Albany Creek residents are being asked to put forward people whose volunteering, leadership and community work could make them Moreton Bay’s next Citizen of the Year or Mayor’s Community Spirit Award recipient.
Nominations for the City of Moreton Bay’s 2027 Australia Day Awards are open until 31 October 2026. Nominees may have contributed over many years or made an exceptional impact more recently, with volunteers, advocates, mentors, fundraisers and community leaders among those eligible for recognition.
Albany Creek has form
Albany Creek resident Kevin Couch is a previous Moreton Bay Australia Day Community Spirit Award recipient whose efforts to connect neighbours grew from his regular walks around the suburb.
Couch began talking with people he met during twice-daily walks and went on to organise regular morning teas in local parks, with one gathering attracting more than 100 neighbours. He received further recognition as Local Legend of the Year at the 2024 Dickson Community Awards, where fellow Albany Creek residents Graham Turk and Elizabeth Willett received Community Service Awards.
Couch’s contribution also left a permanent mark on the suburb. A pathway through Cowrie Parade Park was named Kevin’s Way after a proposal backed by a 50-signature petition and nine individual letters of recommendation.
Nearby Bunya produced two more Moreton Bay award recipients in 2026. Jan and Alison Schutt, founders of Stationery Aid, received Mayor’s Community Spirit Awards for their work collecting surplus school supplies and turning usable materials into stationery packs for students in need.
Stationery Aid had assisted more than 2,660 students across 185 schools and diverted more than 70 tonnes of waste from landfill.
River work earns top honour
The current Citizen of the Year is Chris Paterson, whose work combines waterway clean-ups with employment and support for people living with disability or mental health challenges.
Paterson founded Bamboo Projects, which uses accessible boats to involve people with disability in cleaning local waterways. His team has removed more than 80 tonnes of debris from the Pine and Caboolture rivers, while Paterson volunteers more than 30 hours each week mentoring community members.
Paterson described receiving the 2026 Citizen of the Year award as a surreal moment. He said the recognition reassured him that the work was heading in the right direction and acknowledged the hard work and volunteer hours behind it.
Two awards, different rules
Citizen of the Year recognises a local resident for outstanding achievement or contribution to the community. The recipient must be an Australian citizen living in the City of Moreton Bay.
The Mayor’s Community Spirit Award recognises significant contributions through service, leadership or community involvement. Recipients do not need to be Australian citizens or City of Moreton Bay residents.
Nominations for the 2027 Australia Day Awards close on 31 October 2026 and can be lodged through the City of Moreton Bay Australia Day Awards page.
Published 29-Sept-2026