Australia Day Honours 2024: Col Meng, Jan Clifford, and Ken Martin celebrated
A former mayor, a current councillor, and a community showman have been recognised and celebrated in the Australia Day 2024 Honours List.
Regional News
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A former mayor, a current councillor, and a community showman have been recognised and celebrated in Australia Day 2024 Honours List.
From supporting regional women to dazzling the audience with a tenor solo, these multi-talented individuals represent the best our region has to offer.
Colin Francis Meng
Successful businessman and former Mackay Regional Council Mayor Colin Francis Meng was given the Order of Australia for his “service to the community through a range of organisations”.
Mr Meng attended Mackay West State School as a child and as an adult his name became well-known throughout the Mackay region as the face behind Meng Mechanical Repairs and Meng Tyre Sales on Victoria St before selling the business in 2007.
In 2008, he became mayor after winning more than 60 per cent of the vote, continuing in the role until 2012.
He has also served as Mackay Hospital and Health Service Board chairman, Souths Suburban Bowls Club chairman, Mackay Region Area Consultative Committee chairman, Mackay Chamber of Commerce president, and Mackay Golf Club president.
He is a member of The Rotary Club of West Mackay, and with his wife Rhonda has been a long-time supporter of Mackay Community Foundation.
Mr Meng also worked with councils across the state as Queensland’s Boundaries Commissioner to assess whether they had a solid case to reverse the forced 2008 amalgamations of councils.
Kenneth Brian Martin
Fellow Mackay region resident Kenneth Brian Martin was awarded Order of Australia Medal for “service to community music”.
A life member of the Mackay Choral Society, Mr Martin joined in 1982, was president for 25 years, and has been vice president for nearly 16.
A Society statement said “it would be possible to count on the fingers of one hand the number of meetings he has missed”.
Mr Martin led the fundraising for The Ken Martin Choral Centre in Andergrove, named in his honour.
He also is responsible for several successful support grants to maintain the building and a soon-to-be installed “much needed” storage shed.
“Besides his administrative roles, Ken is also a valuable member of the tenor section of the choir,” the Mackay Choral Society statement said.
“He has hardly missed a performance and has frequently performed solo parts; in fact this year will be playing a lead role in Fiddler On The Roof.”
Mr Martin also served as president of the Eisteddfod Association of North Queensland Incorporated from 2011 to 2016, when he was made a Life Governor in recognition of his contributions.
Now approaching his 87th birthday, Mr Martin has occasionally mentioned the possibility of retiring “but not from singing and performing!”
“Congratulations Ken, enjoy celebrating with family and friends, especially your lovely wife Bernice who has also been such an important member of our choir family.
“We’ll look forward to seeing you at rehearsal at usual on Monday!”
Janet Louise Clifford
Then in the Whitsundays, Councillor Janet Louise Clifford received the Order of Australia Medal for “service to women in local government, and to the community of the Whitsundays”.
“It’s very humbling, I never thought in a million years that I would be honoured in such a way,” Ms Clifford said.
Ms Clifford is the current Queensland state representative to the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, Greater Whitsundays Community director, Whitsunday Housing Company chairwoman, National Rural Women’s Coalition executive director, and Regional Development Australia Mackay Whitsunday executive director.
She was formerly president of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association of Queensland.
Ms Clifford was elected as a councillor of Whitsunday Regional Council in 2008 after working in tourism for 14 years, and is also a dedicated representative within the LGAQ advocating for policies, resources and support for the region.
Throughout her 15 years in local government, she said she was most proud of banning single use plastic bags in the Whitsundays alongside the late Barb Adamson.
Ms Clifford took the proposal to the LGAQ which then became enshrined in Queensland legislation in 2017.
She was also proud of helping the community through Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017 – whether it was volunteering at Fish D’Vine’s five-star “soup kitchen” or manning the Givit shop which gave food, clothing and household goods to those in need – with Rotary awarding her a Paul Harris Fellowship for her efforts.
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