Australia Day Awards: Illawarra heroes recognised in Australia Day 2022 Honours List

The dedication and commitment of six incredible Illawarra locals has been commended in the 2022 Australia Day Honours List.

Six Illawarra heroes have been recognised for their contributions and hard work in the Australia Day 2022 Honours List, from a distinguished professor to a lifelong advocate for those who have been forgotten.

Governor-General David Hurley said this year’s recipients emphasise the strength and generosity of everyday citizens, which has been sustained even in an ongoing pandemic.

”Congratulations to the outstanding Australians recognised in today’s Honours List,” he said.

“It has been a challenging couple of years and the recipients announced today are a reminder and reflection of the richness of spirit, selflessness and good in our community.”

Notably, this year’s Honours List has the highest number of female recipients since the inaugural honours list in 1975. Of the 732 awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia, 47 per cent will champion the achievements of Australian women.

This trend is reflected locally with five of the six celebrated residents being women.

“We will continue to increase awareness and encourage nominations for people from parts of our community that have been historically under-represented,” the Governor-General said.

Read all about the six local legends making a difference in our community.

Hua Kun Liu (AM)

For significant service to the scientific research sector, and to tertiary education

Professor Hua Kun Liu leads the list after becoming a member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to the scientific research sector, and to tertiary education.

The Wollongong-based professor has been involved in extensive research for more than 25 years at the University of Wollongong where she has been a program leader, a professor and a distinguished professor.

Prof Liu‘s field of research includes rechargeable batteries; hydrogen storage materials; energy storage and conversion; materials science; chemistry; electrochemistry and structure chemistry. She has published 900 peer-reviewed papers.

Professor Hua Liu (AM). Picture: UOW

Prof Liu has also received Australian Professorial Fellowships from the Australian Research Council on four separate occasions, having completed 55 research grants and 80 per cent from the ARC since 1994.

Prof Liu is a member and fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a life member of the Ausinan science and Technology Society.

Her other awards and recognitions include UOW‘s Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research Partnership and Impact (2019), Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award for Research Excellence Senior Researcher (2013) and a Life Achievement Award from the Australia China science and Technology Society in 2018.

Jennifer Mary Thompson (OAM)

For service to the community through social welfare organisations

Jennifer Thompson has been a fierce advocate for her community since joining the Wollongong Youth Resource Centre committee in 1987.

The Coniston local has been a board director with Southern Youth and Family Services since 1995 and has, since 2008, been with Wollongong Council as the manager of libraries and community services.

Ms Thompson has also been heavily involved with TAFE NSW, being a member of the Curriculum Development Advisory Group and the Aged Services degree program. She was also the TAFE’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Women’s Strategy Officer between 1995 and 1999.

Jenny Thompson (OAM). Picture: Wollongong Council

She’s played an active role in promoting social housing within the Illawarra, being a board member of the Illawarra Community Housing Trust, Wollongong Emergency Family Accommodation and Treehouse Medium Term Youth Accommodation.

Ms Thompson has also been a member of many organisations dating back to being on the committee of the Wollongong Youth Resource Centre in 1987.

In the past, Ms Thompson has also been a member of Community Youth Support Centre, the Wollongong Skillshare Project, the Illawarra AIDS Taskforce, the Illawarra Regional Development Advisory Committee, Regional Development Australia and UOW’s Industry Advisory Group.

Kay Thompson (OAM)

For service to softball

Kay Thompson has been a staple in softball circles locally and across the country for decades.

Ms Thompson was the president of Softball NSW from 1988 to 2002, becoming a life member of the organisation in 2000.

The Farmborough Heights resident was also a distinguished softball umpire with national accreditation and has previously served as a board member and secretary of the Softball NSW Umpires Association.

Kay Thompson (OAM). Picture: Facebook.

The former Dapto High School music teacher and softball coach was also a board member of Softball Australia (formerly Australian Softball Federation) for five years between 1988 and 1993.

Her other achievements include being a member of the organising committee for the U19 Men’s International Softball World Championships in 2001, president of the Illawarra District Softball Association for 14 years, coach of the South Coast Softball team and a key figure in establishing the Illawarra Slowpitch Softball competition in 1993.

Peter and Ann Elizabeth Pioro (OAM)

For service to veterans and their families

Peter and Ann Pioro (OAMs). Picture: Dylan Arvela

Peter and Ann Pioro have been supporting veterans and their families for decades, carrying out unheralded deeds from as far north as Townsville and now in the Illawarra.

Mr Pioro’s current roles include being the vice president of the Woonona Bulli Sub-Branch as well as a welfare and compensation advocate with the RSL and Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia.

Mrs Pioro has held the titles of president and director of the Woonona Bulli Sub-Branch Auxiliary (formerly Women’s Auxiliary) since 2015 and has, since 2017, been a Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Advocate.

The Pioro’s have also been involved with the Rotary Club of Australia with clubs in Townsville, Caboolture, Deception Bay and Dubbo, where were at the latter, Mrs Pioro became the branches first ever female president in 1994.

Both have been recognised with the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International. Mrs Pioro in 2001 and Mr Pioro two years later.

Mr Pioro said the role the RSL plays in the lives of veterans and their families is ongoing.

“The RSL is probably more important today than ever,” he said.

“We are tied in with the United States and others and we have (Australians) all over the place who need our help and support.

Their commitment to others has been central to the 38-year commitment to each other, with Mr Pioro highlighting their achievement is a collective one.

“We get on pretty well,” Mrs Pioro quipped, before Mr Pioro said, “It takes your breath away that someone has had the thought to put us up for this.”

“If I had been nominated and she wasn’t I wouldn’t take it because she’s equally involved.”

Pamella Vernon (OAM)

For service to social welfare

Pamella Vernon is a survivor of horrific physical, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse at the Wesley Mission’s Dalmar children’s home.

Overcoming the trauma she and her siblings experienced has been a lifelong process, but so has her advocacy for others who have similarly been affected.

Mrs Vernon has been the vice president of the Alliance of Forgotten Australian (AFA) since 2009 and her efforts played a significant role in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuses being established and the subsequent National Apology from Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2018.

Pamella Vernon (OAM). Picture: Dylan Arvela

Beyond her work with AFA, Mrs Vernon has also been a key figure in Toastmasters International District 70 for more than 25 years. She has helped facilitate countless programs benefiting those disadvantaged in society be they inmates, disabled, mentally or physically.

The 78-year-old who now calls Flinders home is also passionate about promoting the rights of elderly Australians, having spoken on behalf of the Older Persons Advocacy Network on numerous occasions.

“I still have a lot of advocacy left in me,” she said with a reassuring chuckle.

“I am a voice for the voiceless. My motto is no more silence.

“The truth is the OAM is validation from who I am today and recognition is and honouring is all part of my acceptance. Acceptance for me is the final step for everything.

“I appreciate those who nominated me but I never did what I‘ve done for egotistical reasons.”