The Gold Coast City Council's annual Australia Day Awards recognises outstanding achievements of individuals or groups within the Gold Coast community.

ABC and Wildlife Trauma Centre founder Trish Wimberley took out this year's top gong at a ceremony last Friday.

Trish was awarded the 2012 Gold Coast Citizen of the Year, for her efforts in providing 24/7 medical care to all species of sick, injured and orphaned bats and Australian native fauna.

Other Gold Coasters awarded at the ceremony included:

2012 Young Citizen of the Year  Monique Jeremiah
Gold FM Community Service Award - Doug Henderson
Cultural Achievement Award - rabbit + cocoon
Environmental Achievement Award - Mark Tierney
Sports Achievement Award - Shannon Eckstein
Gold Coast Legend Award - Paula Stafford

The Tweed Shire Council also recognised local citizens with their Australia Day Awards.

Tweed Shire Citizen of the year was won by Doreen Welsh, who is the coordinator and founder of the Twin Towns Friends Association.

With the assistance of a band of 60 volunteers, the Association provides recreational and social activities to frail, aged and socially isolated members of the Tweed community.

Other recipients of Tweed Shire Council Awards were:

Young Achiever - Rosie Kahl
Sporting Achievement Award Individual - Kane Townsend
Academic Achievement Award - Claire Chauvier and Georgina Harbottle
Volunteer of the Year- John Lee

For more information about the award recipients, visit click here!