Glenden Pioneer

March 2012, Edition 46 Page 8
Isaac Communities Come Together For Australia Day
Towns across the Isaac region became a sea of red, white and blue as communities came
together to celebrate Australia Day 2012. Clermont celebrated with toad races and a
parade, whilst Middlemount encouraged people’s creativity with a bike decorating
competition and an Aussie singalong. Dysart got into the mood with the search for Best
Dressed Aussie, and Glenden encouraged everyone to take part in family-friendly bowls.
On the coast, community spirit lifted celebrations at Carmila and St Lawrence whilst
pie-eating and thong-throwing provided the general entertainment.
Moranbah’s recently upgraded Greg Cruickshank Aquatic Centre received its first visitors when the
annual triathlon began at 7am. Winning in the Men’s Open category was James Walsh whilst Lisa
Beasley won the Women’s Open. The Junior Boy’s Event was taken by Tim Moody with Dion Bromley
winning the female equivalent. Team victors were Wade Mitchell, Jill Blake and Luke Zweers for the
Seniors and Gabby Bosnjak, Scarlett Coldrey and Darcy Semmler for the Juniors.
In Dysart, Ian Baird won the Male Over 40 event, Ricardo Mora the Male U40, Mary Mollard the
Female Over 40 competition, and Melissa McGann the U40. Cameron Dobie won the U12 Boys, Jack
Foster the U17 Boys, Amelia Volpe and Emilee Burness the U12 team, and Mark Hammond and
James Davis won the overall Team event.
Jane Pickels received the accolade of Citizen of the Year for her continual support of Middlemount and
surrounding communities. She is a member of many local organisations and her biggest achievement
this year was to form and run a committee to assist families affected in the Mackenzie River floods.
Young Citizen of the Year for the Isaac region went to Caitlin Petersen. One of Isaac’s Youth
Ambassadors for 2011, Caitlin coaches junior basketball and encourages her fellow community to
participate in local events such as 40 Hour Famine, Relay 4 Life, and Be Brave and Shave.
Community Event of the Year went to the 2011 Queensland Music Festival, which saw over 3500
people come to Moranbah Town Square for a country music spectacular. Winning Individual
Achievement Medallions for the category of Achievement were Elizabeth McLeod, responsible for
coordinating the Moranbah Santa Run this year, and Linda Fossey, a volunteer with Carmila SES, St
Lawrence Fire Brigade and St Lawrence Recreation Group.
Group Achievement Medallions were awarded to Nebo Community Development Group, whose
recent projects have included lobbying for funding to secure a community bus and creating a local
Roadsafe Campaign, and Robert and Tahlia Cookson for coordinating Moranbah Community Carols
as well as their continual involvement for Moranbah Netball Association and the Oasis Life Committee.
Neville Bell received an Individual Achievement Medallion for Sport for his work with local sporting
clubs such as Glenden Junior Golf Club and Glenden Bowls Club. The other two recipients of this award
were Brady Williams, a member of the Queensland Academy of Sport and the Brisbane Broncos’ Elite
Player program; Claire Heck, recognised for her support of Middlemount Community Sports
Association.
Winning Achievement Medallions for Sport in the Group category were Clermont Tigers Junior
Soccer Club Executive Committee for their dedication to the growth and development of soccer in
Clermont, and St Lawrence Cricket Team who took out the ‘First Grade Concrete’ at the 2011
Rockhampton Country Cricket Carnival.
Recognised for her ingenuity in bringing the arts, in particular music, to the Middlemount community is
Kareana Jensen who won an Individual Achievement Medallion for Culture.
For volunteering at Nebo State School and assisting every year with Nebo Christmas Fair, Geoff
Schubert won an Individual Achievement Certificate for Appreciation, as did Silas Kelly for his
outstanding efforts in providing social activities for the youth of Clermont.
Clermont District Education Group received a Group Achievement Certificate for Appreciation for
their avid support towards building long-term sustainability and creating a diversity of skills in Clermont.
And Clermont Bush Pigs Rugby Union Club received a Group Achievement Certificate for
Participation for their generous and continual support to various charities and organisations.
Special Mention to Nebo Museum, whose 10 th annual Poets Smoko attracted record numbers this year,
and Jaime Voigt, who works tirelessly to improve education for young children in the Nebo area.