MBDA president Leo Geraghty and local councillor Kathy Duff with a bunch of proud Australia Day award recipients on Saturday afternoon
Cr Kathy Duff presented Nathan Roderick with the South Burnett Regional Council Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award and a cheque for $500

March 14, 2022

A small thing like a worldwide pandemic can’t stop Murgon from stopping to honour its finest citizens in true blue Australia Day style.

COVID restrictions forced the Murgon Business and Development Association to postpone its Australia Day Awards ceremony on January 26, but the group always planned to reschedule it as the rules eased.

The big day arrived on Saturday, with award recipients packing the tin shed at the Queensland Dairy Industry Museum to listen to speeches and receive their awards.

The MBDA Senior Ambassador award was presented to Murgon Men’s Shed president David Mollenhauer. 

Junior Ambassador was top local boxer and former Murgon SHS captain Pharrell Chapman.

Joy Fennell was recognised for her years of work with the Murgon Swimming Club, Barambah United Football Club, Apex, Murgon Girls Guides, Murgon Show Society, Gumnut Place, Murgon SHS, Murgon State School P&C and Dairy Museum.

Lacy Lee received the MBDA Junior Sportsperson award for her rugby league career. During the past 12 months she has earned multiple awards playing for the South Burnett and Wide Bay and was named the Junior Female Eagle of the Year.

Sonia McMahon, the founder and organiser of the Rockin’ Our Abilities fun and failure-free music group, received both MBDA and SBRC awards.  The group held its first live performance for the public in June last year and plans to hold more public performances later this year.

MBDA president Leo Geraghty OAM emphasised the awards could only go to a few.

“To those who haven’t won an award, don’t think your work hasn’t been noticed,” he said.

* * *

Full List Of Awards

MBDA Awards:

  • Senior Ambassador – David Mollenhauer
  • Junior Ambassador – Pharrell Chapman
  • Lifetime Achievement Award – Joy Fennell
  • Organisation Of The Year – Murgon Men’s Shed
  • Cultural Award – Sonia McMahon
  • Senior Sportsperson – Robbie Zelinski
  • Junior Sportsperson – Lacy Lee
  • Volunteer Of The Year – Shirley Hickey
  • Sports Administrator – Candice Sippel

South Burnett Regional Council Awards:

  • Junior Sportsperson Of The Year (joint winner) – Lachlan Zelinski
  • Junior Sportsperson Of The Year (joint winner) – Nathan Roderick
  • Murgon Local Achiever Award – Sonia McMahon
David Mollenhauer, from the Murgon Men’s Shed, was presented with the MBDA Senior Ambassador award by MBDA president Leo Geraghty OAM
Queensland Dairy Industry Museum president Cynthia Hatchett compered the afternoon
Joy Fennell was presented with the MBDA Lifetime Achievement Award
Cr Kathy Duff presented the South Burnett Regional Council awards while Leo Geraghty presented the MBDA awards
The Murgon Men’s Shed was presented with the MBDA Organisation of the Year award
Sonia McMahon, second from left, was presented with the South Burnett Regional Council Local Achiever award (Murgon) by Cr Kathy Duff, while Leo Geraghty presented her with the MBDA Cultural Award … Sonia is pictured with Andy Goodchild, part of the Rockin’ Our Abilities group that Sonia started and runs
Lacy Lee, who plays league with the South Burnett Eagles, was presented with the MBDA Junior Sportsperson award by Leo Geraghty
Shirley Hickey was presented with the MBDA’s Volunteer of the Year award
BlazeAid Murgon camp co-ordinator Ron “Spud” Murphy and volunteer Linda Hibbard were invited to speak to the crowd … BlazeAid volunteers are clearing and repairing fences in the Tansey and Booubyjan areas after the recent floods (some multiple times); Ron praised the generosity of the Murgon community, saying $14,000 worth of items including, food and fuel, had been donated to support the camp’s work
MBDA president Leo Geraghty OAM introduced other members of his executive, including treasurer Lorraine Goodchild, vice-president Lance Rea and newly elected Joy Fennell

  

 

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