Australia Day Awards
The annual Livingstone Shire Australia Day Awards are a special opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of local heroes, high achievers, and dedicated community members who inspire us all.
The 2025 awards ceremony was held on Friday, 24 January, at Yeppoon Town Hall, where we honoured this year’s incredible recipients and nominees for their exceptional contributions to our Shire.
Nominations for the 2026 Livingstone Shire Australia Day Awards will open later this year. Stay tuned for updates and start thinking about those inspiring individuals and organisations who deserve to be recognised!
Honour Roll
2025 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Denis and Kay Ratcliffe
Young Citizen of the Year:
Danielle Armstrong
Sport and Recreation:
Elissa Rosemond
Community:
Kim Newcombe
Arts and Culture:
Lindsay Palmes
Mayoral Award:
Jason Field
Community (Group):
Haynes family
Environment (Group):
Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre P&C
Arts and Culture (Group):
Sing For Health
Sport and Recreation (Group):
Capricorn Coast Toy Library
Business/Innovation/Corporate
Social Responsibility:
JRT Group
2024 Award Recipients
Young Citizen of the Year:
Izac Campbell
Mayoral Award:
Tanya Burnett
Living Legend Award:
Ken Landsberg
Community Award:
Andrew Willis
Community Award:
Yeppoon Choral Society
Community Award:
Peta Bosomworth
Rural and Agriculture Award:
Steve Elson
Rural and Agriculture Award:
Kelly McCosker
2023 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Tracey Daffey
Young Citizen of the Year:
Samantha Crowley
Young Citizen of the Year:
Charlie Erlewein
Living Legend Award:
Mary Carroll
Living Legend Award:
Chi Chi Murray
Community Group Service Award:
Yeppoon RSL
Community Group Service Award:
Sailability Capricornia
Mayoral Award:
Yeppoon Community Markets
Mayoral Award:
Shane Yore
2022 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Malcolm Wells
Young Citizen of the Year:
Breanna Willett
Living Legend Award:
Don Knowles
Community Group Service Award:
Emu Park Surf Club
Outstanding Dedication to Public Service Award:
Dr Debra Ibbotson
Mayoral Award:
Julie Palmer
2021 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Yeppoon Lions John and Estelle Lindsay
Young Citizen of the Year:
Owen Harris
Living Legend Award:
Barry Semple
Community Group Service Award:
Capricorn Coast Information Visitor Centre
Outstanding Dedication to Public Service Award:
Trevor Caunt
Mayoral Award:
Owen Harris
2020 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Susan Pullar
Young Citizen of the Year:
Jack Newton
Living Legend Award:
Elizabeth Goodsell
Community Group Award:
Lions Club of Emu Park
2019 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Brian Dorey OAM
Young Citizen of the Year:
Yasmin Craggs
Community Group Service Award:
Yeppoon Surf Lifesaving Club
Senior Sportsperson of the Year:
Bill Robertson
Junior Sportsperson of the Year:
Shirin Kunkel
Administrator of the Year:
Gurney Clamp
Cultural Award:
Barbara Tamassy
Environmental Award :
Dr Alison Jones
2018 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Danielle McKenzie
Young Citizen of the Year:
Mya McDonald
Community Group Service Award:
Capricorn Coast Healthy Aging Group
Community Event:
Yeppoon Lions Pinefest
Sportsperson of the Year:
Brent Pearson
Junior Sportsperson of the Year:
Aidan Scott
Sports Administrator:
Mark Gwynne
Cultural Award (Individual):
Jet James
Cultural Award (Group):
Capricorn Coast Historical Society Inc.
Environmental Award (Individual):
Glennard Keefer
2017 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Peter Conaghan
Young Citizen of the Year:
Caitlin Buttenshaw
Community Group Service Award:
Keppel Bay Sailing Club
Community Event:
Beach Day Out
Sportsperson of the Year:
Steve Gunther
Junior Sportsperson of the Year:
Mackenzie Rolfe
Sports Administrator:
Peter Watkins
Cultural Award (Individual):
Lyn Diefenbach
Cultural Award (Group):
No Nominations Received
Environmental Award (Individual):
Morgan Ells & Mikala Maloney
Environmental Award (Group):
Friends of Lammermoor Native Gardens Group
2016 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Glen Alexander
Young Citizen of the Year:
Sarah Callinan
Community Group Service Award:
The Caves Craft Group
Community Event:
No Nominations Received
Sportsperson of the Year:
Lewis Marshall
Junior Sportsperson of the Year:
Blake Newton
Sports Administrator:
Paul Keating
Cultural Award (Individual):
Tayla Jayne St James
Cultural Award (Group):
No Nominations Received
Environmental Award (Individual):
Shelly McArdle
Environmental Award (Group):
No Nominations Received
2015 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Arthur Hunt
Young Citizen of the Year:
Gracie Wellspring
Community Service Award (Individual):
Marie Lee
Community Service Award (Group):
The Caves & District Lions Club Inc.
Community Event:
Yeppoon Lions Tropical Pinefest
Sportsperson of the Year:
Brent Pearson
Junior Sportsperson of the Year:
Seamus Byrt
Sports Administrator:
Carole Gifford
Cultural Award:
Kenneth Powell Jones
Junior Cultural Award:
No Nominations Received
Environmental Award (Group):
Livingstone Community Nursery
Environmental Award (Individual):
Leise Childs
2014 Award Recipients
Citizen of the Year:
Jan Boyd
Young Citizen of the Year:
Reece Hedges
Community Service Award:
Barry & Bev Hannam
Community Event:
Yeppoon & District Show Society Inc
Sportsperson of the Year:
Beverley Laundry & Kira-Lee Leo
Junior Sportsperson of the Year:
Caleb Dooley
Sports Administrator:
Margie Grant
Cultural Award:
Terry Hayes
Junior Cultural Award:
Emily Bartlett
Environmental Award:
Ginny Gerlach