Mount Isans Recognised at 2025 Australia Day Awards
Published on 26 January 2025
Sue Wicks is Mount Isa’s Citizen of the Year for 2025.
The announcement was made at this morning’s 2025 Mount Isa Australia Day Awards, which were held at the Civic Centre auditorium.
Mayor Peta MacRae, in making the announcement at the awards presentation ceremony, said Sue is an indispensable, long-time member of the Zonta Club of Mount Isa.
“She leads a vibrant team that are always doing events in Mount Isa to raise funds for worthy causes,” Cr MacRae said.
“Sue co-ordinates events for Zonta, ensuring people are on board for all events and all shifts are covered. She is also famous for her fudge, which she bakes to sell for Zonta at events.
“The founding member of the Mount Isa Zonta Club, Cherry Brosnan, has described Sue as the think tank and ideas person of the group, and says she never stops coming up with projects to improve the club. It’s a testament to Sue’s dedication to the Zonta Club that last year she was named the Mount Isa Zontian of the Year for the second time.
“In preparation for Mount Isa’s 100th year in 2023, Sue was instrumental in getting specially made bottles of port to help mark the year’s celebrations. So successful was this venture that from an anticipated demand of 200 or so bottles, the Zonta Club ended up selling more than 1200 bottles throughout the year.
“She also prepares meals at the Salvation Army each week for the less fortunate.”
The Young Citizen of the Year is Ashlea Lavell. Sixteen-year-old Ashlea is a lover of the arts, excelling in all aspects of music and visual arts. She spends hours upon hours each week in school and community groups, practising and learning new instruments to be able to contribute to the local arts community. She is always upskilling and trying new things. When she isn’t engaged in music, she usually has a pencil or paintbrush in her hand behind a canvas.
She is also a very well-respected student at Spinifex State College and will be representing Spinifex at the North Queensland State Honours Ensemble Program in Cairns in March this year.
The Senior Citizen of the Year is Keith Ballard. Words do not do Keith justice. A recently retired jockey, he spent 55 years in the saddle – a feat that will never be repeated in horse racing in Australia.
He won a number of regional Cup races throughout North West Queensland throughout his illustrious bush racing career, in towns including Birdsville, Boulia, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond, McKinlay, Maxwelton, Mount Isa, Longreach, and Winton.
In November 2024, Keith hung up the reins on a career that began with his first winner in 1969 and saw him ride more than 1700 winners over six decades, in front of crowds all over Queensland. Upon his retirement, he was Australia’s oldest active jockey, at the age of 71.
The Senior Sportspeople of the Year are Sunny Raitava and Allan Hazle.
Sunny has been competing in boxing since he was young. A heavyweight competitor who trains at Derrick’s Boxing, he has won gold for boxing in the Great Western Games, and in 2022 won the World Boxing Foundation’s Amateur Heavyweight title. He has travelled across the country for bouts – including to Alice Springs, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Bowen – and credits his wife for supporting him through everything (as well as driving him to many of his fights).
Allan last year claimed the title of World Boxing Foundation World Masters Welterweight champion, at the age of 53, after a victory at the Masters Cup in Germany. The Masters Cup is one of the biggest Masters boxing events in Europe, with fighters travelling from all over the world to take part in a 25-bout fight card. Allan is training for an upcoming fight in Townsville and is looking to inspire local young up-and-coming boxers.
The Junior Sportspeople of the Year are Jean Lavell and Yasmin Wyld-Hill.
Jean has been competing in motocross and enduro racing since he was five years old. In the past 12 months, he has competed in many races all over Queensland, as well as in the Australian Junior Motocross championships in Darwin in late 2023. He has been an active member of the Mount Isa Dirt Bike Club for many years and is a very well-respected member of the motocross community within north Queensland.
Yasmin is an avid IsaRoos soccer player who last year won the Junior Player’s Player Award for the club, as well as the Golden Boot Award for the senior women’s team, who were also premiers in 2024. She competed in the 2024 Pacific Championships “state of origin” on the Sunshine Coast and represented the Queensland Academy Northern team, which finished champions of the Silver Cup. She was also Spinifex State College’s 2024 Junior Sportsperson of the Year.
