Burdekin Water Festival: “We won the Community Event of the Year Achievement Award, for the Burdekin Water Festival – ‘Bring It Back.’ We're very honoured to get it, considering they were going to shut it down, but it’s been a team effort for all of us. We've got quite a big committee, and they're all dedicated. The festival came together in only 13 weeks, so it was an actual achievement to get it off the ground and bring it back. So yeah, it's a real privilege to win.”
Nicole Cervoni: “This year I was honoured enough to win the Young Citizen of the Year award. It means a lot to me, because I think I have worked quite hard this year. I've put in a lot of effort, but I couldn't have gotten anywhere without all the people in Youth Council and the Millaroo social club, who helped me to do everything that I achieved this year. I also want to thank my mum for driving me to and from Millaroo to Ayr all the time to get me to youth council meetings. And to my entire family for supporting me, thank you.”
Shirley Gilmore: “I’m one of the recipients of the Lifetime of Service Silver Award category. Even though I feel humble about receiving it, it means a lot for all the beautiful women and the occasional men that I've met on my breast cancer journey, and being able to help them. I started the support group because we didn’t have breast cancer nurses like we do now. It was all a foreign thing for me. I still run the support group today on a smaller scale, but I’ve met some wonderful, wonderful women on their journey through this support group. To all of them, thank you.”
Kelly Lawry: “With my husband Ben Lawry, and our daughter, Bella, we won Volunteer of the Year award. It was actually a very proud moment to be up there with my family. Actually, we had five nominations from the Ayr surf club and all five people received an award today, so it was very nice to be recognised for the work we do in the community.”
Jennifer Fotinos: “I won the Senior Sportsperson of the Year award, and winning this award means a lot to me. Coming from the Burdekin, I've had to work a lot harder to reach the same opportunities as those from bigger cities, so this achievement is massive to me. But it's not just about me and my personal success. I think this award is also about being Australian and the values of Australia Day by being resilient, community, and hard work.”
Scott McLean: “I'm humbled to be honest to be presented with the Citizen of the Year Award among so many great people in this community that are deserving of it. It's a real honour to win and I really wasn't expecting to. It’s humbling and overwhelming at the same time. I try to hide away from the spotlight, so today was an emotional thing. I couldn't do it without my amazing wife, who does so much behind the scenes. There’s so many people here today that could have also won that award. To be selected is very humbling.”
Betty Durrant: “I won the Lifetime of Service Gold Award. It's an amazing achievement, really. I’m so proud as I just enjoy volunteering I’ve been doing it over 40 years, but I just love it. My husband is currently in hospital and nominated me without me even knowing, so he's quite shocked. Actually, I’m not sure who is more shocked, me or him? I’m just so grateful.”
Gwen Marshall: “I've amazingly received a Lifetime of Service Gold Award, and it's an incredible honour. I'm incredibly humbled and feel very privileged and very thankful. I am in awe of the wonderful group of people who were nominated, and just so very grateful for everybody's contribution into this community, a community that encourages that desire to commit. I’m also grateful for my husband, he’s such a great blessing. I couldn't do half what I do without his encouragement and wisdom.”
Three of the Burdekin Water Festival committee. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
Nicole Cervoni, Young Citizen of the Year. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
Shirley Gilmore and her husband. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
Volunteer of the Year winner, Kellie Lawry (middle) with husband Ben Lawry, and daughter, Bella. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
Jennifer Fotinos, Senior Sportsperson of the Year. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
Citizen of the Year award winner, Scott McLean. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
Lifetime of Service Gold Award recipient, Betty Durrant. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
Gwen Marshall, Lifetime of Service Gold Award recipient. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen
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