Local businesswoman and volunteer Mary-Jane Caldwell held back the tears as she accepted the Citizen of the Year award at Mount Isa’s Australia Day celebrations.
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Ms Caldwell agreed with Mayor Joyce McCulloch’s statement that she preferred to fly under the radar and get the job done.
“I endorse what Joyce said – I prefer being behind the scenes,” Ms Caldwell said.
“I do my work, I enjoy helping other people on committees or fundraising – if you don’t give you don’t receive.”
I enjoy helping other people – if you don’t give you don’t receive.
- Mary-Jane Caldwell
Cr McCulloch read out Ms Caldwell’s nomination which said she had been an active and passionate contributor to the Mount Isa community for over 25 years.
“Her enthusiasm for the arts, community service and local sport knows no bounds. She is a willing hand at fund raisers, a key organiser for the annual Mount Isa Eisteddfod and a member of the Mount Isa Regional Arts Development Fund committee. She is also an award-winning insurance agent for Elders Insurance,” the Mayor said.
“Mary Jane challenges us all to contribute towards a better Mount Isa and is a worthy winner of this year’s Citizenship Award,” Cr McCulloch said.
Meanwhile the “one of a kind” Steve Carson was a popular winner of the Senior Citizen of the Year for his work on charity fundraisers such as the Border Ride, the annual cycling challenge which marked its tenth anniversary in 2017.
The Young Citizen of the Year went to Jessica Celona, who recently graduated from year 12 and was awarded the school-based Apprentice of the Year at Spinifex College for her apprenticeship at Isa Hair Design.
Jessica is an accomplished highland dancer and has also supported numerous cancer fundraising causes inspired by the cancer journey of three grandparents.
The Mount Isa Apex Rock Pop Mime Show won the Community Event of the Year.
Apex Club’s John Davis said the Show has been running since 1990 and last year was the biggest yet despite the local club only having four members.
Barry Merrick won the Arts & Culture Award while Frank Lawler won the Senior Sports Award and Gyan Caampued took out the Junior Sports award.
Spirit of Mount Isa awards went to Dr John Warren, Michele Savoye and Rebecca Lister while Rex Whitehead won the 2018 Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award.
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.
