The South Burnett Regional Council’s Australia Day Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an individual who has made significant contributions to the Shire over the course of a lifetime.
In 2014, the Award nominees were:
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Doug Henderson
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Doug has been an active community advocate in disability and aged care sectors within the South Burnett region for the past 18 years.
His involvement in JobLinks Employment and Training Services has seen this small not-for-profit group grow to become the South Burnett’s leading Disability employment agency. Doug recently retired at age 70 as the CEO of SBcare after long years of dedicated service. In that role he always went above and beyond that of a paid employee. Doug was recognised by the Spinal Injuries Association with a Community Champion Award in their recent South Burnett awards. He has also been a Board Member – and most recently, President – of Links Community Services for 15 years. Doug sees the potential and ability in all people and helps create an inclusive environment for people to live and work in. His influence and abilities are wide-ranging and he works hard to ensure those he comes into contact with are made to feel that they belong no matter the setting. |
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Kay Bochmann
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Kay Bochmann has selflessly served the Nanango community for many years in the face of multiple adversities.
She has an unapologetic faith in God and belief that His strength carries her physical weaknesses – the leftovers from a battle with lymphedema in 2004. She has not let this challenge prevent her from giving back to her community. Despite losing some of her independence and often spending months confined to a wheelchair, she has managed to volunteer over 180 hours of her time to organise and deliver the Nanango Combined Churches Christmas Tree Festivals; made hundreds of wedding gowns, ball gowns and formal dresses for women in the community; maintained an active membership of the Nanango Lutheran Church; and functioned as the church’s representative on the Nanango Ministers Fraternal, the Nanango Chaplaincy Committee and RE Co-ordinator at Nanango State School. |
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Bill Roberts – 2014 Winner
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Putting Murgon firmly on the map – and not just in the South Burnett – is a defining theme of Bill Robert’s lifelong service. He has been consistently and selflessly advocating for what he affectionately terms the twin towns of Cherbourg and Murgon, and this has earned him a well-deserved place as one of the heroes of the South Burnett.
Bill’s community service has included multiple terms as Mayor of the former Murgon Shire Council. He’s also an active Rotarian and a former Apex member, and has served in several other local organisations, such as Treasurer of the Murgon Business and Development Association. Bill’s talents extend beyond numbers to words also. He faithfully he shares the stories of Murgon and Cherbourg through his “Hub Rattles” newspaper column. |
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Ray Black
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Ray has been involved in the Kingaroy and wider South Burnett Region all his life. He has been active in the Kingaroy Tennis Club for more than 30 years and heavily involved in organising the Queensland Hard Court Championships, attracting players like Rod Laver and Roy Emerson to Kingaroy.
He’s also clocked up more than 40 years of service to both the Kingaroy Rotary Club and the Kingaroy Taabinga Rotary Club (which he helped establish) and also served as District Governor of Rotary District 9600, which covered the south-east region and PNG. This job required Ray to travel extensively, providing leadership to the many clubs in that District. Ray is now in his 80s but does not let age get in his way. His passion for helping young people participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange students and attend the Rotary National Youth Science Forum, sees him as a regular behind the barbecue stand outside Harvey Norman and at events like South Burnett Motors in Motion. |
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