Sue and Lloyd Clarke named Queensland Australian of the Year

Sue and Lloyd Clarke have been honoured as the 2022 Queensland Australian of the Year recipients for combating domestic violence after the horrific murders of their daughter and grandchildren.

Sue and Lloyd Clarke have been honoured as as the 2022 Queensland Australian of the Year recipients for their passionate and transformative work advocating for domestic violence victims in the wake of the devastating murders of their daughter and grandchildren.

Announcing the award on Thursday night, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk paid tribute to the couple’s hard work, devotion and compassion as she remembered the horrific February 2020 deaths of Hannah, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, in an arson attack that “shook us with deep grief”.

“For Hannah’s parents, Sue and Lloyd it was a devastating, life-changing event and the start of a movement for change – Small Steps 4 Hannah – to educate the community and halt the cycle of domestic violence,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Their important work has led to the Clarkes being honoured with the 2022 Queensland Australian of the Year award.”

Sue and Lloyd Clarke have been named Queensland Australians of the Year. Picture David Clark

She said their experiences, and those of others like them, had strengthened the resolve of the Queensland Government to establish the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce, which is examining the issue of coercive control.

The Premier made the announcement as she unveiled three other awards.

Australia’s first Indigenous police officer, Colin Dillon, is the state’s Senior Australian of the Year, psychiatry registrar Tahnee Bridson was named Young Australian of the Year, and Queensland’s Local Hero was multicultural community leader and social entrepreneur Saba Abraham.

Dr Dillon joined the state’s police force in 1965 and was also the first serving police officer to voluntarily step forward and give first-hand knowledge under oath before the Fitzgerald inquiry into police corruption in 1987 and maintains a number of important roles since retirement, including as a member of the Parole Board of Queensland.

Colin Dillon

Tahnee Bridson

Dr Bridson founded the Hand-n-Hand Peer Support charity for healthcare workers experiencing mental health difficulties following the suicide of a well-known doctor in 2016 that revealed many of her friends and colleague were suffering in silence.

She volunteers there while working as a full-time doctor and studying to become a psychiatrist.

Ms Abraham, who arrived in Australia as a refugee from Eritrea, was applauded for her dedication to supporting other refugees and building up her community.

As the chair of the Brisbane Community Leaders Gathering, she helped drive the translation of public health messages during the Covid pandemic to ensure multicultural communities could understand detailed and timely advice.

She is also the founder and manager of Mu’ooz Restaurant in West End, which has provided employment and training for more than 200 refugee women.

The Premier acknowledged the quiet achievements of all winners, who will go on to represent Queensland at the national awards on the eve of Australia Day next year.