General News
28 January, 2025
Siblings honoured during Carisbrook celebrations
As the Carisbrook community connected to celebrate Australia Day, sibling love stole the show with Kay Lucas and John Bennett taking out the day’s awards.
Around 80 residents gathered at Market Reserve to enjoy the Carisbrook Lions Club barbecue and live music before the ceremony commenced.
Official proceedings included speeches from Maryborough Harness Racing Club’s Jackson Barby, Tullaroop Ward councillor Anna De Villiers and 2024 Central Goldfields Shire Young Citizen of the Year Khoa Do.
For the 12th year in a row, the event was organised by Carisbrook Lions Club’s George Nagy, who will pass the baton on to other community members next year.
While reflecting on over a decade of services, Mr Nagy said he has been glad to see the Carisbrook community embrace the event.
“It gives people a chance to reflect and embrace what Australia Day means to them,” he said.
“I’ve always said each year I want more and more people attending and I think the wheel has turned and it’s improved over the years.
“When I first started, I think there were only about 30 people and now its grown to at least 80.
“I would also like to see more young people embrace the day because we have got to look to the future and our young people are going to carry the country.”
It was a sibling sweep of the local awards in 2025, as John Bennett accepted the Tilly Aston Achievement Award for his long-serving commitment to volunteering in Carisbrook, while sister Kay Lucas was awarded Mayor of the Day.
Both siblings have been loyal contributors to their hometown across multiple decades in various community groups.
Ms Lucas, who also won the Tilly Aston Achievement Award back in 2019, is a stalwart of the Carisbrook Senior Citizens Club with her roast lunches. She has also entertained residents at Havilah and provided flowers for the Carisbrook Anzac Day service.
Ms Lucas said she’s always proud to represent the best of Carisbrook.
“We don’t think people are taking any notice of us, we just do it, but obviously people appreciate what we do,” she said.
“It’s a small country town and we have everything here, people need to know what we have.
“We have been here all of our lives and the whole town is our family — it’s a great town and it’s only great because of the people that’s in it.”
Like his sister, Mr Bennett has his fingerprints all over the community, constantly donating his truck trailers as stages for events, doing maintenance work for the Carisbrook Cemetery Trust and was previously a member of the Carisbrook Fire Brigade.
Mr Bennett said he’s thankful to share this moment with his sister and the community that he’s called home.
“I have been here for 72 years — I grew up on Urquhart Street and I’ve only moved a few doors down,” he said.
“George Nagy, Jackson Barby and the Carisbrook Lions Club have done a wonderful job in putting today (Sunday) together.”