Hunter residents recognised in Australia Day Honours list
A researcher who specialises in women’s aging and a doctor who’s devoted 53 years of service to many generations are among the Hunter residents recognised. See the full list.
Newcastle
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A researcher who specialises in women’s aging and a doctor who’s devoted 53 years of service to many generations of patients are among the 25 recipients from the Hunter who have been recognised for their incredible work in the 2022 Australia Day Honours list.
This year’s awards span the sections of the community from academics to medical professionals and those who have dedicated countless hours to community service. Teachers, artists, coaches and scientists are among the winners, each having been nominated for this national recognition of service.
PROFESSOR JULIE BYLES OA
Professor Julie Byles is a leading academic at the University of Newcastle who specialises in research into aging, in particular, preventative treatments for women’s health and is the only Hunter recipient to receive an Order of Australia.
“I felt thrilled and really loved by the people who nominated me. I suppose my work in learning about people and making a difference has helped get recognised but to be truthful, it’s not about awards or titles,” Professor Byles said. Her recent works has focussed on health assessment, sleep disturbance, medications, nutrition and health effects of alcohol for older women.
After joining the Australian Association of Gerontology, which advocates for older people by pushing research designed to create better services and experiences for the elderly, Professor Byles’ passion kicked in even more.
“I’ve always been intrigued about what it’s like to be an older person. There’s still not enough research for older people. If you take something like dementure, which is what everybody fears, but we don’t know the prevalence of dementure in Australia. We need to have more research on how common it is, what the major risk factors are, when people get it, what happens to them when they get it. We just don’t know enough about it,” Byles said.
Wearing many hats keeps her busy, such as being the Global Innovation chair in Responsive Transitions in Health and Aging, as well as the head of the International Longevity Centre, Australia.
The 60 year-old isn’t slowing down as she believes the importance of her work can benefit younger people down the track.
“Trying to find out the ability for people to make sense in what happens in their lives. For example, since covid, we’ve been surveying women. So we have one in her 20’s, one in her 40’s and one in her 70’s and see their stresses and I think with older women we’ve learn’t they are able to take it more in their stride. So they didn’t seem to suffer the same degree of psycological distress as the younger women did. So I think there’s a lot to learn about what previous generations have been through,” Byles said.
GRAHAM SMITH AM
Graham Smith has been attached to various groups in the Hunter for many years, so it’s no surprise he was awarded an AM for his significant service to the community of Newcastle through a range of organisations.
After becoming a teacher in 1970 Western Sydney, Graham and his wife Sharon moved to the Hunter to start a new life, raising three children along the way.
“I started at Kurri Public school and moved around the traps, about seven different schools before I retired in 2011. Loved every minute. Teaching is a learning experience, you never stop learning,” Smith said.
The 70-year-old has held many positions through his busy life. He’s been the president of the NSW Public Libraries Association, a member of the Kurri Kurri Apex Club, a councillor for the Anglican Parish of Mount Vincent and Weston and was the former chairman of Lower Hunter Health, just to name a few.
Smith was also a Cessnock councillor for 12 years between 2004 and 2016 at a difficult period of time.
“We went through an ICAC inquiry at that time, once the composition of council changed, I had to take the chair of the committee overseeing the legal proceedings. It all turned out to be frivolous allegations which should never have gone to ICAC in the first place.” Out of the list of achievement he’s notched up there’s one which stands out the most.
“It was my role as part of the organizing committee for the national year of reading. That was a high level role. Working with the government and promoting the project across the country. It’s been carried over since to another national project called ‘Australia Reads’. The fact that’s still going at a national level is a real buzz,” Smith said.
DR DENIS GORDON OAM
Dr Denis Gordon practiced in Belmont between 1965 and 2018 and throughout those 53 years he treated the ailments of generations of families in the area.
The 84-year-old received an OAM for ‘Service to the community of Belmont’ and was taken back when told of the accolade.
“It’s a great honour. I suppose you just go to work and do the best you can and that’s what I did for a long time. I treated every patient like they were my own family,” Dr Gordon said.
Born and bred in Belmont, Dr Gordon followed in the footsteps of his father, Dr Neil Gordon, who purchased the Glover Street practice in 1936.
The 84 year old retired in 2018 and missed the Covid-19 pandemic but says he’s disappointed he can’t help out now that he’s hung up the stethoscope.
“I’m a people person and I see the profession getting swamped. It’d be hard to do everyday things as well as all the Covid stuff,” Gordon said.
The popular GP was the honorary medical officer for both the Swansea Belmont surf life-saving club for as long as he practiced and still is involved with the club to this day. He was also the doctor for the Lakes United rugby League club between 1968 and 1983 when the local game was at its toughest.
“I loved it. Alan Thompson was the captain coach in 1968 and got me involved and I think it was because our practice was so close to Cahill Oval,” Gordon said.
“I got involved so much I went to every game – I went to every training session, I even went to the selection meetings. That’s when players took no prisoners on the field. I’d have liked a dollar for every stitch I sowed. Problem was, I believe when you do something honorary, it means you do it for nothing, so I didn’t make anything-but it was great times.”
NEWCASTLE’S 2022 AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS LIST:
OFFICER OF THE ORDER (AO)
Professor Julie Ellen Byles AO, Newcastle. For distinguished service to medical research, to gerontology, and to professional scientific organisations.
MEMBER OF THE ORDER (AM)
Emeritus Professor Timothy Roberts AM, Newcastle. For significant service to environmental and life sciences, and to tertiary education.
Mr Graham Smith AM, Kurri Kurri. For significant service to the community of the Newcastle region through a range of organisations.
MEDAL OF THE ORDER (OAM)
Mr John Michael Blaxland OAM, Mayfield. For service to the performing arts, in particularly to theatre.
Mrs Pamela Esther Comerford OAM, Charlestown. For service to community health.
Mr Graham Claud Dark OAM, Telarah. For service to the community through a range of organisations.
Mrs Elizabeth Jan Dickeson OAM, Kotara South. For service to the community of the Hunter.
Dr John Edward Dickeson OAM, Kotara South. For service to the community of the Hunter.
Mr Graham Doherty OAM, New Lambton. For service to the church.
The late Mr Alister John Forsyth OAM, formerly of Manly. For the service to the community of Wollombi Valley.
Dr Denis Hugh Gordon OAM, Belmont. For service to the community of Belmont.
Dr Pamela Brawdley Harrison OAM, Lambton. For service to palliative care, and to community history.
Mrs Roz Holme OAM, Newcastle. For service to wildlife conservation.
The late Mr Albert Leslie Le-Merton OAM, Formerly of Lake Macquarrie. For service to veterans, and to the community.
The late Mr Laurence Hedley OAM, Merewether. For service to surf lifesaving.
Mr John Clyde Mayo OAM, Islington. For service to surf lifesaving.
Mrs Wendy Joan Purkiss OAM, Anna Bay. For service to the community through charitable organisations.
Mr Brian Rudder OAM, Belmont North. For service to rugby union.
Mr William Ryan OAM, Coal Point. For service to sport as a gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.
Mr Edmund John Sullivan OAM, West Wallsend. For services to Australian rules football.
Mr John Ronald Thomas OAM, Eleebana. For service to rugby league.
Mr Douglas Weymouth Treloar OAM, Fennell Bay. For service to music through the community bands.
Mr Spencer Turrin OAM, Dungog. For service to sport as a gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.
Mr Peter John Walsh OAM, Quorrobolong. For service to the community through social welfare organisations and initiatives.
Mr Antony Alfred White OAM, Scone. For service to the community of the Hinter Valley region
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