All Set for Australia Day 2024

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Published
4th October 2023

Looking forward to 2024, Council will hit refresh and host an evening Australia Day Awards Ceremony, bringing the community together to celebrate, recognise and reflect on our own citizens doing remarkable work in the community.

At the September Council Meeting, Council approved The Australia Day Awards Ceremony to be held in Innisfail at the Shire Hall on the evening of Thursday 25 January 2024 with the aim to raise the prominence of the Australia Day Awards within the community, enhance community pride and participation opportunities, and to increase attendance from community members.

This change follows the adoption of the Australia Day Awards Policy and Guidelines and the very successful Australia Day Awards Ceremony held in Cardwell in 2023. Community-focused events will take place on 26 January 2024 across our region.

To encourage participation, a Photography Competition will become part of the event which is centred around the theme of "Home”. “Home” is a concept that holds deep meaning for everyone, and this competition seeks to explore and celebrate the myriad ways in which individuals perceive and connect with their region. It could be a person, place, thing; a broad abstract that reflects the diversity of our Cassowary Coast Community.

As always, the evening will include the previous award categories from Citizen of the Year to Lifetime Contribution Award. Council also reviewed feedback from previous Australia Day Ceremonies, and considering this feedback, is pleased to announce that the following four new categories will be included for nominations next year:

  • Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Education Award
  • Young Entrepreneur/s Award
  • First Nations’ Fire Award
  • Excellence and Innovation Award

Youth Sport Bursary recipients will now also be announced as part of the Australia Day Awards Event. Detailed information about the 2024 Australia Day Awards will be released in the coming weeks.

For further information please visit www.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/australiaday or email enquiries@cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au.