Because Mabel Quakawoot doesnât do things for âshowâ.
She does them because theyâre right, and plans to fight on for her next passion â getting Mackay a soup kitchen.
âI like to do things quietly and make sure those people feel comfortable,â she says.
âWhen you help people, they donât want other people to know that youâre helping them, so I go about that quietly and thatâs how I work.
âI donât tell people that I do this or do that but Greg (Williamson) knew that I was in the Womenâs Royal Australian Air Force.â
Mackay s 2021 Citizen of the Year Mabel Quakawoot has been many things to many people - an active citizen, an educator, a mentor and volunteer. Her tireless efforts for the community were recognised at a gala dinner at the MECC on Monday night. Young Citizen of the Year went to Emmett Withers and the Lori Burgess Community Volunteer Award winner was Russell McLennan. Emmett Withers began his charity Emmett 4 Animals when he was five years old and has gone on to help thousands of stray animals across the region. Russell McLennan works tirelessly behind the scenes at Volunteer Marine Rescue Mackay, having been involved with the group since 1977.