General News
4 February, 2026
Boatie region’s No.1 citizen
CASSOWARY Coast’s citizen of the year is a boatie credited with the revival of the Cardwell Coast Guard flotilla.
Ken English is celebrated for his exceptional voluntary leadership.
He played a pivotal role in bringing the Cardwell Coast Guard flotilla back from closure to a fully functioning and highly respected unit for the region.
As commander of the Cardwell Coast Guard, Mr English volunteered thousands of hours to vessel maintenance, base and yard upkeep, saving the organisation tens of thousands of dollars in servicing and repair costs and has logged more than 1000 volunteer hours on radio watch alone.
He has also coordinated marine rescues, training runs, crew rostering and radio operations, community fundraising activities, and helped with recruitment and mentoring.
“I would just like to say thank you, particularly to Matt and Mark for nominating me,” Mr English said.
“I’d really like to thank the people of Cardwell and the many people who have contributed to the Coast Guard,” he said.
“I believe this award really reflects Cardwell and the people of the Coast Guard, past and present. All I can say is thank you,” Mr English said.
Young citizen of the year Caleb Wodzislawski was acknowledged for his commitment to volunteering and community involvement in Innisfail over the past three years.
He has given his time to initiatives such as Riverfest, where he helped with event set-up, patron support, pack-down and supporting fellow volunteers, and through pressure washing properties and removing unwanted items, to create a more welcoming local environment.
“This award is mostly from my involvement in Riverfest – and like my dad says, anything that is good for the community is good for us,” Mr Wodzislawski said.
Mr Wodzislawski is also a member of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council Youth Advisory Committee.
Mayor Teresa Millwood said the awards shone a light on the quiet achievers whose commitment strengthend the region year after year.
“These awards celebrate the inspiring individuals who work quietly and consistently to make life better for others. Their dedication is at the heart of what makes the Cassowary Coast such a special place to live,” she said.
Councillor Trudy Tschui, who served as master of ceremonies for the evening, said the awards reflected the strength and generosity of local communities.
“The Australia Day Awards remind us that strong communities are built through kindness, collaboration and a willingness to serve. Every nominee and recipient should be incredibly proud of the difference they make in our towns and neighbourhoods,” Cr Tschui said.
Other award recipients included:
Lifetime contribution award – Margaret Dineen
Arts and culture award – Tales From Our Early Pioneers Bus Trip
Community/project of the year – Tully Mill 100 Celebrations
Community group award – Cardwell RSL sub branch
Innovation and excellence award – Dr Adele Pile
STEM award in education – Callum Saunders
Service to sport award – Shayne Cini
Sportsperson of the year – Kodi Worth
Sustainable environment award – GBR Safaris, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation and Mandubarra Aboriginal Land and Sea Incorporated
Young arts and culture award – Oscar Van Haaren
Young sportsperson of the year – Mackenzie Law.
Read More: Cassowary Coast