Community & Business
4 November, 2026
Star students celebrated
STAR students were recognised for their academic, sporting, and artistic achievements throughout 2026 at Mareeba State High’s annual presentation night recently.
The event saw family and friends of students show out to support the many award winners on the night.
This year’s Ampol All Rounder award went to Isabel Gear, while Lael Owens and Sienna Mete took out the Year 11 and Year 10 Dux awards respectively.
Special guests also attended, such as keynote speaker Dr Anthony Brazzale, who shared his story about growing up on a farm in Mutchilba to becoming a doctor and returning home as a heart specialist to give back to his community.
AWARD HIGHLIGHTS
SPECIAL AWARDS:
Bendigo Bank Community Service Award – Renee Edoni, Samuel Edoni, Alexis Patroney, Kahlia Sellers, and Lael Owens
Mareeba Leagues Club Community Involvement Award – Ashlee Fraser
Mareeba Lion’s Club Quiet Achiever Award – Harrison Mahoney
Tom Braes Outstanding Community Service Award – Isabel Gear
Cole Wyatt Resilience Award – Faith Fisher
Mareeba Rotary Quiet Achiever Award (Junior) – Lillian Gale
Mareeba Rotary Quiet Achiever Award (Senior) – Nickolai Mitchell
Northpoint Law Community Involvement Award (Year 10) – Kahlia Sellers
Robert Fabris Trust STEM Bursary – Kahlia Sellers
Sonia Fenwick Bursary – Maddison Argent and Michelle Walsh
Amaroo Medical Public Speaking Award – Lael Owens
Dr Samuel Nastasi Health Award – Ashlee Fraser
Mareeba and Communities Family Health Care Board Health Award – Grace Dumar
Mareeba State High Leadership and Teamwork Award – Mitchell Gale and Lexi Fealy
ACADEMIC AWARDS:
CQ University Academic Award (for effort in external subject) – Finnlay Ford
Abundant Life Church Highest Academic Achiever Award – Liana Searle, Eva McGlinchey, and Ahraz Kolloth.
Year 10 Dux – Sienna Mete
Year 11 Dux – Lael Owens
Ampol All Rounder – Isabel Gear
SPORTS AWARDS:
Sports Person of the Year (Junior) – Mia Sawle
Sports Person of the Year (Intermediate) – Braidy Butler
Sports Person of the Year (Senior) – Zach Marinelli
Sports House Captain of the Year – Maddison Argent and Corbin Butler
ARTS AWARDS:
Excellence in Dance Award – Caitlyn Robb
Excellence in Visual Arts Award – Haylee Highbury
Excellence in Drama Award – Reese Dempster
Outstanding Excellence in the Arts Award – Deshontae Richards
Excellence in the Arts Encouragement Award – Ethan Searle, Chevelle Stewart, and Astrid Maxwell
Instrumental Music Award (Junior) – Alexis Patroney
Instrumental Music Award (Senior) – Lael Owens
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (VET) AWARDS:
TAFE at School Award – Lacey Barbagallo
B&B Fibreglass Paint & Panel School-Based Apprentice of the Year – Joshua Shaban
VPG Overall Vocational Student of the Year – Jay Ariotti
Mareeba Men’s Shed Aspiring Graphics Student Award – Nickolai Mitchell
Osborne Construction Solutions Building & Construction Award – Wyatt
Dunnrite Mareeba Engineering Award – Landon Winton
