Our Central Goldfields Shire Australia Day celebration was held in Maryborough earlier today, Sunday 26 January.
The event included the announcement of our 2025 Central Goldfields Shire Australia Day awards along with a Citizenship Ceremony to welcome six new citizens.
Our 2025 Australia Day award recipients are:
Citizen of the Year – Janet Watts
Janet is a staunch advocate for local services and a dedicated community volunteer over her whole life. Her example and enthusiasm inspire all those she works with to give back to their community.
A member of the CFA for 29 years, the SES for 10 years and Dunolly Hospital Auxiliary for 20 years, she has also served on the Board of the Maryborough District Health Service for 11 years.
Janet was instrumental is establishing Dunolly's Neighbourhood Watch, Dunolly RSL's Women's Auxiliary, and in the purchase of the building which enabled re-establishment of local banking through the Rural Transaction Centre.
When Dunolly's Uniting Church was unable to find a regular ordained minister, Janet took up study to qualify – in addition to her many hours of volunteering at the Church's Op Shop.
As a teacher for more than 40 years, Janet drew on her experience to start a local youth group, and for 30-plus years offered free tutoring to local school students, free of charge.
She remains the only serving Justice of the Peace in Dunolly – another service provides – allowing local residents and businesses to complete paperwork and get things done without having to travel.
Janet has always looked for opportunities to improve her community and contribute to its wellbeing and independence. She is a quiet achiever who has helped many, and whose efforts will benefit everyone for many years to come.
Young Citizen of the Year – Ella Govan
Ella is a courageous and inspiring young person, a considered leader and an engaging public speaker. She is an upstanding role model in sporting achievement, and as a Youth Mental Health Ambassador amongst her peers at Highview College.
Ella volunteered to become a Live4Life Crew member to help raise the profile of mental health awareness across our Shire, creating the tagline "Be an upstander, not a bystander". Using her exceptional design skills, she was instrumental in Live4Life's promotional poster design, also spreading the message of youth mental health amongst 97 schools and 250 teams at Energy Breakthrough with her "return to pits" stickers throughout the event.
As part of the Live4Life crew, Ella led RUOK Day at Highview College, spread the message of looking after your mental health across the entire Year 8 faculty at Highview, inspiring her whole school community.
Ella has refereed basketball at Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre for nearly three years, where she is known for turning up early and being keen to help. Ella has a black belt in Taekwondo, is a triathlete, cricketer and has been involved in gymnastics, football, soccer and badminton.
She is recognised as an inspiration to our younger generation as both a current and future leader within our community, with an exciting future.
Community Award of the Year – Live4Life Central Goldfields
Live4Life is the only mental health education and youth suicide prevention model designed specifically for rural communities. By providing training in schools and in the broader community to deliver accredited teen and youth mental health first aid, it starts conversations with young people about their struggles.
In 2024 Live4Life Central Goldfields has delivered Teen Mental Health training to 156 year 8 students and 88 year 10 students at Highview College and Maryborough Education Centre. It has also trained 50 adult community members – including school teachers – to deliver Teen Mental Health First Aid.
Importantly, Live4Life trained its first 'Crew' – year 9 and 10 students who volunteer to provide leadership and promote mental health to their peers.
Live4Life Crew received extensive training in public speaking, media and marketing, lifting the profile and removing the stigma of mental health, so young people feel safe coming forward for help.
The Crew also designed a distinctive, local poster design, developed their theme and created a tag line for broader community awareness.
As a result, more young people are coming forward for help and support during difficult times in Central Goldfields.
Live4Life aims to deliver Teen Mental Health Training to all school students at least twice during their high school years.
Having set out to save young lives in our local community, Live4Life Central Goldfields is already having a real impact.
Township Australia Day award recipients
Australia Day events were also held in the townships of Bealiba, Carisbrook, Daisy Hill, Dunolly and Talbot.
At some of these community-run Australia Day events, additional community members were also acknowledged with awards.
We congratulate all of our Australia Day award recipients and thank them for their contribution to making our Shire a wonderful place to live.
