Gold Coast Queen’s Birthday Honours: Full list of recipients

A Gold Coast tourism supremo, an arts legend and the man who taught the British royal family to fly are among the locals who have been given awards in the Queen’s Birthday honours

Tourism supremo Paul Donovan is a man who is rarely lost for words.

But the man who helped steer the Gold Coast’s biggest industry for nearly two decades was overcome with emotion when he discovered he had been named as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

He received it for his “significant service to the tourism sector in Queensland” and was one of many Gold Coasters who were honoured as part of the annual celebrations, which this year coincided with Elizabeth II’s jubilee.

Former Gold Coast tourism boss Paul Donovan has received an AM. Picture by Richard Gosling

An emotional Mr Donovan said he considered the honour to be for not just himself but for the whole city for surviving the Covid-19 pandemic, which devastated the tourism sector.

“I was quite emotional about it, the past two years nearly broke me but we got through it and have come out the other side,” he said.

“Even though my 17 years as chair of Destination Gold Coast was an honorary position, it was my honour to serve the city and see it grow into the driving force of tourism in Queensland.

“I saw my role as working with great times and individuals as building a better city that offered greater opportunities for our kids and grandkids so they can stay and get a future here rather than move away.

Flashback: Paul Donovan in the early 2000s.

“The past two years had a heavy toll on this industry and I am so happy to see it t bounce back as it has.”

Mr Donovan paid tribute to the support of his family, his close friend Mayor Tom Tate and the industry as a whole.

The business and aviation boss stood down as the chairman of Destination Gold Coast late last year and was replaced by Adrienne Reading.

Mr Donovan began his career in the tourism and aviation sector more than 40 years ago, serving in senior roles at Ansett Airlines, Air New Zealand and Gold Coast Airport.

He was appointed chairman of Destination Gold Coast in 2004 and oversaw some of the most dramatic shifts in the tourism industry’s history – the global financial crisis, expansion of the

Paul Donovan has received the award for his service to the tourism industry.

Chinese tourist market during the 2010s, securing of major new air routes and record visitor numbers.

He was then forced to watch more than a decade of work unravel in 2020 when the tourism sector collapsed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It included the sudden resignation of his hand-picked CEO Annalise Battista, meaning he became executive chairman for six months.

Mr Donovan, who in 2019 was named Gold Coast Citizen of the Year, said the city deserved to share in the honour.

“This isn’t just for me, it is for the city too which has managed under extreme duress to get through Covid and come out the other side where our domestic travel numbers are already back to pre-Covid numbers.

“It just goes to show, the Gold Coast remains in demand.”

KERRY WATSON

Kerry Watson. Picture: Jerad Williams

GOLD Coast businessman Kerry Watson says he was humbled by his recognition on the Queen’s Birthday honours list, but said it was really a tribute to how far the city has come.

Mr Watson was made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia due to his work through various roles including chairman of Events Queensland, the Arts Centre Gold Coast, The Gold Coast Eisteddfod foundation, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon and Pan Pacific Masters Games. Mr Watson said while he had always ensured Gold Coast’s growth was at the forefront of his mind, he only got there with the help of others. “All that has been achieved is through the great people I have had the pleasure of working with,” he said.

Mr Watson’s main goal over the years was to invite and introduce an international audience to the Gold Coast and its events, infrastructures and lifestyle. He said the Gold Coast marathon was his first venture into putting the city on the map.

“The marathon brings a lot of people from interstate to the Gold Coast,” he said.

“However, I saw a bigger market if we were going to grow we needed to bring people from internationally.”

Mr Watson said he was approached by the Gold Coast City Council in 1998 when he was the Chairman of Events Management Queensland, asking if he would be involved in the administration of the council.

He said while he didn’t have much of a cultural side, he ended up taking on the role of planning for the Gold Coast arts amphitheatre and gallery.

“We tried to develop the arts centre into something that had national and international recognition,” he said.

“I am extremely happy with where its at know.”

Mr Watson said one of his biggest accomplishments was getting the Gold Coast Eisteddfod off the ground.

GRANT GAMBLE

A CRITICAL Care paramedic on scene at some of the Gold Coast’s most harrowing emergencies has been awarded an Ambulance Service Medal.

Gold Coast paramedic Grant Gamble has worked in the city for 38 years, and is now among a number of distinguished Gold Coasters recognised in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Mr Gamble began his career as an honorary ambulance officer for the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade in 1984, earning a permanent position the following year.

Since then he has been on the front lines of the Gold Coast’s crises, including Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017 and a string of heroin overdoses across the city in the early 2000s.

