Thank your community heroes, award nominations are open
It's time to say thank you to those delivering for our sustainable region.
If you’re lucky enough to rub shoulders with the special people, groups and businesses who make our Sunshine Coast a better, fairer and more resilient place, then it’s time to say thank you.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the search was on for the next group of community heroes.
“Nominations are open for the Sunshine Coast Biosphere Community Awards, which celebrate the achievements and contributions of everyday people who are helping create a more socially, environmentally and economically sustainable Sunshine Coast,” Mayor Natoli said.
“I’m confident we all know an individual, community group or business whose efforts uphold our unique Biosphere values and goals, deliver for others and make our region a better place to live, work and play.
“One of my first roles as Mayor of the Sunshine Coast, was to attend the 2024 Sunshine Coast Biosphere Community Awards and I can honestly say, it was such an inspiring day.
“It was a joy to be surrounded by people in our community who deliver for the greater good, give selflessly, advocate and fight for a cause.
“Having witnessed the pride our 2024 nominees felt at being recognised by their community, I’d say this is one of the best ways to say thank you and acknowledge their efforts.
“If you know of a person, community organisation or business making a difference in our Sunshine Coast community, I encourage you to celebrate their efforts by nominating them today.”
There are eight categories to nominate, including:
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year
- Senior Citizen of the Year
- Community - group or organisation
- Creative Arts Award
- Healthy People Award (sport, recreation, health and wellbeing)
- Healthy Planet Award (environmental stewardship)
- Biosphere Business of the Year
Nominating is easy via the online form on Council’s website sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/communityawards
Nominations close April 30, 2025.
2024 Sunshine Coast Biosphere Community Award recipients
- Citizen of the Year - Leon Stensholm
- Senior Citizen of the Year - Ken Mewburn
- Young Citizen of the Year - Kurt Jones
- Community Group or Organisation - EndED
- Healthy Planet – Craig Hosmer and Daryl Reinke, and Hinterland Bush Links (tied result)
- Creative Arts – (Aunty) Helena Gulash and (Uncle) Paul Calcott (tied result)
- Healthy People - Trevor Picken
- Biosphere Business of the Year - Go for Zero