Nominate Your Local Legend For Australia Day

In the Hinchinbrook Shire, community spirit isn’t just a phrase; it’s woven into everyday life. It appears in the neighbour who checks on elders after a storm, the coach who gives up weekends to guide young athletes, the artist who adds colour to public spaces, and the volunteers who quietly keep the community connected, supported, and strong.

As another Australia Day approaches, the Hinchinbrook Shire Council is calling on residents to help celebrate these everyday legends, the people who rarely seek recognition but leave a lasting impact on the lives around them.

Nominations for the 2026 Australia Day Awards are now open. This is the community’s chance to shine a light on the individuals and groups who make Hinchinbrook a place to be proud of. Whether someone has made a difference through years of dedication, a single moment of kindness, or a lifetime of service, every act contributes to the heart of the Shire.

If someone has inspired you, supported you, or helped the community grow, nominating them is a meaningful way to say thank you. Nominees must reside within the Hinchinbrook Shire, and every nomination — big or small — helps tell the story of who we are.

Submitting a nomination is simple. Complete the official 2026 Australia Day Awards Nomination Form and lodge it by 5:00pm on Monday, 15 December 2025. Forms can be submitted in person at the Hinchinbrook Shire Council Main Office at 25 Lannercost Street, Ingham; by email to council@hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au

Or by post to the Chief Executive Officer, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, PO Box 366, Ingham QLD 4850. Supporting documents are welcome if they help share your nominee’s story.

The 2026 Australia Day Awards span a wide range of achievements, with categories including Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Individual Achievement, Senior Cultural, Junior Cultural, Community Event of the Year, Senior Sport, and Junior Sport. Each category honours a different kind of passion and dedication, the qualities that make Hinchinbrook unique.

Award recipients will be announced at the Australia Day Celebrations on Monday, 26 January 2026, at the Hinchinbrook Shire Hall on Lannercost Street. It will be a day to gather, reflect, and celebrate the people whose kindness and commitment strengthen the community.

Now is the time to recognise the heart of Hinchinbrook, the people who make it shine. If you know someone deserving, share their story.

www.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au/community-environment/australia-day-celebrations/how-to-nominate/