Sitting in the awards ceremony and hearing about the wonderful community contributions being made by all of those nominated, Barry and Margaret Cochrane were surprised and humbled to hear their names called as the 2025 Australia Day Senior Citizens of the Year.
Bundaberg Regional Council is once again calling on locals to help celebrate the unsung heroes of the community by nominating someone for the 2026 Australia Day Awards.
This year’s Senior Citizen of the Year recipients Barry and Margaret Cochrane were honoured for their dedication to charitable and voluntary work in their community for more than ten years.
Their story is a reminder of the power of everyday service and a great example of what it means to these hard-working locals when they are recognised as part of Council’s Australia Day Awards.
Here’s what Margaret and Barry had to say about receiving the award:
You were both honoured as Senior Citizens of the Year in 2025. What was that experience like?
Barry: When we found out we were nominated, we couldn’t believe it.
I mean, we just volunteer because we want to volunteer and to get recognised for it was something we just didn’t expect at all.
Margaret: It was very humbling, especially when we heard what everyone else had been doing. It’s amazing.
Tell us a little bit about your volunteering ventures. What have you been doing in the community?
Margaret: I volunteer at the nursing home and I’ve been doing that for 15 years.
I help out with the police where Barry volunteers.
We do the commemoration services for Childers for ANZAC Day, Vietnam Veterans, Remembrance Day.
On Read to Me Day, we help run the station – just anything that’s asked, we’re happy enough.
We’ve been doing it since I was in the Brownies.
We come from a long line of volunteers – our parents were volunteers, so it’s just carried on and now our children are volunteers.
Barry: What we’ve done, we do together.
I’ve been at the police for 15 years in Childers now, due for long service I keep telling them.
We started years and years ago volunteering with junior sport.
We both were in the Air Force, we volunteered to enlist.
So, we just continue on. We’re just happy to be part of the community.
Margaret: We met at a youth group.
The youth group was heavy into volunteering, so it’s just part of our DNA to do it.
Nominate someone for 2026 awards
Do you know someone like Margaret or Barry? Someone who gives their time, energy and heart to make our region better?
Whether it’s a tireless volunteer, a passionate advocate or someone making a quiet difference, now is the time to acknowledge their impact.
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Australia Day Awards and it’s the perfect time to shine a light on the quiet achievers in our community.
Whether it’s a dedicated individual or a passionate community group, your nomination could help them feel seen, valued and celebrated.
Nominations close 28 November 2025.
Submit yours today at bundaberg.qld.gov.au/Australia-Day-Awards
