Fraser Coast Australia Day Awards
Youths helping to raise funds for cyclone ravaged Tonga, the youngest president of a Zonta Club in the world and a fundraising powerhouse are among the recipients of the Fraser Coast 2022 Australia Day Awards.
“It is always refreshing to read the nominations for the Australia Day Awards,” Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said.
“It reinforces to me the kind, sharing and vibrant community we have on the Fraser Coast.
“The awards are recognition from the community of the hard work and dedication of so many Fraser Coast residents who volunteer and contribute so much to ensure we live in a vibrant community.
“It is unfortunate that we cannot gather to celebrate with the award recipients this year due to Covid, so I urge all residents to take a few minutes during your barbecues and backyard cricket matches to raise a glass and toast the recipients.
“I feel we owe them so much.”
For details on the nominees and recipients, visit https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/australia-day
Citizen of the year
Fraser Coast Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award recipient Bob Wicks reckons the award is just as much for his wife Narelle as it is for him.
The pair have been a powerhouse in the Fraser Coast business and sporting community for more than 30 years.
“We managed the business for three years before we bought it in January 1992,” he said.
Bob’s Tyres (Maryborough and Hervey Bay) has been synonymous with sport, of many kinds, and fundraising efforts for sports, community events, facilities, and charities.
While probably best known for their works in the Hervey Bay Surf Club and Seagulls Rugby League Club, they have been involved soccer, scuba diving and helping build the Roy Rufus Artificial Reef off the eastern side of Big Woody Island.
“We liked sports because it was for the kids. IF the kids were happy and involved their parents would be happy and involved and that was good for the community,” he said.
“Our aim was to make sure that the Fraser Coast grew and now to see it growing like it is and becoming a community is fantastic.”
Young Citizen of the Year
Sara Diana Faraj has received numerous academic achievements, awards for business management, marine science and sports and medals for her efforts on the soccer field.
She has received the Four Lions Youth of the Year speaker award, bronze award for cultural contribution and a community participation award.
Sara is the President of Zonta Hervey Bay and has set the record as the youngest Zonta president in the world.
She has taken on the role of supporting the voice of our local youth and hosts forums where youth can have their voices heard and come together to brainstorm ideas.
Not only has she been a peer support leader, but she has been a House Committee member, community culture cafe volunteer, Environmental Committee member, St Vincent De Paul sleep out leader, Sports event volunteer, volunteer singer and volunteer debating coach.
Cultural award of the Year
Desiree McGann noticed a missing link between local studio dance styles and QCAA Dance Curriculum taught in schools.
In 2007 she founded LAD Studio (La Danza Studio), the first Contemporary/Lyrical classes linked to the QCAA Dance Curriculum in the area.
She assisted students from numerous schools to achieve high results in Performing Arts.
In 2020 Desiree implemented the new QCAA Dance Syllabus at Riverside Christian College and provided the contemporary/lyrical and expressive link to the community through the Studio.
Desiree commenced Boy Tap Classes (The LADS) in 2008. Today it has the largest group of male dancers in the Fraser Coast region at La Danza Studio with 16 boys ranging from 6-20 years old.
Desiree was the winner of the 2015 Best Choreographer – Lyn Dahl Award for her work in the Brolga Production of Hairspray.
For her leadership and teaching innovation she was finalist for the 2019 Fraser Coast Education Alliance University of the Sunshine Coast, Educator of the Year Award and in 2012 was the Stated finalist Queensland College of Teachers Excellence in Teaching Award.
For the past six years Desiree has been Head of Faculty for Creative Industries (Drama, Music, Dance, Film, Visual Arts) & LOTE at Riverside Christian College.
She is the Head of Dance Department at the College and led her Department to National Award winning level in Wakakirri Story-Dance Secondary schools (2017, 2018, 2019).
She is the Director, Teacher and Founder of La Danza Studio since 2007 with currently 95 dance students registered, with multiple competition awards won in the past 5 years.
Young Cultural Award of the Year
Jasmin Corby endeavours to represent her indigenous heritage through her furnishing work.
Her work has been showcased at the Hervey Bay High School and has inspired students to incorporate their own cultural heritage into their own work.
Jasmin has been a part of the Girls Academy within Hervey Bay State High School where has mentored young females to take on roles within furnishing studies and other areas of the school.
2022 STEM Award of the Year
Captain Perry McNeil is an Airline Pilot, a Qualified Maths and Science Teacher, and a Military Officer (Aust. Army Captain ARes.).
Between flights, he teaches Mathematics, Science, and Applied Engineering (STEM) at Fraser Coast high schools.
Recently he was on contract to teach the Gifted and Talented Years 7 to 12 in Aerospace Drone Technology.
Perry is a Qualified Military Drone Instructor and Veteran, recently working with the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment as a Captain in the Army Reserve.
He teaches Applied Engineering and owns McNeil Aviation at Hervey Bay Airport, a technology enterprise that builds aircraft and has won several Aviation Awards for their aircraft builds.
As a Qualified Flight Instructor, he has guided youth in Aviation, Aerospace, and Engineering Technologies.
