And the nominees are...
We look at the names in the running for Charters Towers’ Australia Day Awards
THE Charters Towers Regional Council has released the lists of nominees in the running for Australia Day Awards next week.
The community is invited to attend the celebrations, which will begin at 9am on Wednesday, January 26 with an awards ceremony at the Charters Towers Racecourse.
There will also be a citizenship ceremony to welcome new citizens from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
A pool party is also planned at the Kennedy Regiment Memorial Pool from 11am to 2pm. Entry is free and will include morning tea, sausage sizzle, mini golf and an inflatable pool.
Charters Towers will also welcome Australia Day Ambassador Jay Larkins, director of Brisbane’s Paralympic Football Program, to the region.
The 24 nominees contesting the seven award categories are:
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR SANDRA BOGILEVU
A quiet achiever, Sandra is always completing tasks that must be done but are often neglected. She is a generous and charitable person. Her contribution as a volunteer is limitless across many organisations.
Sandra promoted sales for the Don Roderick Gallery, approached a local reporter to promote shopping locally and made posters in regards to shopping locally. She also worked alongside the Zara Clark Museum committee in its submissions for grants.
TRACEY MURPHY
Tracey volunteered many countless hours pursuing a vital service for dialysis patients in Charters Towers.
She was tenacious and persistent in getting support for the project, even though she met resistance. Tracey was the major driving force in getting kidney dialysis for the town. She fundraised for the chairs for the dialysis ward, and has also held a fundraising event for cancer.
TRACY MORRIS
Tracy works tirelessly as the manager of the Charters Towers Golf Club and is there every day, rain, hail or shine.
She is a role model with her never-ending enthusiasm for golf, and the willingness to pass her experience on to the youth of Charters Towers.
Tracy runs the Migolf program and is directly behind teaching youth this skill.
RYAN O’CONNOR
Ryan has tirelessly volunteered his time to help rebuild the heritage-listed St Columba’s Parish Bell tower for the benefit of the community.
Ryan has spent countless hours trying to restore the bell tower, which involved many late-night meetings, liaising with many different people and raising money to help make this happen. Challenges presented were often very difficult, but he persisted.
KELVIN PENO
Kelvin has been a member of the Charters Towers Bulls since he was 16 years old. He recently retired but is still a proud supporter of the rugby program. Kelvin gives up his spare time to support children and adults with disabilities. He works hard to support everyone as he gives them a sense of belonging. Kelvin goes above and beyond and never puts himself first.
COMMUNITY EVENT OF THE YEAR CHARTERS TOWERS RODEO ASSOCIATION
Many locals compete in the Charters Towers Rodeo, but it is also an important social event, especially for rural families. The association is made up of new and old committee members. The committee affiliated with the Australian Professional Rodeo Association for the first time in 2021, which resulted in unprecedented numbers of competitors and spectators, generating a significant economic stimulus.
DISABILITY ACTION WEEK – PROSPECT COMMUNITY SERVICES
Disability Action Week brings the community together while also creating awareness around abilities and access.
After an uncertain 2020, Prospect’s Disability and Mental Health team wanted to host a Disability Action Week event for the Charters Towers community. This engaged with all abilities and all ages to create inclusiveness and social interaction.
CHARTERS TOWERS BALL ASSOCIATION INC
The Charters Towers Ball Association is a local group of women who plan and facilitate an annual charity ball.
The 2021 event saw 300 attendees, which funded the Isolated Children’s Parents Association, raising an impressive $15,000. This event injected much-needed funds into the community and provided a valuable opportunity for the community to come together.
YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR DANIEL SUMPTON
At only 23 years of age, Daniel has worked tirelessly to promote the messages of multiple organisations.
He is referred to by some as “the man who brought print journalism back to Charters Towers”, with his magazine “Sumpton’s Gold Rush Gazette”. He has provided opportunities to other young people who want to pursue media careers by providing internships, classes, and encouragement.
Daniel is also the originator and volunteer for the “Ditch Drugs, Read Books” initiative.
CULTURAL PERSON OF THE YEAR SUSAN MCLENNAN
Susan’s passion for cultural and creative activities is only surpassed by her willingness to share, collaborate and involve those with a passing, passive, practical or economic interest, to encourage growth in the sector in our community.
She has provided her time voluntarily in many projects including collaboration and inclusion of Charters Towers’ independent arts and creative groups, writing grant applications for local groups and delivering several events.
