New Access And Inclusion Award Launched For 2025 Australia Day Honours

Take a moment to think about the people around you, the quiet achievers, the volunteers who go the extra mile, the sportspeople pushing their limits, and the local legends making a real difference. Now is your chance to shine a light on their extraordinary efforts, and this year, a powerful new category has been added shining a light on inclusion.
Now is the time to nominate residents for the 2025 Australia Day Awards.
Mayor Greg Williamson said there was a new award category this year – the Brenden Borellini Access and Inclusion Achievement Award.
“This award honours individuals or groups who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to remove barriers, implement innovative solutions and advocate for the rights and needs of those who may be experiencing disability and/or mobility and access concerns,” Mayor Williamson said.
“This new award is named in honour of Brenden Borellini, who was the Mackay region 2021 Arts and Culture Award winner but was also Young Australian of the Year in 1989,” he said.
“Brenden broke down the boundaries of what was thought possible for someone who was deaf and blind.
“He was an actor, workshop facilitator, photographer and researcher, and he was strong advocate for people with disability and those that use alternate communication.
“Brenden passed away this year, and with his family’s blessing, we have introduced this award to celebrate those who follow in his footsteps as champions of access and inclusion.”
Nominations are also now open for the following categories: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Arts and Culture, Environmental Achievement, Lori Burgess Community Volunteer, Community Group, Senior Sports and Young Sports Award.
Mayor Williamson said there had been so many tremendous nominations last year and our region was extremely lucky to have so many amazing groups and individuals that stepped up for our community.
“We had 183 nominations across the eight categories and this year we’d love to get to 200,” he said.
He said nominating someone for an Australia Day Award took just minutes and was as simple as filling out a nomination form on council’s website or grabbing a hard copy at council’s customer service centres.
“One thing that every nominee says each year is just how much it means to them to be nominated and recognised for the work they do,” he said.
“If there’s someone you know who goes above and beyond for our community or is achieving great things, then please recognise them today with a nomination.”
Nominations close January 5, 2025.
Online nominations can be found at mackay.qld.gov.au/australiaday
All award winners and nominees will be recognised at a special awards ceremony at the MECC on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
The Australia Day Awards are proudly sponsored by P. Comino and Sons and Tropical Exposure and are supported by Triple M and 7NEWS Mackay.

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Peter Reedman was named the 2024 Mackay Regional Council Citizen of the Year due to his unwavering dedication to junior rugby union in the Mackay region.  
 
There is a new award named in honour of the late Brenden Borellini (pictured with Mayor Greg Williamson and his late mother Marlene 'Merle' Mitchell). Photos supplied: Mackay Regional Council  

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