior citizen of the year Harrison Oates might be a young man but he has achieved so much in a short time.

He was a national finalist in the prestigious Evatt diplomacy competition, is St Augustine’s College’s public speaking captain and student representative council president, a Cairns Relay for Life volunteer and fundraiser, was an R U OK? organiser and is heavily involved with the Cairns Yacht Club.

Study Cairns president Janine Bowmaker has been honoured with the inaugural COVID-19 community care award for her support of 2000 international students stranded in Cairns as a result of the virus restrictions.

The other winners were Glynnis Kiernan (volunteer), Terry Doyle (cultural), Ashleigh Ung (junior cultural) Grant “Scooter” Patterson (sportsperson) and Caleb Nissen (junior sportsperson).

Despite different backgrounds, talents and interests, each has contributed in a special way to Cairns.

Nick Dalton Deputy editor