Rebecca Cooper Leading With Courage, Community & Connection

Rebecca Cooper is a familiar name in Mackay’s Northern Beaches. She is a woman of kindness and vision, driven by a single purpose: to connect her community. Through her passion and dedication, she has transformed her corner of the region into a place where everyone feels they truly belong.

Rebecca is the founder and driving force behind the Northern Beaches Community Network Mackay, an initiative supported by Mackay Regional Council’s Community Impact Grant. But more than an organiser, she is a catalyst for change – someone who saw a need for connection and decided to create it.

Her impact was formally recognised earlier this year when she was named the 2025 Mackay Regional Council Australia Day Citizen of the Year. For Rebecca, the honour was humbling. And for those who know her, it was inevitable.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said, “By bringing people together through fun, inclusive activities, Rebecca has nurtured a spirit of connection and support, helping to foster a vibrant, resilient and caring community that continues to thrive as the Mackay Northern Beaches area grows.

“Her work has helped to unite people from all walks of life, creating a space where everyone feels welcomed and supported.”

For Rebecca, being a changemaker is at the core of her work.

“To me, being a changemaker means not only having the vision for the change you believe is needed, but also the courage to put that vision into action and inspire others to join the journey towards a common goal, and enjoying the process along the way,” she said.

“I was raised to believe that if you’re not happy with the way something is – or you see a gap – you have a responsibility to step up, be the change that’s needed, or advocate for it, and become the catalyst that sparks transformation.

“Being a changemaker also means having a belief in the power of little being great.”

Her initiatives have taken many forms, through free programs for parents, creative workshops for arts and crochet enthusiasts, and activities that nurture both mental and physical health, such as yoga and mindfulness. Each initiative reflects Rebecca’s belief that wellbeing and connection should be accessible to all.

“What drives me as a changemaker is the desire to lay the foundations for the kind of community I want my children to grow up in,” she said. “A community where people feel connected, with a true sense of belonging, joy, and appreciation for nature and for each other and being active.”

“I want to live in a world where people truly look each other in the eyes, share experiences, live deeply, and learn from one another.”

“Right now, we’re seeing growing disconnection, social isolation, and poorer mental, physical, and social health, with technology often taking over. My work is about being a bridge – addressing those gaps and nurturing people through inspired community-led action.”

Her story is remarkable in its simplicity, and her passion for wellbeing, inclusivity, and happiness has blossomed into a network that enriches the lives of countless residents.

She credits much of her success, to those around her.

“A highlight of changemaking is the people you meet along the way, some who have now become my closest friends. Seeing people who were once strangers but now are truly part of the community,” she added.

In the Northern Beaches, Rebecca Cooper is not only a community advocate, but a symbol of what’s possible when kindness meets determination. She reminds us that true change rarely begins with grand gestures, but with one person brave enough to start the conversation.

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