December 15, 2025
The names of the 75 nominees for the South Burnett Regional Council’s 2026 Australia Day Awards were released on Monday.
The people – and organisations – have been nominated across 16 categories.
The winners will be announced on Sunday, January 25, at the Awards Ceremony which will be held from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the Proston Town Hall in Rodney Street.
NB. The award ceremony is held on the eve of Australia Day to allow all nominees and attendees the chance to participate in the many Australia Day events that will be held on Australia Day, January 26, 2026.
* * *
The nominees are:
Junior Cultural Award
• Ian Saltner
• Nathan Hartley
• Hannah Mollenhauer
Senior Cultural Award
• Warren Gould
• Katrina O’Shannessy
• Nicola Pitt
• Eric Ford
• Morag Muckert
• Robyn Dower
• Sue Osberg
• Jo Kennedy
Volunteer Of The Year
• Christopher Sarquis
• Lois Blanch
• Sheena Lindholm
• Rhonda Trivett
• James Bennett
• Corey Smith
• Sue Osberg
• Wayne Hancock
• Alison Murray
Junior Sportsperson Award
• Lily Andrews
• Chloe Dennis
• Jacob Rattey
• Harriet Clevens
• Lakiri Renouf
• Emmerson Wagner
• Abbie Laherty
• Bailey Cavanough
• Rory Crumpton
• Ryder Monteith
• Allira Mariani
Senior Sportsperson / Sports Administrator / Coach / Official
• Darren Farmilo
• Brad Staples
• John Dalton
• Krysty Connelly
• Sue Osberg
• Samuel Dennien
Lifetime Achievement Award
• Sue Cox
• Brian Callaghan
• Eric Ford
• Betty Taylor
• Rodney Morgan
• Aubrey Schultz
• Noel Selway
Local Achiever Award – Proston/Hivesville
• Fiona Gill
Local Achiever Award – Murgon
• Morgan Suchoronczak
Local Achiever Award – Kingaroy
• Colin Murray
• Eric Ford
• Jenny Underwood
• Amanda May
Local Achiever Award – Kumbia
• Joe Shaw
• Bill and Sandra Steffensen
Local Achiever Award – Blackbutt/Benarkin
• Roberta Anson
• Nick Freeleagus
• Russell Stewart
Local Achiever Award – Nanango
• Sami Hill
Local Achiever Award – Wondai/Tingoora
• Carmel Olsen
Local Achiever Award – Maidenwell/Bunya Mountains
• Carol Weekes
• Kerry Turner
Volunteer Community Organisation / Event of the Year Award
• Queensland Dairy and Heritage Museum Murgon Inc
• Kingaroy Dance Eisteddfod Organisation
• The Nanango Handmade Markets
• South Burnett Futsal Club
• Blackbutt Benarkin Lions Club
• Back to Kumbia Weekend
• South Burnett Community Orchestra
• The Heritage Waterhole Rocks
• Nanango and District Netball Association
South Burnett Young Citizen Of The Year
• Rhiannon Snow
• Josh Steinhardt
• Lilly White
• Rueben Davey
• Naryan Hinchliff
The South Burnett Citizen of the Year will be selected from the winners of the Cultural, Senior Sportsperson, Volunteer of the Year and Local Achiever categories.
