After a record event in July, the committee behind the Weipa Running Festival has been nominated for the community’s 2025 Australia Day Awards, which will be announced at a presentation ceremony on 22 January next year. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
The outstanding contributions of Weipa residents and groups to the western Cape York community has been reflected in a record number of nominations being submitted for the 2025 Australia Day Awards.
Weipa Town Authority (WTA) unveiled the diverse list of nominees last week, which include mental health advocates, community champions and the committees behind some of Weipa’s highest-profile annual events.
Awards will be presented in three categories – Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Spirit Award.
Cape York Boxing Weipa founder and coach Scott Wallace is among the nominees and said he had been thrilled to see his name on the list after dedicating years to promoting youth sport in the community.
“I haven’t really thought about it too much, but it’s an honour,” he said.
“I’m pretty rapt, but that’s not why I do it; I do it for my kids, all the kids of Weipa – it’s just to get kids into sport, expose it to them and take them further.”
Fellow nominee Jamie Thomas, who made the list after returning junior soccer and futsal to Weipa, told Cape York Weekly he had been surprised by his nomination.
“I was pleasantly surprised – I wasn’t expecting it,” he said.
“It’s nice to be recognised for the work I’ve been doing in the community, I feel really thankful.”
After a stellar year in the ring, rising Weipa boxing star Jack Barton is among a record number of community members nominated for Australia Day honours. Photo: Supplied.
WTA Chair Jaime Gane said the record number of nominations reflected Weipa’s community spirit and praised the contributions of those in the running for awards.
“This year, we’ve had a record number of 21 people nominated for our annual Australia Day Awards for a variety of different reasons, which is a testament to this community and the outstanding people who contribute greatly to making Weipa a better place to live for all of us,” she said.
“The Australia Day Awards night is great way to celebrate and thank the nominees for their efforts throughout the previous year, and do something special for them in return.
“These people always put the community before themselves, so it’s nice to put them to the front for once and show our gratitude.”
In January, the father-and-son pairing of Reuben and Hunter Slingo were named the 2024 Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year respectively, with Naty Linnehan and Scott Kootoofa sharing the Community Spirit Award.
The 21 nominees for the 2025 awards are Annabelle Slingo, Des Land, International Women’s Day, Jack Barton, Jamie Thomas, Judey Haeusler, Kym-Maree Prentice, Lorraine Woods, Mia Waite, Noella Taramai, Penelope Johnson, Scott Wallace, Shayna Reeves, Talke About It Tuesday, Theona Down, Tracey Small, the Weipa Gymnastics Club, Weipa parkrun, the Weipa Rodeo Association, the Weipa Running Festival committee and the Weipa Social Netball committee.
Winners will be announced at a presentation ceremony at the Albatross Bay Resort on 22 January.
Jamie Thomas, pictured coaching the under-8 Weipa FNQ Futsal Club at the Far North Queensland titles in Cairns in November, is one of 21 nominees for Weipa Town Authority’s 2025 Australia Day Awards. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
