Northern Rivers residents have been honoured for their community work
From a human rights advocate to selfless community volunteers and a world famous actor, these are the people who have been honoured by the Australian Governor General.
Lismore
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Several Northern Rivers residents have been named in the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List, which recognises 1190 Australians.
Announcing the list, the Governor-General of Australia, David Hurley, congratulated all recipients.
“Each of these individuals are unique and their story deserves to be shared widely and celebrated,” he said.
“Collectively, they speak to who we are as a nation.
There are countless examples of selflessness, commitment and dedication.
There is diversity and there are examples of exceptional achievement in almost every field imaginable.”
Northern Rivers residents recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List
Emeritus Professor Robert Baden Offord
Order of Australia
The Ocean Shores resident received the OAM “for distinguished service to tertiary education in the field of human rights, social justice, and cultural diversity.”
A emeritus professor of Southern Cross University (SCU) Professor Offord is one of only 50 people nationally who received this award today.
As well as holding the position of Professor of Cultural Studies and Human Rights and Adjunct Professor at SCU, he is also Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies and Human Rights at Curtin University.
Carol Bonomy
Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division
The McLeans Ridges resident was awarded the OAM, “for service to the community of the Lismore region.”
Her community commitment includes five years as an SES volunteer, making quilts for sick children in hospitals and for the mental health units at Lismore Base Hospital and Byron Bay Hospital, drainage bags for breast cancer sufferers, as well as supporting Our Kids, Lismore Meals on Wheels and Bangalow Pony Club.
Donald Phillip Ellison
Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division
The late Ballina resident was recognised for service to horticulture.
Mr Ellison was the owner operator of Ellison Horticultural, (supplier of palms and cycads).
He also held roles on local council and was a former Board Member, Nursery and Garden Industry Australia, Art Society of NSW, Australian Nurseries Export and his expertise led him to being named as an Australian Judge, Floralies Horticulture Exhibition, Belgium, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 2000.
He was the author of Cultivated Plants of the World and Camellias: A Photographic Dictionary and co-author, Betrock’s Cultivated Palms of the World.
Chris Hemsworth
Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division
The Byron Bay based actor was recognised for “significant service to the performing arts and to charitable organisations.”
As a Marvel Universe franchise stalwart playing Thor, Mr Hemsworth, 37, has been a patron of the Australian Childhood Foundation since 2009, which aims to help children recover from the effects of trauma, violence and abuse.
He was also lauded when he donated $1 million to help fight the Black Summer bushfires which devastated much of NSW in 2020.
John Albert Lee
Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division
The Bilambil Heights resident was recognised, “for service to the community through social welfare organisations.”
Since 2008, Mr Lee has been founder and director of You Have A Friend, Rosies – Co-ordinator, 2004-2008 and was a volunteer with Lifeline as a counsellor in the 1980s.
His other awards and recognition include: a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, 2010, a Community Spirit Award, Pride of Australia, 2012, Volunteer of the Year, Tweed Shire Council, 2011 and a Peace Through Justice Award, St Joseph’s College, Tweed Heads, 2008.
John Frederick McCaffrey
Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division
The Wollongbar resident was recognised, “for service to people with disability.”
A supporter of Lord’s Taverners Northern New South Wales, Mr McCaffrey has been the chairman and a member of, All Abilities Sports Committee, since 2009, a volunteer, Alstonville All Stars Group, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, since 2019, Volunteer, Australian Seabird Rescue Service, since 2010. and is a former Volunteer, Far North Coast Branch, Disabled Surfers Association of Australia.
Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division
Darcy James McFadden
The late Mr McFadden was a Goonellabah resident was recognised “for service to the community of Lismore.”
An award-winning photographer, Mr McFadden was the staff photographer for the Northern Star for 53 years and won Picture of the Year, Australian Provincial Newspaper Picture of the Year Awards, Tin 1979, 1988 and 1989.
He was tireless volunteer, supporter and member of Apex, Lions, Probus for many decades and received numerous awards and citation from other community organisations.,
Dominic Charles Richards
Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division
The Cabarita Beach resident was recognised for “service to architecture, and to the community.”
Mr Richards have been active in supporting various urban design and LGBT community activities.
The director, Architekton, since 2014, Mr Richards is the chairman and Co-Founder, Prosper Education, Sydney and at Princes Trust Australia was deputy chair, 2017-2019 and has been a trustee, since 2016.
Mr Hurley said he was pleased that this list includes the highest ever percentage of women (44 per cent) recognised through the General Division of the Order of Australia.
“It is important that the Order of Australia represents the diversity and strength of Australia – for this to happen we need to ensure outstanding women, members of our multicultural community and First Nations people are nominated by their peers in the community,” he said.,
“I am prioritising increasing awareness of and engagement with the Order of Australia among groups that have been historically under-represented. We are seeing positive progress and I am determined that it continues.”
Mr Hurley said he and his wife Linda and I look forward to meeting many of the award recipients over the coming year.
“Thank you for your service and congratulations on being recognised by your peers and your nation,” he said.
“To all Australians, I encourage you to consider nominating someone outstanding from your community for recognition.
“The great strength of our system is that it is ‘bottom-up’ – everyone recognised through the Order of Australia has been nominated by someone else, considered through an independent process and, today, celebrated by our nation.”
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