Congratulations to the Sunshine Coast Council’s hinterland Australia Day Nominees:
Citizen of the Year
Neil Collie – Glass House Mountains
Neil is supportive and encouraging, offering worth and guidance to those navigating their mental health journey. He encourages people to share their struggles openly and created a Facebook group called ‘Its okay to run or walk for mental health’. This Facebook group progressed into the Silver Fox Initiative of which he is the founder. By encouraging people to just speak up about their struggles and giving them a free safe space has positively impacted so many people.
Joanne Turner – Maleny
Jo is passionate about teaching others that movement can be medicine. She set up Maleny parkrun and volunteers every week at this event co-ordinating a team of volunteers. She volunteers at the local primary school, is an active volunteer coach with Maleny Little Athletics Club and a regular teacher at Rhee Taekwondo. She co-ordinates regular clean ups of the Obi Obi creek and coordinates the Australia Day clean up.
Senior Citizen of the Year
John Whan – Maleny
John is a consummate gentleman, holds high ethical standards, is a true family man, and has been a role model in our community for decades. He has embodied the objectives of Rotary through 51 years of service and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow for his services to our community. He is an active member of U3A and the Probus Club of Maleny, a past affiliated member of Maleny Freemasons and is a long-term member of Windsor Freemasons Brisbane.
Dominique Cisse – Maleny
Dominique joined the Festuri multicultural community as a member and took over the association in 2014 when it was ready to close its doors. A single dad with six children, he still manages to keep the Festuri multicultural celebration bigger, stronger and better by having three festivals in three different locations on the Sunshine Coast. He also recently opened a new Festuri sub-branch in the hinterland.
Shiralee Cooper – Montville
In 2023 Shiralee will have been president of the Montville Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. After teaching for 20 years, Shiralee followed her dream and opened a gallery to showcase local artists. The gallery has continued to focus on SEQ artists with most of the more than 20 artists based in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Sustainability
Kerrie and Richard Lonn – Bald Knob
The Lonns started their conservation journey, after a walk through with a Council Land for Wildlife officer revealed a small section of old growth rainforest on their property. Despite having no experience, they began the long process to revegetate their whole property through the landholders scheme. Their methodical approach to everything has resulted in very few planting losses and a substantial increase in birdlife, thanks to the removal of invasive weeds.
Community Group
Festuri – Maleny
Festuri has been bringing multicultural festivals to the Sunshine Coast for 23 years. This celebration of ethnicity and diversity provides acknowledgment for migrants that their culture is alive and can be passed on to their children. For the wider community, it is a colourful display of the world’s dance and music. Festuri is a valuable event and needs to continue for the health and vitality of the culturally and linguistically diverse community.
Kids in Action – Reesville
Kids in Action (KIA) is an environmental education initiative that aims to increase children’s environmental knowledge and understanding. KIA has run for 11 years, involving more than 100 schools, more than 3300 students with at least 50 volunteers helping each year.
Through the program students develop their leadership, organisation, creativity and communication skills.
KIA inspires and empowers students to take action and provides the knowledge, skills and tools to work collaboratively to solve local issues now and into the future.
Main image: John Whan and Andrew Powell at the Australia Day awards on the Sunshine Coast.
