AUSTRALIA DAY awards 2023

MAREEBA Shire’s most outstanding community leaders, volunteers and sportspeople were all recognised at Mareeba Shire Council’s Australia Day Awards last week with a young entrepreneur with dreams of being a high performance coach and an indigenous women who opens her home and heart to those doing it tough being recognised as the Young Citizen and Citizen of the Year.

The Mareeba International Club played host to this year’s ceremony as nominees and their families attended to celebrate the amazing things they do each year.

There were 11 awards given out to shire residents this year including junior and senior sportsperson of the year, excellence awards and community service awards.

The highest accolades however went to Coco Gambino and Marcia Nguyen who both were completely surprised they were named Young Citizen and Citizen of the Year.

Ms Gambino was not only nominated for her stellar academic and sporting success but also for her work ethic as she worked two jobs whilst studying in grade 12 and has plans to start her own after-school athletics program.

She has further aspirations to combine her love for sport and her academic prowess by becoming a high-performance sporting coach for a nationally or internationally acclaimed team.

“I am actually really surprised and was not expecting it at all, I was hoping to get Junior Sportsperson so to be named Junior Citizen is quite a shock,” she said.

“I do want to work with elite athletes and be a high-performance coach after my university course.

“Words cannot describe how I am feeling, all I can say is thank you – I have worked so hard for it and it is good to see all my hard work has paid off.”

Ms Nguyen decided on the day of the awards that she would attend as she did not expect to even be nominated in the first place, let along be named as Citizen of the Year.

“I did not expect to be nominated let alone win, I wasn’t even going to go until the last minute,” Ms Nguyen said.

“I feel very honoured to be nominated and would like to thank whoever nominated me.

“I am still in shock really.”

While working to support herself, the Dimbulah resident also takes in troubled indigenous kids and struggling families, helping them to find their feet and give them direction without any kind of monetary support – she has done this for the past two decades.

“I take in foster children and anyone really who needs help and I just do it out of the goodness of my heart,” Ms Nguyen said.

“It is probably due to how I was raised by my parents who did the same, they taught us not to turn away anyone in need, there is always someone out there who needs help, treat people how you would like to be treated and respect everyone no matter who.”

Alannah Falvo was awarded an Excellence Award for her dedication and achievements in academic pursuits, sports, cultural and community activities.

The Senior Community Service Award went to Michael Dwyer for his work as a Justice of the Peace at the Mareeba Courthouse and another was given to Bill McKerlie who his advocacy work for the Mareeba Shire and time on the Mt Molloy Rural Fire Brigade.

The Junior Community Service Award was awarded to Joshua Snell for his academic and sporting achievements.

Mareeba Bulls coach Christian Mukadi was named as the Senior Sportsperson of the Year for his work with the club’s juniors, his executive po- sition and multiple coaching duties while gymnast Frank Tulloch was named as the Junior Sportsperson of the Year, he is a current gold medal holder for floor.

Rugby League star Aerielle (May May) Hobbler received a Highly Commended in the Sports Category Award for her drive, dedication and achievements in Rugby League.

Delwyn Richards received an Environment and Community Service Award for his expertise in Australian birdlife and constant clean-up of litter of the Rex Range.

The Mareeba Gymnastics Club was named as the Community Organisation of the Year for their service to the community over the past 100 years. Mayor Angela Toppin took time to thank each and every person who nominated for an award during her speech prior to the awards.

“I am very proud of the overwhelming sense of community spirit, resilience, compassion and generosity that continues to shine through across the Shire and will take this as one of the greatest positives from the last few years,” she said. Visit www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au for more photos and info on the awards.