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Wet Tropic Times | 5 Cassowary Coast Australia Day Awards

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA GIRGENTI

AN award-winning poet, native animal warriors and a talented young artist were acknowledged with awards at the Cassowary Coast Australia Day celebrations held at Innisfail Shire Hall on Wednesday.

Irene Braddick,

Named Citizen of the Year, has been an

active volunteer in the Cassowary Coast region for 29 years, which has included Tully Lions Club, Angel Care and Meals on Wheels.

In 2021, Braddick joined Mission Arts Mission Beach Community Arts Centre and is the Management Committee Secretary.

Braddick also facilitated the Lions Children’s Vision Screening Program throughout the local region and western parts of Queensland.

From 37 Australia Day Award nominations, over twenty Cassowary Coast residents across twelve categories received awards.

Young Citizen of the Year

Stella Berge

held roles as Junior School Captain at Tully State High School in 2021. She received the Tully High School Junior Citizen of the Year and a Year 9 Academic Merit Award.

As well as playing netball and touch football player, Berge volunteers as an umpire for junior/senior netball and junior/senior touch football games.

Berge is a Mission Beach Life Saving Club member and, in 2021, volunteered at the Tully Debutante Ball.

Mayor Mark Nolan said it was an honour to present awards to outstanding Cassowary Coast residents at the Australia Day ceremony.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the commitment and achievements of outstanding individuals who have volunteered their time, skills and passion for making generous and powerful contributions to the community and inspired others to be the best they can be in their pursuit of excellence.”

The Australia Day awards followed a naturalisation ceremony to welcome 13 new Australian citizens in the Cassowary Coast region.

Award recipients:

• Citizen of the Year: Irene Braddick • Young Citizen of the Year: Stella Berge • Lifetime Contribution Award: John Casale (touch football/soccer/surf lifesaving) • Lifetime Contribution Award: Kathy Martin (Innisfail & District Tennis Association for 34 years) • Lifetime Contribution Award: David Jones (Etty Bay Surf Life Saving Club volunteer for 35 years) • Lifetime Contribution Award: Wanda Lowe (volunteer in Mission Beach community groups) • Lifetime Contribution Award: Thea Ormonde (volunteer/organiser of events in Cardwell) • Community Event of the Year: Tropical Art Deco Festival 2021 (five-day event organised by Innisfail & District Historical Society which attracted over 2,000 people to Innisfail) • Sportsperson of the Year: Brooke Tongalea (rugby league) • Young Sports Person Award: Hannah Dryden (netball/touch football) • Service to Sport: Amber Overton (soccer/rowing) • Service to Sport: Shawn Dineen (Kurrimine Beach Fishing Club) • Service to Sport: Brian McElhinney (Etty Bay Surf Life Saving Club) • Cultural Award: Laurie Trott (arts and tourism) • Sustainable Environment Award: Sharon and Steve McGuinness (Mission Beach Wildcare volunteers) • Young Cultural Award: Eliza Cook (arts/music) • Achievement Award: Lorraine Wheeler (volunteer at Mission Beach State School) • Achievement Award: Jane Henley and Lidia Mackay (El Arish State School 100 - ‘All Roads Lead Home’ photographic exhibition) • Excellence and Innovation Award: Maria Girgenti (arts and media industry)