Community & Business
1 February, 2023
Oakey's Citizens of the Year
Meet Oakey’s quiet achievers who had their moment in the sun last week at Arthur Shooter Park on Australia Day.
Residents experienced a hot Thursday morning at Arthur Shooter Park in Oakey as the awards for Oakey’s Citizens of the Year were handed out.
Citizen of the Year was Norman Leslie Thompson, who has been involved in Oakey and district community groups for decades.
Norman’s membership of groups such as the Oakey Lions Club, TOMNET and the Oakey Historical Museum saw him a popular winner.
Fay Telford took out the Cultural award for her work with the Oakey Historical Museum, and her role organising Oakey’s Australia Day festivities.
Oakey State High School’s 2022 Student Council President Mikeelee Casey, who was Dux of the School, was awarded Young Citizen of the Year for balancing her athletic and academic talents with her roles in the community as a sports coach and as a trainee with Pizza Hut Oakey.
Biddeston State School’s champion futsal player Olivia Darr, who was this year selected to play for Australia’s Under-12 team in Spain, won the Junior Sports Award, while the Senior Award was won by Amanda Scheuerle for her volunteer work with junior cricket in the district.
Aaliyah Washington won Oakey Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of the Year after serving as Oakey State High’s Vice Captain.
