General News
31 January, 2025
Jenny is music to our ears
MOSSMAN music teacher Jenny Guyatt has been named Douglas Shire’s citizen of the year for 2025.
Ms Guyatt was presented with the award by Mayor Lisa Scomazzon at the council’s Australia Day awards ceremony at Port Douglas Community Hall last Friday night.
The Mossman resident will mark 49 years of teaching brass, woodwind, string and percussion instruments to students across the Douglas Shire in April.
“Teaching instrumental music is really wonderful,” Ms Guyatt said.
“The kids enjoy playing music and they get such joy out of the music camps and the band.
“By the time they leave grade 12, I’ve been teaching many of them for a long time – more than half of their lives – so I am a constant in their lives.”
Cr Scomazzon said Ms Guyatt was a deserved recipient.
“Jenny Guyatt is a dedicated and inspiring music teacher who nurtures and encourages students, promotes the value of teamwork, comradery and the importance of voluntary service and contribution to community,” she said.
“She encourages students to focus on the qualities of a smaller community, rather than the disadvantages – we are very lucky to have her in our shire.”
Other award recipients included:
Junior sports: Nate Martinelli
Senior sports: Harry Cobb
Environmental achievement: Monika Prins
Arts and cultural: Alison George and Port Shorts
Volunteer of the year: John Scott
Young citizen of the year: Nikita McDonald
Senior citizen of the year: Joan Vico
Civic recognition award: Pam Willis Burden.
Nate Martinelli is an up-and-coming boxer. He is 15 and is training for the national championships later this year.
Harry Cobb is vice-president of Mossman Junior Rugby League and a community education counsellor at Mossman State High School.
Monika Prins helped established the Circle of Plenty community garden at Mossman. She is also the founder of Open Gardens Douglas Shire.
Alison George is the director of the Port Shorts Film Festival and owns Catseye Productions at Port Douglas.
Nikita McDonald attended Mossman State High School and was best all-rounder for 2024, a top judo player and a Mossman Show rural ambassador runner-up.
Joan Vico is the coordinator of the Mossman markets and a life member of the Queensland Vigoro Association.
Pam Willis Burden is a member of the Douglas Shire Historical Society and an author.
John Scott is a computer guru and offers free technical advice at the Mossman Library weekly.
