Cook Shire celebrates 2025 Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year Award winners David “Chappy” Kamholtz and Sarah Frew. Photo: Supplied.
There is nothing quite like the community-mindedness of a small town, which is exactly what is celebrated each year at Cook Shire Council’s Australia Day Awards.
Whether for contributing to a rich community life or lending a hand after a tumultuous year post-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, nominees stood proudly alongside residents on 26 January as they were recognised for their hard work.
Mayor Robyn Holmes said choosing a winner had been challenging, as every nominee contributed in unique and significant ways.
“Their efforts have enhanced community life, promoted social inclusion, and demonstrated respect for others,” she said.
“While volunteering is in decline, these nominees continue to lead by example, motivating others to get involved.”
This year’s Citizen of the Year Award winner, David “Chappy” Kamholtz, has led by example for 17 years since moving to the town, and was described by the mayor as a “pillar of the Cook Shire community”.
“I was so humbled and felt so honoured,” Mr Kamholtz said.
“Just standing up there with an amazing crew of nominees was enough; the people up there were all community-minded people who have done so much for the shire, so being a part of that alone was a great honour.
“It was a really exciting summary of years of loving the community and being a part of the community.”
Over the years, Mr Kamholtz has served as a school chaplain, firefighter, and an active volunteer for the Cooktown Discovery Festival re-enactment, but said his most recent highlight was seeing the lasting effects of a fathers and sons bike ride program he started in the community eight years ago.
“It’s a four-and-a-half day bike ride through part of the Cape after nine months of preparation, and that’s designed to build community for young men and restore connections between dads and sons,” he explained.
“I think seeing long-lasting results coming through the rite of passage program has been amazing; seeing the connections that form between young men in the community and mentors and role models, and how that continues year after year, that’s been special.”
Sarah Frew, who was named this year’s Young Citizen of the Year, was celebrated for her contributions to the Cooktown Horse Sports Association as president, and for providing a guiding voice as the acting disaster management co-ordinator in the tragic aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
“I’m very grateful and I didn’t expect it at all, so it was a complete shock to find out that I was nominated when I got the call a few weeks ago,” she said.
An avid rider herself, Ms Frew revitalised the Cooktown Horse Sports Association when she joined the committee two years ago, leading the team in organising more community events, building up its member base, and upgrading the arena to make it safer for riders and horses.
When the cyclone hit the region in December 2023, she was asked to fill in at the call centre, where she had to learn quickly on the job, proving her competence under pressure.
“I got the opportunity to step into that role, and it just kept on going, so it was probably about two months in the end,” Ms Frew said.
“I had no experience at the time besides a couple of training sessions I’d been to in previous years, but having grown up in Cooktown, I had a lot of local knowledge which I think helped, and I just did the job that needed to be done.”
