Nominations are now open for the 2025 Banana Shire Australia Day Awards. The 2025 Australia Day celebrations will be hosted by the Thangool community on Sunday 26th January 2025.

Nominations are now open in the following categories:

• Citizen of the Year Award
• Young Citizen of the Year Award
• Arts and Culture Award
• Young Arts and Culture Award
• Community Volunteer Award
• Sportsperson Award
• Young Sportsperson Award
• Sports Coach, Official and/or Administrator Award
• Community Group or Team Award
• Community Event of the Year Award

In an exciting change for 2025, nominees can be entered into multiple categories in a single nomination.  Additionally, award recipients in individual categories (excluding group awards) will automatically be nominated for the Citizen of the Year Award or Young Citizen of the Year Award. Individuals can still be nominated directly into these categories.

Banana Shire Council Mayor Nev Ferrier said, “The Australia Day awards recognise the contributions and achievements of outstanding individuals and groups within the Banana Shire community. Whether it’s a local champion who inspires, a friend who works tirelessly to help others or a community group who go above and beyond, I encourage you to put their name forward.”

Nominations can be submitted online or by obtaining a print copy of the nomination form from Council's website or any of Council's Customer Service Centres or Libraries.

Nominations close 8am Monday 25 November.

Award recipients will be announced at the Australia Day Awards Ceremony at the Thangool Racetrack on Sunday 26th January 2025.