Fisher Awards Gala Dinner - Tickets On Sale Now!
Join us for Fisher’s Night of Nights as we celebrate the quiet achievers, community champions, and outstanding organisations making our region the best place to learn, earn and retire.
The Eighth Annual Fisher Community Award winners will now be recognised with a Gala Dinner to be held on Friday 19 September 2025 at the Sunshine Coast Function Centre, Caloundra RSL. Enjoy a night of celebration with a two-course meal, drink on arrival, live music, and great company as we honour this year’s finalists and announce the winners across 11 award categories.
Date: Friday 19 September 2025
Venue: Sunshine Coast Function Centre, 19 West Terrace, Caloundra
Tickets: On sale now – secure yours below.
Seats are limited and will sell fast. Don’t miss your chance to be part of Fisher’s biggest celebration of community spirit.
Nominations have now closed.
2025 Fisher Community Awards Gala
Friday 19 September 2025 | Sunshine Coast Function Centre, Caloundra RSL.
Nominations are Now CLOSED for the 8th Annual Fisher Community Awards.
Each year, my Fisher Community Awards honour the unsung community champions and quiet achievers who make the Sunshine Coast such a vibrant and caring place to live. Now in their eighth year, the Awards continue to grow, and in 2025, I’m proud to be hosting our most exciting event yet with a formal Gala Dinner to celebrate this year’s awards.
The Fisher Community Awards are one of the Sunshine Coast’s most respected and inclusive community recognition programs. I founded these Awards to shine a spotlight on those who go above and beyond in the fields of education, the environment, innovation, business, sport, volunteering and community service.
From passionate students and pioneering educators, to grassroots environmental groups and standout small businesses, these Awards are about recognising the individuals and organisations making a genuine difference in our community, often without any fanfare.
A Stronger Fisher – Together
As your Federal Member, I want our region to be the place to be for education, employment and retirement. But that future doesn’t just happen. It’s built by people. People who give back, lead with heart, and lift others up.
That’s where you come in.
If you know someone doing exceptional work across our 10 award categories, I invite you to nominate them now. Nominations are open until 11.59pm on Sunday, 17 August 2025.
All nominations are anonymous and we do not share your contact details with nominees or any third party. If you’d like your nominee to know you put them forward, you’re welcome to tell them yourself.
Please ensure your nominee either lives in, or does their work within, the Federal Electorate of Fisher. You’ll find an electorate map here.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Gala Dinner and help us celebrate the incredible people who make our community shine. If you’re nominated, I’ll be in touch personally to let you know, and I strongly encourage all nominees, their families and the wider community to join us for this special night. Tickets are on sale now above.
2025 AWARD CATEGORIES
Educator of the Year
Education Provider of the Year
Young Achiever of the Year
Business of the Year
Employee of the Year
Senior Community Group of the Year
Senior of the Year
Environmental Leader of the Year
Sports Club of the Year
Sportsperson of the Year
The Andrew Wallace Award – Community Group of the Year
Nominations now CLOSED.
Event Sponsors:
Previous Award Winners
- Fisher Education Provider of the Year: STEPS Pathways College
- Educator of the Year: Molly Gleeson, Meridan State College
- Student of the Year: Nate “the Great” Nelson, Sunshine Coast Grammar School
- Employee of the Year: Luke Newman, Five Bridges
- Business of the Year: Just Better Care, Sunshine Coast
- Innovator of the Year: Nybro, Curramore
- Senior of the Year: Peter Tsakissiris, Sunshine Coast and Regional District, Queensland Police Service Volunteering, Alex Surf Club, SC Falcons and more
- Senior Group of the Year: Caloundra Garden Club
- Environmental Leader of the Year: Night Eyes Water and Land Care AND Take Action Pumicestone Passage – TAPP Inc
- The Andrew Wallace Award: Queensland Air Museum
- The Andrew Wallace Award: Project Paradigm Australia
- Educator of the Year: Sandi Wallace, Chancellor State College
- Student of the Year: Ciara Treacy, University of the Sunshine Coast
- Education Provider of the Year: Kairos Community College in Caloundra
- Environmental Leader of the Year: Bamboo Projects
- Business of the Year: Just Sing Out! Music Academy
- Employee of the Year: Alicia Lucas, Griffiths Parry
- Innovator of the Year: Manufacturing Excellence Forum Sunshine Coast
- Senior of the Year: Mathew Broeckx
- Senior Community Group of the Year: SconeTime
- The Andrew Wallace Award: Mooloolaba SLSC
Runner Up: Caloundra Coastguard & Caloundra Chamber of Commerce - Educator of the Year: Murray Finch
Runner Up: Elena Gerbo - Student of the Year: Chloe Maxwell, Currimundi Special School
Runner Up: Amanda Boyes, University of the Sunshine Coast - Education Provider of the Year: Kairos Community College in Caloundra
Runner Up: Kawana Waters State College - Environmental Leader of the Year: Mooloolah River Landcare
Runner Up: Matthew Lynn - Business of the Year: QLD Landscape and Drainage Group
Runner Up: Helimods & Your Employment Solutions - Employee of the Year: Josie Tully, Helimods
Runner Up: Lauri Adams, Whites IGA - Innovator of the Year: Silicon Coast
Runner Up: Greaseboss - Senior of the Year: Catherine Scully
Runner Up: Bronwyn Fullick - Senior Community Group of the Year: Uniforms4Kids
Runner Up: Glasshouse Country Care
- The Andrew Wallace Award: Young Veterans Sunshine Coast
- Educator of the Year: Lara Taylor-Hayhurst (Mooloolaba OSHC)
- Student of the Year: Charlie Bidgood (Glasshouse Christian College)
- Education Provider of the Year: Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre
- Business of the Year: The Bottle Community
- Employee of the Year: Kate Clarke (Halcyon Parks Retirement Village)
- Innovator of the Year: The Allied Health Team
- Senior of the Year: Sheila Vickery
- Senior Community Group of the Year: Little Village Theatre
- The Andrew Wallace Award: Gateway Care
- Educator of the Year: Jodi Salmond (Reef Check Australia)
- Student of the Year: Mia Seefeld (Chancellor State College)
- Education Provider of the Year: Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre
- Business of the Year: Home Care Assistance Sunshine Coast
- Employee of the Year: Lyn Gale (Currimundi Special School)
- Innovator of the Year: BakSlap
- Senior of the Year: Sharon Garrick (Alex Surf Club)
- Senior Community Group of the Year: Maleny & District Senior Citizens
- The Andrew Wallace Award: The Board Meeting Sunshine Coast
- Educator of the Year: Rob Reid
- Student of the Year: Jazmin Simmons (Caloundra State High School)
- Education Provider of the Year: RYDA
- Business of the Year: The Wharf, Mooloolaba
- Employee of the Year: Shivawn Davis, Birtinya
- Innovator of the Year: GoFly Aviation
- Senior of the Year: Ivon Northage, Glass House
- Senior Community Group of the Year: Palmwoods Singers Theatrical Society
- Senior Support Service of the Year: Caloundra Senior Citizens Club Inc
- The Andrew Wallace Award: SunnyKids Inc
- Educator of the Year: Simon Richardson
- Student of the Year: Tea Carter
- Education Provider of the Year: STEPS Pathways College
- Business of the Year: All Love Pest Control & Carpet Cleaning
- Employee of the Year: Millie Thomas
- Innovator of the Year: Dr Evan Jones
- Senior of the Year: Malcolm Scott
- Senior Community Group of the Year: CCSA Hall
- Senior Support Service of the Year: Coastal Caring Clowns Inc
