A woman who has played a leading role in supporting volunteers on the Sunshine Coast has been acknowledged with a coveted award.
Cheryl Harris was recognised as the Senior Australian of the Year for Queensland at a ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday evening.
Organisers issued a statement lauding the 75-year-old’s impact.
“Cheryl has been instrumental in driving volunteer engagement and championing the important work that volunteers perform on the Sunshine Coast.”
“Cheryl’s passion for helping community began when she was just 20 years old.
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“Her advocacy and strong relationships throughout the Sunshine Coast community has seen volunteering in the region increase significantly.
“Today, thousands of volunteers actively support the Sunshine Coast community in various roles from charity work to disaster relief.”
As former CEO at Volunteering Sunshine Coast, Ms Harris and her team collaborated with community networks to initiate the innovative Pathways to Employment program, which helps people seeking paid employment to update their skills and build self-esteem through volunteering.
Ms Harris is the current chair/president of Healthy Ageing Partnerships, which aims to empower older Australians to make informed decisions about their health through knowledge sharing.
“Cheryl’s contribution to community service highlights her selfless dedication to helping others in a manner that is always compassionate, informed and caring,” the statement read.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser congratulated Ms Harris.
“Cheryl’s selfless contributions are a shining example of the value of volunteering,” he said.
Ms Harris received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2024 and was named Sunshine Coast Citizen of the Year in 2021
Sunshine Coast residents Mark and Gayle Forbes were also acknowledged on Wednesday night, as nominees for the Australian of the Year for Queensland award, which was ultimately won by mobile health pioneer Rolf Gomes.
Mr and Ms Forbes are the founders of endED, a not-for-profit organisation that provides grassroots support, education and advocacy for people in eating disorder recovery.
They are behind a tiny home village that will support people with mental health and eating disorders at West Woombye.
