Ipswich residents who have dedicated their lives to helping others and bringing the community together have been recognised with nominations for the 2025 Ipswich Australia Day Awards.
Fourteen people and four community organisations have been announced as finalists for the awards across six categories: Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Cultural Award, Sport and Recreation Award and Community Group of the Year.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the strength of the nominations made it a difficult job for judges to choose this year’s winners, who will be announced at the Ipswich Australia Day Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 22 January 2025.
“Whether it be by helping the less fortunate or enhancing community spirit, there is no doubt the efforts of all the 2025 Ipswich Australia Day Awards nominees have contributed to making Ipswich a great place for all,” Mayor Harding said.
“It’s impossible not to be inspired by our nominees who have selflessly and tirelessly spent their time and energy helping or bringing joy to the community.
“They come from a diverse range of backgrounds but there is a common theme among their work: inclusivity.
“They have all worked to ensure people, including those who may be facing significant challenges in life, can access support to improve their lives and help them feel connected to the community.
“The Ipswich Australia Day Awards are a wonderful opportunity for us to pay tribute to all those who make our city and country great, and to share their stories to the wider community.”
Economic and Cultural Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Pye Augustine said the nominees are involved in an array of fields, including community service, health, the arts, culture, education and sport.
“Any of this year’s nominees would be a deserving winner and I don’t envy the judges in having to make such challenging decisions,” Cr Augustine said.
“It just goes to show Ipswich is blessed with community members who are dedicated to improving the lives of their neighbours.”
Finalists for the 2025 Ipswich Australia Day Awards
Senior Citizen of the Year
Lyn McCoombes – Lyn has played a crucial role in the long-standing existence of the Ipswich Historical Society. She became a member of the group in 2000 and was among those to oversee its establishment at the Cooneana Homestead in New Chum, where it remains. Spending 17 years as the Society’s treasurer before her recent retirement, she was made a life member in 2014.
Brenda Ryan – Brenda brought the joy of musicals to Ipswich when she founded the community-run Ipswich Musical Theatre Company more than 20 years ago. In her ongoing role as artistic director, she has overseen dozens of large-scale productions at Ipswich Civic Centre, including beloved productions The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Mary Poppins and Wicked.
Jan White – A former nurse who worked at Ipswich Hospital, Jan has played a key role in the community-owned Ipswich Hospice Care. In her former role as a director, she ensured the hospice gained adequate funding and she continues to volunteer with the organisation. She is an expert in palliative nursing and is a life member of Palliative Care Queensland.
Young Citizen of the Year
Dallas Coventry-Scott – Dallas is a co-director of Helping Our Homies Ipswich. He also co-founded the organisation which provides food and outreach to people experiencing homelessness.
Jackson Weir-White – A professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, Jackson spends his time between training in Brisbane as a coach at an MMA gym that he owns and operates in the heart of Ipswich.
Ryan White – A house captain at St Edmund’s College in 2024, Ryan led the way in the school’s yearly 115-kilometre charity bike ride, Skool 2 Schoolies, by raising $23,000 of the $60,000 total funds donated to Ipswich Hospice Care and St Vincent de Paul.
Cultural Award
Bradley Clarke – For the past six years, Bradley has provided a voice to the local community as the manager and director of radio station West Bremer Radio. The station has a focus on inclusivity, particularly through shows such as The All Abilities Hour.
John Martin Del Rosario Nieva – John or “Jomar” is a tireless advocate for multiculturalism, particularly for the Filipino diaspora as president of the Philippines-Australia Multicultural Association. He also volunteers with the Catholic Church and Cancer Council of Australia.
Kirsty O’Brien – Kirsty is one of the most prominent figures in the Ipswich arts community. With a passion for enriching Ipswich through streetscapes, many people would have seen something she has worked on, including her “Goupong the Frog” design on an Energex box as part of council’s Green Walkable Streets Artwork Trail in the CBD, or her animated projection on Ipswich buildings for SPARK festival. She has also written a guide to Ipswich op shops and is involved in working groups to enhance central Ipswich’s aesthetic appeal.
Sport and Recreation Award
Cristelle Mulvogue – Recently crowned the Auskick Coordinator of the Year for both the Australian Football League (AFL) and AFL Queensland, Cristelle has introduced hundreds of kids to the great game of Aussie rules through her volunteer work at Collingwood Park Power AFC. She is also a champion for women’s footy and First Nations involvement in the game.
Stephen Rogers – Hot off his Official of the Year award at the council’s 2024 Ipswich Sports Awards, Paris Olympics hockey umpire Steve’s nomination adds to an impressive list of accolades collected during his 30-year career. After overseeing the men’s gold medal match in Paris, he was crowned the Federation International Hockey umpire of the year in 2024.
Edward Scott – Edward is a leading expert in taekwondo in Australia as a 7th Dan Black Belt and a master instructor (Sabum Nim), having been involved in combat sports since the 1970s. He also leads the Australian TaeKwon-Do Ki-DoKan International facility which provides training to children and adults, where he focuses on the importance of discipline, respect and self-control.
Community Group of the Year
Ipswich & District Athletic Club – More than 46 years after being established, the club continues to go from strength to strength. The club produced six athletes who competed at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, in August 2024.
Ipswich Special School (Senior Sector) – The school implemented a string of successful programs in 2024, including a computer recycling program, a thrift shop program and Laps for Life (a swimming program to raise funds for mental health), which have helped foster student development and engagement with the community.
Helping Our Homies – The organisation has engaged with more than 200 families experiencing homelessness or struggling with the cost of living in the Ipswich region since it began operating in 2023, providing them with food and other necessities.
Wounded Heroes Association Inc. – Wounded Heroes continues to run a crisis centre in Bundamba for veterans and other vulnerable members of the community, providing emotional and financial support, emergency housing, food and clothing on a daily basis.
Citizen of the Year
Veronica Belcher – An avid volunteer for many years, Veronica is known for her work with In Great Company, an organisation providing support and social connection to senior citizens, while also being involved in festivals such as Planes Trains and Automobiles, SPARK and Galvanised, as well as the much-loved Ipswich parkrun.
Kirsty O’Brien – Kirsty is one of the most prominent figures in the Ipswich arts community. With a passion for enriching Ipswich through streetscapes, many people would have seen something she has worked on, including her “Goupong the Frog” design on an Energex box as part of council’s Green Walkable Streets Artwork Trail in the CBD, or her animated projection on Ipswich buildings for SPARK festival. She has also written a guide to Ipswich op shops and is involved in working groups to enhance central Ipswich’s aesthetic appeal.
Martin Shaw – Martin is the president of Wounded Heroes Australia, a crisis support group for Australian Defence Force members and their families, based in Bundamba. He has been in the role since 2011. As a long-time advocate for returned service personnel, Martin uses his skills and resources to help people experiencing challenges such as homelessness, substance abuse and mental health issues.
