Gavin Donnelly had no idea what was coming. Dressed for duty in his bright orange SES outfit, he was stunned as he was called to the Mount Isa Civic Centre stage to receive the 2017 Citizen of the Year award.
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Presenting him the award, Mayor Joyce McCulloch said Mr Donnelly’s commitment to volunteering made him a stand-out choice.
“While working full-time, Gavin volunteers at the SES, is a Treasurer of the Mount Isa Rural Fire Brigade and is a volunteer St John’s Ambulance officer, and at local events he can always be seen wearing one of these uniforms,” Cr McCulloch said.
“Gavin has also been the president of the Barkly Highway State PCA and spends many hours volunteering at school and he instigated the re-opening of the Driver Reviver Stop at Fountain Springs which he mans most school holidays.”
Gavin said he and his wife came here two decades ago with a “three year plan” but like many before and since fell for the charms of the north west.
Aunty Margaret Body took out the senior citizen of the year. Now aged 76 her social support work has saved many lives in Mount Isa.
At the other end of the spectrum, Erin Faithful took out the young citizen of the year for her work on the Youth Council, Isa Youth Has Talent, and her academic leadership of the Good Shepherd Catholic College for 2016 as well as volunteering with St Vincent de Paul.
Mark Van Ryt won the 2017 Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award for his work in land care and protecting the environment.
Kim Smith won the SES Australia Day award for her “overall support and commitment to the SES”.
RFDS training captain Greg King won the 2017 Spirit of Mount Isa for serving the Mount Isa flying doctor base for 16 years providing care for thousands of people.
BMX’s Crystal Hetherington won the junior sportsperson of the year while Hope Philip won the senior sportsperson of the year.
Run with Dad took out the most outstanding community event of the year.
Afterwards, over 80 people took part in a citizenship ceremony.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