He is a Technical Counsellor for the Sports Aircraft Association of Australia and a licensed Flight Engineer, volunteering to give his time and guidance to those involved on the Fraser Coast in the aerospace and sport flying industry and the building of kit aircraft.
Young STEM award for the Year
Jacob Donnelly completed a two-year Certificate III in Information Digital Media and Technology.
He completed his Dell Certification to become a qualified Dell Technician and is able to undertake repairs of school laptops.
Last year he was the recipient of the ADF Innovators Award for STEM and, the Rhys Burnet Memorial Challenge and a Gold Arts and Culture Achievement.
Jacob spends his spare time repairing laptops for the college, operating the audio/visual equipment for school assemblies (presentations, sound and lighting), and helping troubleshoot and solve problems for students and staff.
2022 Sportsperson of the Year Award
Jeffrey Morris spends hours organising the race calendar for the Hervey Bay Triathlon Club the club race calendar, co-ordinating the club’s social media pages, successfully obtaining grants for equipment and events.
He helps run up to seven club events each year and as Event Director of the Hervey Bay 100, Jeff is the driving force behind the large-scale multisport event affectionately known as “the Hundy”.
Jeff volunteers between 10 to 20 hours per week most months on the Hundy and spends days on end ensuring that the Hundy runs smoothly over the week of the event each November.
Jeff has spent many years on the club’s management board and last year retired as president to take on the Vice-president position.
Young Sportsperson of the Year
Hunter Murdoch coached the U12 runners up team and represented Maryborough Magic in basketball at regional and state U16 championships.
He was select for the Basketball Queensland Future Development program attending a state development camp for the top 40, U14 male players in the State.
Hunter was further selected for the Queensland Basketball team in the Australian Primary School Championships in 2020.
He is also a skilled soccer player and in 2019 was invited to England as part of the West Ham United Academy elite tour. His team were grand final winners in 2020 and 2021 where Hunter received Player of the Final Award in 2020.
Hunter played his first season of Rugby League last year and was awarded 'best back' for his team.
He is an extraordinary young athlete and already a mature and exceptional role model for younger athletes.
2022 Volunteer of the Year Award
Noela Da Forno has dedicated 29 years of hard work to the Aldershot Community Association.
She was the treasurer for 20 years and ran the Community Centre kitchen for 16 years.
Noela was a founding member of the ADCA which raises money through raffles, roadside stalls and garage sales.
She also volunteers on the Disaster Committee. In 2001 the association, with the support of council, purchased an unused shop, which became the community hall, where weekly socials were held.
Noela truly is the heart and soul of the Aldershot community, and her selfless commitment shines through. The whole community is very grateful for her efforts.
Young Volunteer of the Year
Lewis Akaveka has volunteered at the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre and the Neighbourhood Hive helping with Open Day, the Band and Burger Night for Year 12 students and a Culture Cafe event.
During the school holidays, he assisted with cleaning and painting the Neighbourhood Hive to get it prepared for its opening.
In October last year Lewis won the Community Choice award at the Fraser Coast Social Plan Pitch Night for a project to facilitate cooking classes for young adults leaving home.
The classes will begin in January 2022.
In 2017, Lewis co-ordinated an event to raise money for Tonga following the devastation of the islands by a cyclone. These funds were used to provide food and other essential supplies as well as new doors on a youth centre in Nuku'alofa.
Lewis lead the organisation of the fundraising event including menu and entertainment planning.
He also negotiated with organisations in Tonga to direct the funds to where they were most needed.
While some of his volunteer work has been hands-on and involved getting hot and dirty Lewis is always willing to help.
He has also assisted with the Hervey Bay Sunrise Rotary Club's book sales - mainly by moving boxes of books between venues.
Community Group or Organisation of the Year
Lupton Park Community Garden (LPCG) is a self-funded, not for profit, community-based organisation, designed to provide a range of sustainable, environmental, social and educational benefits to the community.
LPCG reuses donated garden items and items from the Recycling Centre diverting waste from landfill and maintains a free community library. LPCG is a working garden and offers members the opportunity to volunteer around 3,000 hours each year.
LPCG is an important part of the community providing educational, health and social benefits and are regularly approached by disability support agencies for participants to work in the garden.
They are working on extending the range of bush tucker plants to promote knowledge of indigenous culture within the community.
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of LPCG.
Being able to attend the garden and socialise while following COVID restrictions has been a valuable outlet for members, reducing feelings of isolation, particularly for those who live alone or are new to the area.
Community Project or Event of the Year – winner
Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program is offered to every high school student on the Fraser Coast.
The program runs for a week with students from different schools attending daily.
The program is designed by Road Safety Education and gives students a unique opportunity to set road safety goals and build strategies through six highly engaging workshops.
The aim behind the program is to reduce road crashes and trauma through practical demonstrations, real life narratives, videos and interactive role plays.
The program is run by volunteers from the four local Rotary Clubs and the Maryborough Ladies Probus Club.
Last year 147 volunteers participated at the two events staged at the Maryborough Showgrounds.
The RYDA program contributes to lower road fatalities and has a huge social and financial community benefit.