Her videos from The Voice have racked up well over 150,000 views on YouTube, and her singing has struck a tune with many people across the globe.

And this has landed the St John’s student Maddy Thomas with one of the Maranoa’s most prestigious awards in 2021.

She scored herself the award for Roma’s Young Citizen of the Year at the Maranoa Regional Council’s Australia Day award ceremony on January 26, after receiving an anonymous nomination for her work.

The award winner said she had no idea that she would win or even who nominated her.

“It’s really good to have the privilege to sing at those events, and to be able to give back to the Maranoa community in that way,” Maddy said.

“It’s really awesome that I get recognised for that as well because a lot of the time, it does go unnoticed, but it’s really just amazing to know that people appreciate what you do.”

Through her brush with fame and countless hours practising her art, she has learnt some very valuable life lessons, even at her young age of 16.

“The journey so far has been so self-developing that I’ve learnt to always just have trust in yourself through the hard times when someone has something negative to say about what you’re doing, or aren’t particularly to support you.

“It’s important to be there for yourself.”

But she has big ambitions for 2021, hoping to release an EP this year, produced in a studio.

She’d like to have the opportunity to perform in Australia-wide events and in places like Brisbane and Toowoomba.

No matter where she goes though, she’s always paid homage to her local community.

“The Roma community has always been there to support me through my music,” she said.