Winners: Chris Gillic, Joyce Nielsen, Keith Ballard, Les Bunn and Phillip Makkai

CHRIS GILLIC came to Mount Isa in 1974; she helped develop the Irish Club, one of the largest clubs in Queensland.  

She has been an active member and former president of the Multi-Cultural Festival which has developed into one of the great festivals in Queensland securing a number of statewide awards. 

She cooks and serves meals for the homeless in the city besides being very generous to anybody who needs help.

This Mount Isa legend is one of the unsung heroes of the city, never seeking the limelight or the glory but is always there whenever needed to help any organisation that requires help and assistance.

JOYCE NIELSEN was born in Camooweal and at the age of two she came with her family to live in Mount Isa, she did her schooling in Mount Isa and she has married, raised a family and has lived for about 70 years in the city. 

Other the years she has been involved in the pony club, the Spinifex Country Music Club and with her sister was a foundation member of the Gary Nixon Group whose aim was to assist young people with health problems. 

For the past 30 years plus, she has been an active member of the Leukaemia Foundation helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for people with this disease, she has represented Mount Isa at the annual state conferences. 

This legend has never sought the limelight, but has always been there ready to help any organisation to raise money for worthy causes, and she can always be found where six or more people gather at a table with her sister selling tickets for worthy causes.

KEITH BALLARD moved to Mount Isa in 1976 hoping to further his career in the sport he loves – horse racing.  

Back then the Mount Isa Race Club held meetings every weekend of the year and on every public holiday so Mount Isa was an obvious choice for a bush jockey seeking greater opportunity.  

With a strong worth ethic, a fiercely competitive nature and a sense of loyalty and dedication that is second to none, it didn’t take him long to start racking up the winners.  

Among his long list of achievements are wins in the Darwin, Alice Springs and Birdsville Cups, the Cleveland Bay handicap (Townsville’s premier short course race), numerous victories in the Mount Isa Cup, the Lord Derby Stakes and the Copper market Handicap.  

He has ridden an incredible 1610 winners and has been awarded the leading country jockey in Queensland on several occasions.  

His career has spanned over 46 years and taken him the length and breadth of the state; he has been a member of the Mount Isa Race Club committee and maintained the race track on a voluntary basis for nearly 10 years.  

His career has a longevity rarely seen in the industry and he continues to be the example for jockeys in the North West to be measured against and a professional ambassador for Mount Isa in the field of racing.

LES BUNN served as a councillor and is a former deputy mayor; he is an active member of Rotary, an executive of the Mount Isa RSL, an executive of the Mount Isa’s Mens Shed, an executive of the Prostate Cancer Group and a keen and active supporter of Cancer House. 

He is also a keen sportsman being president of the Golden Oldies Rugby Union Association and has served on that body’s judicial committee.  

At most community events he is behind the scenes ensuring its success. At about 5.30am each day he and his wife can be seen walking up and down Abel Smith Parade collecting rubbish and disposing of it.

PHILLIP MAKKAI was an unbelievable athlete before his accident, through perseverance and family support he has emerged as a highly respected citizen with a hint of devilment.

His smiling face often greets people at his beloved rugby grounds and also at the netball.  

He has broken down every barrier imposed on him and is one of Mount Isa’s respected and loyal legends.  

There are no barriers imposed on this legend, it is just a line in the sand that he steps over.