January 26, 2017
The South Burnett’s Senior and Junior Cultural Awards have both been won by musicians this year.
The Senior Cultural Award has been won by a well-known musician who has led the South Burnett Community Orchestra for the past four years.
Andrew Maddern, from Kingaroy, was presented with award at the South Burnett’s Australia Day awards ceremony on Wednesday night.
Andrew has been a member of the South Burnett Community Orchestra since 2010, and its president since 2012.
During that time he has provided valuable leadership to the group, ensuring not only the smooth running of the orchestra, but also many new initiatives designed to increase the range of performances and experiences orchestra members and the community can enjoy.
Andrew’s guidance has directly impacted the South Burnett Community Orchestra’s ability to organise and deliver initiatives such as:
- trips for members to Roma and St George to provide instrumental workshops to local musicians and performances for those communities
- participating in charity dinner concerts to help raise funds for RACQ LifeFlight, “Soldier On”, Relay For Life, local chaplaincy services and many other good causes
- delivering workshops and performances with other community groups within the South Burnett and Chinchilla
- holding workshops for South Burnett musicians that engage professional tutors
“His contribution to the South Burnett cultural life is generous, and his interest in developing adults and young people’s skills in music are creating a better South Burnett,” Awards compere John Carey said.
The other Senior Cultural Award nominees were:
- Luke Green – Luke lives in Nanango and is a regular contributor to cultural and community activities such as The Shed, family fun days, festivals, and the Nanango New Years Eve Mardi Gras with his new band Ziggy And The Copycat Killers. He is also a published, award-winning author of poetry and music, and some of his works have been translated into Japanese.
- Rhonda Smith – Rhonda comes from Kingaroy and is an active member of Probus and the Kingaroy Knitters Group, and a past member of the Quota Club Of Kingaroy. She has knitted hundreds of bandages for distribution to lepers in Nepal and a hospital in the Solomon Islands, but her main passion is for the South Burnett Community Orchestra. Rhonda is currently giving her time to forming a group of woodwind musicians who volunteer their time to practice and perform for the enjoyment of aged care residents and at various community functions around the South Burnett. Rhonda is also the orchestra’s librarian, copying and distributing copious amounts of sheet music to members.
- Elaine Madill – Elaine, from Wondai, has run the Wondai Regional Art Gallery for the past 10 years, both as curator and chairperson of the Gallery’s management committee. During this time she has turned the Gallery into a significant tourist attraction that is now included in the Queensland Gallery Of Modern Art’s state touring circuit. The Gallery is acknowledged as one of the most successful regional art galleries in South East Queensland, and it principally features South Burnett artists. Elaine was also instrumental in the construction of The Studio, an art and community space that is now attached to the Gallery.
- Roza Lear – Roza, from Murgon, is a talented South Burnett artist and recently won the South Burnett Acquisitive Art prize at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery. Roza only started painting in 2009 and only began exhibiting her art in 2016, and was surprised that she won the top prize in this competition, which routinely attracts works from all the region’s leading artists and which is judged by an independent judging panel. Roza has also been a volunteer at the Gallery since she moved to the South Burnett five years ago.
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This year’s South Burnett’s Junior Cultural Award has been won by a Kingaroy State High School student who has as strong interest in music and the perfoming arts.
The Award is presented to a person 17 years and younger as at the 26 January 2017 who has made a noteworthy contribution to the cultural life of the region, or an outstanding achievement in cultural activities.
KSHS student Lara-Maree Boyle performed with the high school’s Big Band and Wind Ensemble at the Brisbane Exhibition in 2011, and during her high school years she has also contributed to the Stage Band, the Symphonic Band playing at Anzac day services at Kumbia and Kingaroy, Fanfare and Eisteddfods.
Her talents have also seen her performing at many local functions including the Burrandowan Races, the Wine & Food In The Park Festival, the Mayor’s Gala Ball and the annual Kingaroy Christmas Carols service.
As the High School’s Cultural Committee chairperson. Lara-Maree worked closely with the school’s Indigenous Liaison Officer and assisted staff and students from Kingaroy High School’s sister school in Japan when they visited Fudooka High last July. She also helped organise the school-based music talent show and 40 Hour Famine activities.
She has also been involved with Meals on Wheels, Big Buddies, Chaplaincy and the RSPCA.
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The other Junior Cultural Award nominee was Kingaroy’s Corissa Raines, who has just completed her secondary education at Kingaroy State High School.
Corissa is a young woman actively involved in sport and community service.
She volunteered at Relay For Life’s Dinner With The Captains, the high school’s Chaplaincy Committee fundraisers, and the high school’s Relay for Life team which raised over $8000 last year.
Corissa has also volunteered in the school’s tuckshop, at netball carnivals and for Meals on Wheels, and has received many awards including the Academic Award for Hospitality and Active Citizen Of The Year. She is now pursuing a qualification in event management.
