Seven eastern suburbs identities honoured for tireless devotion to community
EDUCATION is now Australia’s fourth largest export industry but that never would have happened without the tireless work of people like Jennifer Lang, one of seven locals recognised in the Australia Day Honour’s List.
Wentworth Courier
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EDUCATION is now Australia’s fourth largest export industry but that never would have happened without the tireless work of people like Jennifer Lang.
The Darling Point resident was involved in some of the very first education missions to Asia, which paved the way for overseas students to study in the land of opportunity.
“While our objective was to recruit international students to Australia, we quickly realised we had to educate many Asian countries and people about multicultural Australia as a number of Asian countries we visited in the 1980s were not aware the White Australia policy had long been abolished,” Ms Lang said.
She was one of seven local heroes in the Wentworth Courier distribution area to be recognised in the Australia Day 2018 Honour’s List.
Australia Day honours list
Ms Lang, 58, became heavily involved with international student recruitment and engagement during the years of significant expansion and worked with colleagues in higher education as well as state and federal governments to build the industry up to where it is today.
She was named as one of Australia’s Export Heroes in 2002 when UNSW emerged as one of the leading international student destinations in the world.
Last year she retired from university, which has been enrolling students from Asia and the Pacific for nearly 70 years.
She actively recruited students from ASEAN countries, China and northeast Asia, India, Europe and the Americas.
“I continue to enjoy my passion for Asia and North America as an active member of the Asia Society Board and I’m a member of a National Advisory Council for the Export Council of Australia.”
She said it was “both exciting and humbling” to learn she was one of just 171 people to be made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia.
She was recognised for her “significant service to the higher education sector, particularly to international student recruitment and to export market growth”.
In the Wentworth Courier distribution area, seven community leaders made it into the list, including three who were made Officers (AO) of the Order — awarded to just 67 Australians.
They were Ian Robertson, of Edgecliff; Geoffrey Wilson, of Double Bay and Ian Darling, of Point Piper.
Mr Wilson was recognised for his service to the business and finance sectors, particularly in the field of asset management and investment.
Mr Darling received the honour for his service to documentary film production, the performing arts, education and social welfare organisations.
Mr Robertson was recognised for his “distinguished service to the arts, particularly the Australian film industry through executive roles in the screen production sector, as a patron and benefactor, and to the law”.
“I have been fortunate over a 30 year period to hold a number of board positions related to the screen production industry and broadcasting where I have been able to contribute to the development of the industry,” Mr Robertson said.
“Screen production and broadcasting are important industries which make a major contribution to our culture and help to define who we are.
“Because local screen production has to compete against overseas content — mainly from the US and UK — which is sold into Australia at a fraction of its actual production cost, government assistance is needed to even up the playing field for the Australian industry.”
Mr Robertson said he was most proud of the input he’d had in the Federal Government’s world-leading policy to provide tax offsets to the screen industry.
“The Australian incentives are considered to be among the best in the world,” he said.
He was also a board member of the Australian Broadcasting Authority for seven years where he was involved in the cash for comment inquiry, new FM radio licences, regional television content, and the introduction of digital television.
Aron Kleinlehrer, of Vaucluse; Peter Lewis, of Bellevue Hill and Roberta Goot, of Double Bay received a medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia.
Mr Lewis was recognised for his service to Care of the Aged Sydney and the Central Synagogue at Bondi Junction.
Mr Lewis said it was a “terrific honour” and “certainly unexpected” to receive the medal.
“I really enjoy the voluntary work I do and (COA) is a great organisation in terms of helping the ageing,” he said.
“We provide activities and services to help people live independently and live longer in their homes and being part of that is rewarding and thrilling.”
Mr Lewis was on the board of management for 21 years and was honorary treasurer for five years at Central Synagogue.
Mr Kleinlehrer was recognised for his long-serving contribution the Emanuel School at Randwick and his generous donations to and sponsorship of Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and The Australian Ballet.
Mr Kleinleher, who was born in Poland before immigrating to Australia from Germany in 1949, said he was “overwhelmed” to receive the honour.
A builder by trade, the 95-year-old helped restore the Chapel and other buildings at Emanuel School where construction is underway on a new building, which will house historical books and artefacts as well as class rooms.
“When completed, the building will be named after my beautiful wife (Helen) who passed away in 2015,” he said.
Ms Goot was recognised for her service to music education through her work at Moriah War Memorial College.