Community & Business
29 January, 2026
Australia Day in Clifton
This year’s Australia day ceremony was a celebration of community and all those who make the Clifton District what it is.
Most of the camp chairs and those that sat in them hugged the trees and bushes of Pioneer Park - even at 7am it was hot!
The tents were up, hats were on, most were happily tucking into a bacon and egg burger provided by the volunteers.
As this year’s Australia Day Ambassador, Bernie Trimingham, the Citizen of the Year in 2025, began her speech with a Welcome to Country.
Acknowledging the Keinjan, Githabul and Bundjalung people, she went on to talk about the country this one was becoming.
Others echoed her sentiments after receiving their awards.
But for the most part, Monday was about community, about those in the community who make it great by lifting up others.
Like the CWA supporting a family with a sick child with their travel costs.
Or prospective Olympian Emily Van Tuinen.
Or Wattles Stalwart Amanda O’Halloran.
All of the award recipients and nominees are just a few of the inconspicuous threads which together weave the vibrant tapestry that is Clifton.
Cr Melissa Taylor was on hand to help hand out the awards to the recipients.
While the volunteers from various Clifton groups prepared breakfast for everyone, afterwards, like everyone else, they were just trying to stay cool.
The morning was abuzz from 7 o’clock, families and friends connecting in the shade.
At 8.30 the official ceremony began and the awards were given.
Colleen Horton was awarded Citizen of the Year.
For her unwavering, selfless and stalwart community work, she was recognised for 50 years of quietly serving the community.
She has an impressive list of contributions she’s made in the community, which includes the beautiful rose garden on Edward Street.
The list however becomes all the more impressive knowing that there’s probably more she hasn’t told anyone about!
Charles Turkington was the Young Citizen of the Year.
The scout leader and soon to be school leader was recognised for his actions within his community.
Clifton’s 150th Birthday celebration, organised at relatively short notice by the Clifton Historical Society was also recognised.
Amanda O’Halloran took the Senior Sports Award for her contributions to Wattles Rugby League Club.
The Clifton RSL Sub-branch received this year’s Clifton Cultural Award.
Emily Van Truinen, the young shooter, took away the Junior Clifton Sports Award, while the ladies at the CWA took home the Community Group Award in recognition of their work supporting and celebrating the community.
While there’s plenty to celebrate and discuss insofar as the wider nation is concerned, for Clifton, as we are, with the people like these award recipients doing what they do in our community, we’re doing pretty well.
Every single one of these people gives back.
Every single award recipient is a constant rain of little impacts, each little drop insignificant, until they fill the dam.
These are the kinds of people which make Clifton tick, because none of them do it for themselves really, some of them might even grumble about the job half the time, with good right.
But they do it anyway, because they know, that it’s not necessarily the right (or wrong) thing to do, but it is a very good thing to do.
To keep a club running, or to make a show as wonderful as it can be or being there for someone when it seems as if the whole world is falling down around them - even by just doing the very best you can - these are all the impacts which make Clifton, Clifton.
Without the people, and especially these people, this would be buildings, fence posts and a train station in the middle of nowhere.
These award recipients and in every sense, everyone in this town, is what makes it more than a town.
But its what really ought to exist in any town, village, shanty or ‘smoke’ of whatever size: Community.
This year’s Australia Day ceremony at Pioneer Park was a celebration of Australia, yes, the great big land that’s both old and young at the same time.
With all the big questions floating about in the ether: Who are we? Where are we going? What is Australia?
One could have rocked up on Monday to Pioneer Park and seen Cr Melissa Taylor handing awards to exactly what Australia is.
It’s the little impacts, the kindness, the support, doing what needs to be done, what ought to be done, then not thinking about it too much past that.
It’s the people, like the award recipients, or those watching.
It’s those you see on the street, just as much as those you go and have a drink with.
Australia would be a barren dirt bowl if it wasn’t for all the insignificant people and their very significant impacts - it’s those sorts of contradictions that are all too Australian.
The recipients of the Australia Day Awards gave a good example for what that is, in Clifton at least.
A full list of recipients can be found on the Toowoomba Regional Council website.
