Three hinterland residents were among the recipients recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Sunshine Coast region at a special ceremony last month to announce this year’s Sunshine Coast Australia Day Award recipients.

Buderim’s Mark Ellis was named Citizen of the year for his tireless work advocating to improve the lives of those less fortunate in the community and for collective action to put a stop to homelessness.

Through his role as Community Development Coordinator at the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre, Mark co-ordinated the One Roof Program, which provides everything from hot showers and haircuts to mental health and medical support , for people who are homeless.

In one year, the One Roof Program has provided free meals for more than 23,000 vulnerable people and services for more than 9,000 people.

“There are so many outstanding stories of community spirit, inspiration and comradery, which gives us all hope for 2022 and beyond,” Mayor Jamieson said

“As a nominee in these awards, you represent so much of what is great about the Sunshine Coast and why it is such an enjoyable and desirable place to live.

“Each one of our nominees has made a difference to our Sunshine Coast in the past 12 months, and I’m sure will continue to do so into the future.”

2022 Sunshine Coast Australia Day Award Recipients.

Citizen of the Year Mark Ellis; Senior Citizen of the Year  Jim Coles; Young Citizen of the Year (tie) – Jack Watson and Sophie Greenhalgh;  Environment – ECOllaboration; Sport and Rec – Dr Bridie Kean; Community – Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club; Creative (tie) – John Waldron and Toni Eggleston.

• Senior Citizen of the Year  Jim Coles: Jim  is RangeCare’s longest serving volunteer with 27 years of voluntary service. Jim has served as Blackall RangeCare Group’s voluntary Management Committee for 14 years. 

The last three years of his time on the Management Committee, Jim served as Vice President. Jim raised funds for renovations to the RangeCare site in Flaxton and raised $460,000 for a new building in 1994. 

Jim remains an active member of the organisation and currently volunteers at least twice a week in RangeCare’s Op Shop in Mapleton.

• Young Citizen of the Year: Jack Watson, Dulong: Jack is very involved in his school community and his co-curricular activities include being Co-founder of the school’s Debate Club, a Member of Student Representative Council, a Lion’s Youth of the Year Participant and a participant of the University of Melbourne’s Corporate Social Responsibility Board Program. Jack, pictured, has been accepted to study a Bachelor of Law and Commerce (Accounting). He has received numerous awards including Queensland Secondary Schools Citizenship Award 2021 by the Order of Australia Association, Dr Joe Goodall Community Spirit Award, Burnside Mortgage Choice Bursary and the Burnside Rotary Citizenship Award.

• Creative: Toni Eggleston, Yandina Creek: Toni, pictured, has worked with Arts Connect, organising Sculpture on the Edge, Sunshine Coast Open Studio’s and is currently working on reopening Stevens Street Gallery in Yandina. Her dedication to enabling the artistic community is admirable. She is passionate about creating spaces to appreciate art through events and giving a voice to artists. Her business, Mother Goose Media, saw the birth of Kids on the Coast magazine, a publication that is still running today. She also runs Boxed Up, a business that only stocks products from Sunshine Coast local artisans.