Community & Business
29 January, 2025
Award winners an inspiration for shire
INSPIRED to support her father, who was a World War II veteran, Cheryl Emmerson’s “tremendous contribution” to the Mareeba RSL and the wider community has earned her the title of 2025 Citizen of the Year for the Mareeba Shire.
Cheryl was one of many citizens who were recognised for their contributions at the Australia Day Awards on Sunday.
Cheryl has been secretary to the Mareeba RSL for the past five years, coordinating community activities and memorial events including Anzac Day, Vietnam Veteran’s Day and Remembrance Day. She also worked tirelessly to find a new Walsh Street home for the Mareeba RSL when it closed.
Cheryl’s extensive volunteer work also includes with the Mareeba Leagues Club, Mareeba Turf Club, the Mareeba Junior Motorcycle Club and the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group.
Rising through the ranks of sporting, academic and community service achievement in spectacular fashion is Steven Young, who was named Junior Young Citizen of the Year.
Last year’s school captain at Mareeba State High School, Steven was awarded the JCU Rising Star Award, the Ampol All Rounder Award, Amaroo Public Speaking Award, Subject Awards for Physics and Sport and Recreation, an Overall Academic Award, and a School Service and Cultural Award.
Sport was also front and centre for two remarkable recipients at this year’s awards, with Alana Mehes receiving the Sportsperson of the Year award and Ally MacLeod the Junior Sportsperson of the Year award.
For underwater hockey champion Alana, watching the 2016 Olympics at 10 years old was when she decided she would like to represent Australia and win gold. And she did.
Alana first represented Queensland in the Under 19s underwater hockey team and, last year, she was vice-captain of the Australian Under 19s team which won gold at the world championships in Malaysia.
Junior award winner Ally has competed on a state level for high jump and swimming. She was the age champion at Mareeba State High School for swimming, cross country and athletics, and plays for the Mareeba United Football Club in the Ladies Premiers team and Under 23 team.
Highly respected geologist John Nethery was one of two recipients for the Community Service Award. For the past 30 years, John has been an integral part of the Chillagoe community, creating the Chillagoe Hub Geological Time 20 years ago, and as a member and current president of the Chillagoe Alliance since its inception in the 1990s.
Kay Harrold, the second recipient, is also well-known for her unwavering support for the Mareeba Cancer Council as a volunteer for over 25 years and as president for almost 20.
Also highly commended for their community service were Ellen Duff, who volunteers at the Mareeba Heritage Centre, and volunteer fire warden for the Speewah Rural Fire Brigade, Mick Dubb.
The Irvinebank School of Arts and Progress Association picked up the Arts and Cultural Award for its role in preserving and showcasing the heritage and culture of the small town.
The Junior Arts and Cultural Award was shared by Elenoa Patolo and Evangeleah McKay.
Elenoa performs with the Pasifika Pride Dance group, and has participated in Deadly Choices, the ARTIE Academy, school variety shows, NAIDOC community events, Mulungu Deadly Dancers Camp, Mulungu Girls Leadership Camp, and the Mareeba Connected Beginnings Youth Yarning Circle.
Evangeleah is an accomplished dancer and performer who is a member of the Pasifika Pride dance group and has participated in the Mareeba Multicultural Festival and NAIDOC community events.
The Community Organisation of the Year award went to the Lions Club of Mareeba which assists other groups with their activities as well as their own events, including the Coles car park fortnightly sausage sizzle and Family Fun Metrogaine. Last year, it took on the management of the Mareeba Markets after they closed in May.
2025 AWARD WINNERS
Citizen of the Year – Cheryl Emmerson
Junior Young Citizen of the Year – Steven Young
Junior Sportsperson of the Year –
Ally MacLeod
Sportsperson of the Year –
Alana Mehes
Community Service Awards –
John Nethery and Kay Harrold
Arts and Cultural Award –
Irvinebank School of Arts and
Progress Association Inc.
Junior Arts and Cultural Awards –Elenoa Patolo and Evangeleah McKay
Community Organisation of the Year – Lions Club of Mareeba
