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Media Release - 2025 Hinchinbrook Shire Australia Day Award Winners Announced

24th January 2025

Hinchinbrook Shire’s Australia Day Award presentations were held tonight, Friday 24 January 2025.

Congratulations to our 2025 Australia Day Award winners as follows:

Junior Sports Award

Liam Fascetti – Nominated for his sporting achievements, particularly in squash. Liam was selected as number one player in the Queensland Open boys team at the Secondary Schools State Titles. He was selected as number three in the Australian Trans-Tasman Team to play New Zealand and was Under 17 Northern Region Champion for club squash. Liam is currently ranked number one in North Queensland, number two in Queensland and seventh in Australia. Liam also represented North Queensland in school soccer and was a member of the Ingham Football Club Senior grand final winning team in 2024.
Jack Larsen – Nominated for his sporting achievements in go karting. In 2024 Jack competed in nine North Queensland go kart events and came away with seven first places, a second and a third. Jack also came first in the Queensland State Cup making him top Cadet 12 in Queensland. He also won the top Cadet 12 in Victoria. Jack also secured second place in the Australian Karting Championships making him second in Australia for the Cadet 12’s. In October 2024 Jack completed in the invitational only World Cup Race in Italy where he came away with 18th position in the final, from a total of 63 other drivers.

Senior Sports Award

Ally Rhodes – Nominated for her achievements in squash. Ally was the number one seeded player in the North Queensland schoolgirls squash team. She was selected in the Queensland schoolgirls open team to play in the Trans Tasman Series against New South Wales and New Zealand. Ally is currently ranked fifth in Queensland for Open girls.

Junior Cultural Award

Kaitlyn Rapista – Nominated for her cultural contributions to the community through performances at numerous community events. Kaitlyn regularly sings and plays piano at various Gilroy Santa Maria College school functions and is always willing to assist in performing at community events, such as Seniors Morning Teas and many Christmas functions.

Senior Cultural Award

Alan Giles – Nominated for his contributions to the community through his involvement with the Ingham Theatre Group for over 20 years. Alan is currently President of the group and has directed recent standout productions like Mystery on the Orient Express and Tymelee Manor. He also coordinates performances for events like the Seniors Morning Teas and Christmas Carols, providing moments of joy and connection for the community.

Individual Achievement Award

Helen Stanton – Nominated for her many years of voluntary contributions through the Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club (FBSLSC) and Ingham Gymnastics Training Centre for Tully Gym and Trampoline Club. Helen is an active patrol member, Club Director of Surf Sports and Grants Officer for the FBSLSC. She was awarded Club Person of the Year and the Vigilance and Service Award for her significant contributions. Helen has been involved with Gymnastics since 2017 and during this time has gained coaching and judging qualifications. She arranges classes, coaches, training and leads preparations for competitions.

Community Event of the Year Award

Dean Schifilliti Shield held by Herbert River Junior Rugby League – The Dean Schifilliti Shield is a rugby league carnival that gives 8 year olds the chance to experience a carnival to make new friends, rivalry and companionship. 2024 saw the largest Under 8 Rugby League carnival to date in our district. The carnival attracts teams from several areas of Queensland with nominations hotly sought after.

Beryl Prior Memorial – Service to the Community Award

Evlyn Bailey - Evlyn is the former Manager of the Salvation Army Store in Ingham, however her work always went above and beyond Managing the store. She volunteers her time in many areas such as the Herbert River Museum and QCWA. Evlyn was also the driving force behind the commencement of regular Book Clubs at the Halifax Library, which has proven extremely popular in the community. She has a sincere empathy and genuine desire to help people in the community who are less fortunate, or simply down on their luck.

Shire Young Citizen Award

Coen Luxford - Nominated for his participation as drummer at all local ANZAC Day parades, rain, hail or shine. He also participates with the Ingham Theatre Group when possible. Coen was Junior Sports Captain and is now Senior School Captain at Ingham State High School. In 2024 he was State Junior member for the Hinchinbrook Electorate of Queensland Youth Parliament travelling to Parliament House on a number of occasions to represent our electorate.

Shire Citizen Award

Keith Phillips – Nominated for his significant contributions particularly through his voluntary service with the Lower Herbert Halifax Lions Club. His knowledge and skills were instrumental in the construction of the Lower Herbert Seniors Centre at Halifax, a 21 unit apartment complex. Keith and his wife Rita donated land, monetary funds and countless hours of in kind assistance in building work and project management to assist with the establishment of the new Meals on Wheels centre in Eleanor Street.

Rita Phillips – Nominated for her contributions to the community in a voluntary capacity, particularly through Meals on Wheels and the Anglican Church. Rita and her husband Keith donated land for the new Meals on Wheels complex and oversaw the redevelopment of the new building ensuring it is sustainable into the future. She assists in coordinating volunteers and management of finances for Meals on Wheels including liaising with Government departments. Rita is also Warden and Lay Minister for the Hinchinbrook Anglican Diocese and in this role coordinates management of finances, maintenance, security and good order of the church. She plays organ for church services and coordinates the community Conroy Hall Markets monthly.

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