The Community Event of the Year is the Great Northern Rodeo Series. This event is a Mount Isa-based rodeo that’s affordable for families, provides great entertainment, and attracts a high calibre of competitors from across Northern Queensland. Events include team roping, bull ride, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, rope and tie, ladies’ breakaway, and ladies’ barrel race, as well as a raft of junior events.
The Arts and Cultural Award goes to Shaylee McGregor. Shaylee is a Mount Isa dance teacher who has made a significant contribution to the performing arts. With 15 years of experience, she has inspired countless students, created vibrant performances, and fostered a deep appreciation for dance. Her innovative teaching methods, commitment to inclusivity, and outstanding leadership are very highly regarded.
Shaylee’s journey as a dance teacher began when she joined the Mount Isa School of Dance as a young girl. Recognised for her talent and leadership skills, she became a student teacher in 2010. Today she holds nationally recognised qualifications in jazz, tap, and ballet, and teaches students from toddlers to teens across various dance styles. She has also choreographed and directed several of the Mount Isa School of Dance’s end-of-year concert performances.
The Spirit of Mount Isa Awards recipients are John Davies, Kate Fischer, Lee Allice, Phoebe Ryder, Zara Kuskopf, Jay Morris, Dave Bartolo, and Aubrey Liyanage.
John Davies has been a business owner in Mount Isa for many years and has been involved in many community events. He runs Ozzie Outdoors, is a member of the Harley Owners’ Group and the Mount Isa RSL Sub-branch, and is involved in the Mount Isa Show, Isa Rodeo, and the Mount Isa Rifle Club.
Kate Fischer has been on the board of management of the RSL Mount Isa Sub-branch for the past three years. During that time, she has taken on roles including welfare officer, merchandise officer, and treasurer. She was also heavily involved in helping the sub-branch to secure its current location at the Irish Club.
Lee Allice works tirelessly every day, walking the streets of Mount Isa and picking up rubbish to keep our streets clean. He also reports many water leaks and other issues that he sees to Mount Isa City Council.
Phoebe Ryder has been an integral part of the Mount Isa Amateur Netball Association for many years, contributing not just as a player, but also a coach, umpire and delegate. Her sportsmanship and dedication shine through in her performance on court. She also shares this knowledge and passion with others, specifically through her involvement with the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball development program.
Zara Kuskopf has been the president of the Mount Isa Amateur Netball Association for the past three years. In this time, netball has gone from strength to strength. She has spent many hours of her personal time writing and implementing new policies and helping to upgrade umpiring skills in the senior and junior competitions.
Jay Morris is the president of the Mount Isa Race Club. He volunteers many hours of his time to ensure the race club remains a big part of the Mount Isa community, with the race days featuring prominently on the city’s social calendar. Jay oversees all aspects of racing, from the stewards and nominees to the sponsors and gate and bar staff, and is always available on race days to lend a hand.
Dave Bartolo has been a volunteer at the Mount Isa Rodeo for more than 20 years, starting out cleaning the toilets when the event was held at the former Kalkadoon Park, before moving to Buchanan Park four years later to help welcome and greet people as they enter the gates. Dave is also an active member of the Pirates Hockey Club and has diligently helped with the club’s fundraising efforts for many years.
Aubrey Liyanage, while now living in Brisbane, is someone who was dedicated to making life in the Mount Isa community better for everyone when he was a local resident. Aubrey would enthusiastically volunteer his time to help clean up graffiti throughout the CBD and would get involved in many community events and activities. He also worked at the Mount Isa Civic Centre for several months in 2023 as a casual Function and Event Support Officer, assisting in the organisation of events such as Anzac Day and the Mount Isa 100 Years Gala Dinner.
The Southern Gulf NRM Sarus Crane Award goes to Delta Company, 51st Battalion, FNQ Regiment. Particular recognition is given to two individuals: Warrant Officer Class 2 Rick Leeman, and Private Courtney Eldridge. On August 31, 2024, they provided outstanding support during the Great Northern Clean Up, using their army truck and trailer to collect large volumes of rubbish and heavy items. Thanks to their efforts, alongside other volunteers, a total of 1.84 tonnes of rubbish was collected, making a substantial impact on the event’s success.