In 2014 he spoke out over the deaths of two-year-old Khye Ross and his eight-year-old brother Zac Ross, who were killed when the speeding car driven by their drunk and drugged father Alan Ross rolled and flipped in June 2007.

“As a father myself, that was a terrible scene,” he said at the time.

“Whenever you’re confronted by a scene like that, it hurts you for a significant amount of time afterwards.

“You hope you never have to deal with another one like that again.

“You never become hardened to the things you see, but you have to learn to switch off. Saving lives keeps you going.”

Since joining QAS he has acted in multiple senior roles across the state, from the Local-area Assessment and Referral Unit to the Kedron Operation Centre’s Clinical Hub.

He said of the medal: “Everyone has a role to play in the ambulance service and it’s humbling because I am just one person contributing alongside many others,” he said.

“We all come together to provide this service to the community.

“I’m humbled by it, I greatly appreciate it, but I also know it’s not just me who does the job.”

PROFESSOR MARY HISCOCK (ALLAN)

AM in the general division

A Mudgeeraba resident and Emeritus Professor of the Law Faculty at Bond University, Mary Hiscock was recognised for her service to tertiary education, and to the law.

After starting her law journey as a tutor for the University of Melbourne in 1961, Ms Hiscock went on to have a decorated career. She served as an advisor for the European bank from 1992 to 2002, was chair of the International law section from 1995 to 2003.

JUDITH BRINSMEAD

AM in the general division

Judith Brinsmead has been a supporter of multiple charities including Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army and Foodbank for 20 years.

The chairman of ADCO Constructions has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for significant service to charitable organisations and the business. She is the benefactor of Sports Excellence Scholarships at Bond University and was part of the joint marketing committee of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The former lawyer is also a leadership fundraiser for the Salvo’s Red Shield Appeal on the Gold Coast.

BOB FORDHAM

AM in the general division

A LONGTIME referee and former president of Bond University’s Rugby Club, Mr Fordham made the list for service to rugby union. He served as the president, vice-president and as a board member of the Gold Coast Breakers Rugby Club, now Bond University’s club, for more than 20 years.

He was also a referee from 1959-1988 and a member of the organising committee for the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

PATRICK MURRAY

AM in the general division

A Gold Coast pilot who served as personal flying instructor to the royal family has been recognised for service to aviation safety and the air transport industry.

Sanctuary Cove pilot Mr Murray taught Prince Edward at the Royal Air Force Central Flying School in 1982.

Mr Murray has been the chair of the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel and head of Aviation Australia’s Flight Operations and Training since 2017.

HARRY CRAMER

OAM

Palm Beach resident and State Emergency Service member Harry Cramer has been a part of the Tweed Heads State Emergency Services since 2014 and a part of the Ku-ring-gai Unit since 2011.

He was in the Gordon fire brigade from 1966-1970, Belrose Bush Fire Brigade from 1959 to 1965 and the West Killara Community Fire Unit (CFU) from 1988 to 2013.

PETER & ELLEN WILLIAMS

OAM

Peter and Ellen Williams.

Gold Coast performing arts figurehead Peter Williams and his late wife Ellen were recognised for their service to the performing arts.

They both founded the Phillip Street Theatre Productions in the 1970s and continued on to showcase productions at the Sydney Opera House Playhouse, and regional New South Wales and Queensland theatres. Mr Williams said they proudly put together more than 400 productions.

RHONDA NUNNS

OAM

Rhonda Nunn has, who has served as president, vice-president, secretary and Christmas cake Chairman at one of the Gold Coast’s biggest Lions Clubs has been recognised for her service to the community.

Ms Nunns was president of the Lions Club Ashmore from 2005-06 and 2008-09, vice president and membership chairman from 2007-08 and secretary from 2002-03 and 2008-09.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN DWYER AM (RETD),

OAM

Retired lieutenant colonel Dwyer has been recognised for service to military history organisations. He was a founding member of the General Douglas MacArthur Brisbane Memorial Foundation in 1998. He was also the inaugural executive officer of the MacArthur Museum from 1998-2004. He served as Brisbane Legacy Queensland’s general manager for five years and received a Winston Churchill Fellowship from the Churchill Trust in 2000.

DR HUGH FAIRFULL-SMITH

OAM

A doctor who served the city’s elderly for almost 40 years has been recognised for service to geriatric medicine. St Vincent’s Private Hospital’s Dr Hugh Fairfull-Smith worked as a geriatrician from 1985-2021 and has been a board member and leader of multiple aged care advisory committees.

The doctor is also a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine and the International Psychogeriatric Association.

He is a former member of a dementia planning committee.

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