LUCY HALL
A dancer and teacher, Lucy opened Power Up Dance Studio as the lead choreographer and teacher. She continued to encourage young people and adults to develop skills and a passion for dance. This allowed community members to engage with a service that improves their wellbeing. Lucy has continued to engage the community in 2021, providing spectacular dance performances at local events.
WILLIAM BRIGHAM YOUNG
Brigham is the backbone of the Charters Towers Women of the Outback Shed.
Without fail he shows up every week in his happy nature to teach the ladies of the Women’s Shed about safety, use of power tools and equipment.
He is the Women’s Shed gardener, handyman, teacher, joker and the most knowledgeable secretary to hand.
YOUNG CULTURAL PERSON OF THE YEAR MITA ASQUITH
Mita is kind, encouraging and compassionate. He is also engaged with his community by performing with “Power Up” and “Towers Players”.
He leads our youth and sets positive examples. Performances undertaken by Mita in 2021 have positively impacted the community, uplifting those that have been struggling through the pandemic and supporting the charity ball team to raise funds.
SOPHIE BARON
Sophie is a quiet achiever, who is passionate about dance and increasing opportunities for local dancers at Gold City Dance Studios.
Alongside achieving the highest grades in her own dance career and teaching qualifications, Sophie is pursuing opportunities for local dancers to broaden their experience, often at her own expense and contribution of time, on top of her own fulltime employment.
SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR ADRIAN GULDBRANSEN
Adrian has long been a quiet achiever in many of the roles that he has undertaken across a wide cross-section of sports and clubs and schools.
Many of the roles he has undertaken in 2021 have been long-term commitments and involved coaching or mentoring young people who have then gone on to become participants, contributors or volunteers in their young adult lives.
MELISSA WILSON
Melissa was instrumental throughout the Covid lockdown this season in keeping the local swimming club squad kids in the water.
She regularly consulted with the appropriate bodies on current regulations, and at a time when they had no current swim coach, she would volunteer herself to attend the pool to supervise, allowing the kids to swim and keep fit.
TRACY MORRIS
See ‘Citizen of the Year’.
KELVIN PENO
See ‘Citizen of the Year’.
SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR RAYMOND ABDY
Raymond is an outstanding athlete who enriches the community with a genuine positive attitude, and a polite and happy personality. He has encouraged many youths over the years by educating them through the Rural Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program. Raymond is an inspiration to younger athletes from various backgrounds to overcome adversity.
JOHN WALLIS
John is an inspiration to many, particularly at the athletics club where he has been a member since 1984. John competes at Masters events in a number of field events where he has received several first and second placings. John is an accredited coach and a qualified field referee and officiated at the Tokyo Olympic trials held in Townsville. He is always willing to give his time to help others and is a role model for senior citizens to keep fit.
YOUNG SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR AINSLIE TONKS
Horse rider Ainslie competes in local shows in all ring events. She hopes her activities encourages kids that are watching to give the sport a go. As a campdraft member she also helps at local Gold City Campdraft events. She is also very dedicated to sporting events at her local school, Charters Towers State High.
CAMPBELL HODSON
Campbell is dedicated to his sport of rodeo and encourages others around him through hard work and commitment. He lends his horses when others have injured horses and is always willing to give advice to his fellow rodeo competitors. He has been awarded a number of national titles.
COREY MUSK
Corey is a role model for his peers through his hard work and commitment to his sporting pursuits. Corey volunteered in 2021 as a league safe officer for the All Souls Saint Gabriel’s Firsts rugby league team, and also attended the Confraternity Carnival with the team in Brisbane 2021. Corey was selected in the Blackhawks Academy for 2021.
DALLAS DOUGLAS
Dallas represents Charters Towers at many events both at home and across the state with his passion for golf evident. He also volunteers at the Charters Towers Golf Club and assists coaches with the junior golfing program. Dallas practices after school until sunset most days.
JAMES LOWE
James has shown dedication to his chosen sport, MMA, with Power Up Fitness.
James assists in his spare time to help train the juniors at Power Up Fitness, where he is held in high regard for his determination and positive outlook.
In a short period of time James has become third in Queensland in amateur Maui Thai in his weight division.
KACEY MUSK
Kacey is a wonderful role model for juniors and is always willing to lend a hand. Kasey was captain of the All Souls St Gabriel’s Netball, ladies touch and mixed touch teams and was a member of the 2021 NQ Open ladies touch team that won the state championships.