Citizen of the Year Awards
Cairns Regional Council's annual Citizen of the Year Awards recognise citizens who have made a major contribution to the community.
This is your opportunity to nominate a friend, colleague or relative; someone that deserves recognition for their achievements and contributions to the Cairns community. Their contributions could be through their personal involvement in local clubs, sporting groups, volunteering, charity work, business, cultural or youth groups or those who take on an advocating role to speak up for their community.
Categories include:
Major Awards
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year
- Volunteer of the Year
Speciality Awards
- Cultural Award
- Junior Cultural Award
- Sportsperson of the Year
- Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Nominations for the Citizen of the Year Awards have closed.
The awards presentation event will be held on Friday 1 February 2024.
Some things to include when telling us about your nominee:
- What contributions /achievements has this person made in their field of interest, community, or group
- How have they been recognised in the media, professionally or by receiving awards
- What publications have their achievements been featured in such as newspaper clippings, journal article, case reports
History
Council's Citizen of the Year Awards is endorsed by the Federal and Queensland Governments in line with the national Australia Day Awards. The Awards recognise the unsung heroes in our community who enrich the lives of others and do so with no fanfare and very little public recognition. Introduced in 1996, the Awards have gained more esteem and recognition each year.
Nominees must be residents of the Cairns Regional Council area who, through their personal efforts, have made a significant contribution to the community.
Previous Winners:
Year | Name |
| 2024 | Jacqui Backhouse, Citizen of the Year Yazmin Rivett, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2023 | Majella Fallon, Citizen of the Year Alannah Giuffrida, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2022 | Rick Hanlon, Citizen of the Year Kristen O'Shea, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2021 | Ian Roberts, Citizen of the Year Harrison Oates, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2020 | Yolonde Entsch, Citizen of the Year |
| 2019 | Peter McNally, Citizen of the Year Shai Ager, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2018 | Theo Bacalakis, Citizen of the Year Rachel Chan, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2017 | Charles Woodward, Citizen of the Year Kate Boylan-Ascione, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2016 |
Thelma Spelta, Citizen of the Year Daniel Clayton, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2015 |
Bill Cummings, Citizen of the Year Jack Boylan-Ascione, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2014 |
Ian Allen, Citizen of the Year Nicole Chan, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2013 |
Roy Gibson, Citizen of the Year Felicity Honnef, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2012 |
Russell Beer, Citizen of the Year Kieran Hicks, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2011 |
Clive Skarott, Citizen of the Year Clinton Cave and Mark Thompson, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2010 |
Stan Jensen, Citizen of the Year Tahlia Burchill, Young Citizen of the Year |
| 2009 |
Todd Hartley, Citizen of the Year Caitlyn Pollard, Young Citizen of the Year |
Year | Name |
| 2008 |
Couch Committee:
|
2007 | Roy Lavis |
| 2006 | Stella Massey OAM |
| 2005 | Jeff Hopgood |
| 2004 | John O’Brien AM |
| 2003 | Harald Falge OAM |
| 2002 | Bob Manning OAM |
| 2001 | Ron Ireland OAM |
| 2000 |
Heather Swaffer Eric Swaffer |
| 1999 | Lou Piccone OAM |
| 1998 | Don Fry AO |
| 1997 | Nev Bates |
| 1996 | George Mansford AM |
| 1995 | Peter Cominos OAM |
| 1994 | Jenny Bryden |
| 1993 | Lillian Lorimer |
| 1992 | John O’Donnell OAM |
| 1991 | Margaret Beardwood OAM |
| 1990 | Roy Hartman OAM |
| 1989 | Arthur Strike |
| 1988 | Bernie MacKenzie |
| 1987 | Unknown |
| 1986 | Jack M. Keily |
| 1985 | Ted Elliot OAM |
| 1984 | Unknown |
| 1983 | Unknown |
| 1982 | Pat Gosper OAM |
| 1981 | Richard George Fry CBE |
Year | Name |
| 1995 | Cheryl Campbell |
| 1994 | Jan Anderson |
| 1993 | Billy Cruckshanks |
| 1992 | Paul, Pam, Peter & Janice Lauriden |
| 1991 | Tom Watters |
| 1990 | Gordon Simpson |
| 1989 | Kay Earl |
| 1988 | Merv Hart |
| 1987 | Shirley Harwood |
| 1986 | Unknown |
| 1985 | Ted Pointing |
| 1984 | Ernie Stevens |
| 1983 | Warren Pitt |
| 1982 | Howard Kennedy |
| 1981 | Thomas Carr |
Last Updated: 12 March 2024
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