Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to take the opportunity to recognise and celebrate this year's Australia Day Award recipients from around Leichardt. Starting with Cairns, Jacqui Backhouse has been awarded the Citizen of the Year, and Yazmin Rivette has been awarded the Young Citizen of the Year. Carol Wells has received Volunteer of the Year, and Maureen Cameron was recognised with the cultural award. Hirari Kurihara and Rhiannon Forbes have been awarded Sportsperson of the Year and Junior Sportsperson of the Year respectively. Kalan Gosper was highly commended with the Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award.

In Cairns, Joyce Swinton received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her philanthropic efforts which have improved health care in Far North Queensland. In Port Douglas, I would like to extend congratulations to Christine Lynch for being awarded Citizen of the Year. Caitlyn Butland and Rod Johnson were awarded junior and senior sports awards respectively, while Sid Murthy received the Environmental Achievement Award. Amber Yendle and Wendy 'Lu Lu' Cowan were recognised with the Young Citizen of the Year Award and the Senior Citizen of the Year Award respectively. Eliza Eggins received the Arts and Culture Award, while Walter Gray received the Volunteer of the Year Award for the work that he does with the RSL.

In Cooktown, you have Julie Oliver, who was awarded Citizen of the Year, and Lucas Giese received Young Citizen of the Year. John and Tanya Ahlers were both awarded Volunteer of the Year, while the Sports Award was awarded to Don Wood. The Arts and Culture Award was awarded to Jane Dennis, and the Environmental Award went to Denicka Danaher. In Weipa, father and son duo Reuben and Hunter Slingo were recognised with citizen and young citizen of the year awards respectively, while the Community Spirit Award had two winners this year, with Naty Linnehand and Scott Kootoofa.

Lastly, I'd like to acknowledge the achievements of individuals in the Torres Strait. Thomas Nomoa was awarded Citizen of the Year, and Roseanna Warrior received Young Citizen of the Year. Sonia Einersen, pastors Titom and Michelle Tamowoy, and Tricia Lehmann all received appreciation awards. Thomas Pedro received the Achievement Award, while Susan Baira and Hans AhWang both received cultural recognition awards. I'd also like to extend my congratulations to each and every one of these individuals, right across Leichhardt. They represent the very best of our Far North. Their achievements and contributions will no doubt leave a lasting legacy in their respective communities.