North Brisbane residents recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

A former assistant police commissioner, a baseball coach, choir master, and air force cadets commanding officer are among north Brisbane residents named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

David Nilsson has received an AM for significant service to baseball. Picture: AAP/Steve Pohlner

A FORMER assistant police commissioner, a baseball coach, a choir master, and an air force cadets commanding officer are among north Brisbane residents recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

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Receiving an AM are Gregory Early and David Nilsson of Bridgeman Downs, and Richard McGruther of Chermside West.

Receiving an OAM are Carmela Bozzi of Chermside, Desmond Hogan of Bridgeman Downs, Anthony Lee of Aspley and Mervyn Ward of Albany Creek.

GREGORY EARLY has been recognised for significant service to the community, particularly to former law enforcement officers.

The former QPS Assistant Commissioner, who received the Australian Police Medal in 1994, has been both president and secretary of the Queensland Retired Police Association.

He is also a past director of Lifeline Brisbane, Queensland Police Citizens Youth Welfare Association and the Queensland Police Credit Union.

He has been involved with Queensland Retired Police Association’s Annual Bowls Day Committee, the Queensland Police Legacy Scheme, and Community Supporting Police.

His contribution to the community includes being secretary of Alderly Grange Neighbourhood Watch for 15 years and as foundation member of Bridgeman Downs Neighbourhood Watch.

He has also been chair of the Aspley Uniting Church Council since 2009 and secretary of Albany Creek Probus Club since 2017.

RICHARD MCGRUTHER was recognised for significant service to rugby union, and to the community.

He has been a member of Brothers Rugby Club for more than 50 years and was made a life member in 1982.

He has held a number of positions with Queensland Rugby Union since 1983, including vice president, president, chairman and director. He has been a life member since 2000, been on the board of directors, and been chairman of both the President’s Committee and the Special Project’s Committee.

He has been a life member of Australian Rugby Union since 2014, has had stints as chairman and vice president, been on the board of directors and was a delegate to the International Rugby Board from 1996-98.

Other rugby roles include director of both Super 10 Pty Ltd from 1995-1999, and South Africa, New Zealand and Australian Rugby Pty Ltd (SANZAR) from 1996-2000.

He has also been director of Queensland Events Corporation (now Events Queensland), The Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital and St Vincent’s Care Services, and chairman of Holy Spirit Care Services (Brisbane) and Russell Pastoral Company.

He is no stranger to awards, having received the Joe French Award for Outstanding Service to Rugby Union, Australian Rugby Union in 2012 and being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1983.

DAVID NILSSON has been recognised for significant service to baseball as a player, coach and mentor.

He is currently head coach of both the Australia Men’s Team (since 2018) and the Brisbane Bandits (since 2010) and is a member of the Pine Hills Lightning Baseball Club based at Bunya.

He has also been head coach and instructor for the Major League Baseball Australia Academy and high performance manager at Baseball Queensland.

He played with the Australian National Team from 1995-2006 (including at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics) and was team captain three times.

Before that, he played professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers in the US.

He is no stranger to awards. He was named Queensland Sport Coach of the Year in 2017, has been inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honour and the Hall of Fame for Queensland Sport, Sport Australia and Baseball Australia.

He’s a Major League Baseball All Star, and was named most valuable player at the 1999 World Cup and 1991 Australian Baseball League.

He’s also received Baseball Australia’s Helms Award twice.

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CARMELA BOZZI has been recognised for service to the Italian community of Brisbane.

She has been a member of the Italian Catholic Federation Aspley/Geebung since 1983 and is a former president, secretary and committee member.

She is currently choir master of the Choir of Saint Alfio and writer/editor of Rintocchi, a bi-monthly publication by the Scalabrini Fathers in Brisbane.

She has also spent 15 years as choir master of Three Saints Feast Brisbane, been a language teacher at Holy Spirit Seminary Queensland, a prayer leader at S. Andrea Prayer Group, and is lead vocalist in various church singing rosters.

DESMOND HOGAN has been recognised for service to rugby union.

He has been a member of Brothers Rugby Club since 1955 as a player and coach. He was made a life member of the Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in 2004.

He has had two stints as a committee member between 1978-2015, including 27 years as treasurer. He was junior committee chairman from 1978-1984 and is currently administration manager and Life Membership Group co-ordinator.

He received the Queensland Rugby Union Norbert Byrne Medal in 2008, and is a past committee member of both Queensland Rugby Union and Queensland Junior Rugby Union.

ANTHONY LEE has been recognised for service to youth through his involvement with Australian Air Force Cadets.

He started as an aircraftman in 1986 and has been Commanding Officer of both 212 Squadron and 228 Squadron (Parachute Training).

He is currently Wing Commander and Officer Commanding, 2 Wing.

He is immediate past president of the International Air Cadet Exchange Association and is a former director of both International and Public Affairs and International Activities.

He has also been involved with the Cadet Support Directorate as both Director Cadet Support and Senior Firearms Officer.

He has received a number of awards including the Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal, the Officer Commanding Commendation and Most Proficient Officer/Instructor, 2 Wing AAFC.

MERVYN WARD has also been recognised for service to youth.

He has been a staff member of Australian Navy Cadets since 2003 and has been Commanding Officer of TS (Training Ship) Paluma since 2010

Mr Ward, who was with the Royal Australian Navy from 1968-77 and then the Reserves until 2003, is also Welfare Officer, for the Geebung, Zillmere, Bald Hills, Aspley RSL Sub-Branch.

He is also a former member of the Sail Training Association of Queensland Management Committee and has been a sailing master, trainer, mentor and volunteer with South Passage — Adventure Under Sail since 1997.