Thirty-two Tasmanians listed in Australia Day Honours List 2020

Unsung community heroes, tourism and business leaders, sports volunteers and the state’s top cop are among the Tasmanians on the Australia Day honours list for 2020.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia. Picture: Zak Simmonds

UNSUNG community heroes, tourism and business leaders, sports volunteers and the state’s top cop are among the Tasmanians on the Australia Day honours list for 2020.

There were 32 Tasmanian residents and 837 people nationally honoured in this year’s General Division of the Order of Australia.

Including recognition in the Military Division and Meritorious Awards, 1099 Australians have been recognised this year, down from a record 1127 in 2019.

The island state had two members inducted as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) – Commissioner of Tasmania Police Darren Hine and Hobart’s Gillian Groom, recognised for her longstanding contribution to healthcare, medical research, social welfare and the law.

Launceston orthopaedic surgeon Dr John Batten, whose medical career in the state’s North stretches more than 30 years and includes time as the first Tasmanian to be president of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, was one of five Tasmanians to receive a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Also inducted was Richard Warner AM, the husband of Tasmanian Governor Kate Warner, for his contribution to agricultural research and development.

The Governor Kate Warner with hsuband Richard Warner at Government House. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

The late Daniel Reardon AM has been honoured for his work in social welfare and with charitable organisations such as St Vincent de Paul Society.

Governor-General, His Excellency General David Hurley, said all honorees “exemplify the best of Australia”.

He said those on the honours list came from all walks of life, a fact to be celebrated.

“They’re extraordinary but also, in the best possible way, ordinary. The fantastic thing, the inspirational thing, is that we all know people like those who have been recognised today – people who look out for each other and, day-in day-out, serve their communities in ways big and small.”

General Hurley’s comments could have been directed to New Town resident Janette Miller, inducted with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her work in providing services to the visually-impaired, including the establishment of Print Radio Tasmania in 1978.

Order of Australia (OAM) recipient Janette Miller of New Town. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Mrs Miller was born blind and, after her own experiences at school and then adulthood, committed to helping those who had difficulty accessing printed information.

“I got involved in setting up the station because I wanted to be part of an innovative way of using radio to give blind and vision-impaired people, like myself, access to printed material such as newspapers and magazines,” she said.

“It was so important to me that we were able to get current information out to people as soon as possible, so they could be informed and up-to-date about what was going on, and the radio [station] gave us that.”

Mrs Miller was a volunteer presenter on the first day Print Radio Hobart went to air in Hobart, in June 1982. She was employed as station manager for 12 years and has continued as a volunteer presenter and on the management committee for the past 20 years.

“I was very surprised and humbled to be honoured for my work, doing what I can for others in the community. You never set out in these sorts of roles to achieve recognition, so for this to happen, it just feels very special,” she said.

RELATED: RECIPIENTS OF NATIONAL AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

The Tasmanian Australia Day Honours list features men and women who have worked tirelessly in their communities in volunteer roles across charity, service groups and sport.

They include inspirational Berriedale artist Janelle McMillan OAM, who has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair, but has been an advocate and successful fundraiser for research into breast cancer treatment.

Sisters Susan Cure and Glenise Gale, who have been members of Swimming Tasmania for 60 years, were thrilled to discover they had both been received an OAM for services to the sport they love.

“We found that swimming was something we loved doing and still love doing,” Ms Cure said. “While we don’t compete anymore, we still usually swim five days a week.”

Sisters and Swimming Tasmania volunteers Susan Cure and Glenise Gale have both been awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for their achievements in swimming. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Ms Cure, of Bellerive, said the award was special because her parents had also been long-serving volunteers in swimming.

“We both always felt that we needed to give something back to the sport that gave us so much pleasure. It is not something we see as chore, but what we wanted to do,” she said.

“While I am proud of many volunteering achievements, I guess my proudest moment was becoming President of Swimming Tasmania, particularly given that my late father was a past president.”

Mrs Gale had a successful amateur swimming career with multiple national gold medals as a junior and later, she became a prolific winner at Masters Games level.

“I’m always wary that people gave up their time so that I could swim, so it’s not a bad thing for me to do so that more generations can enjoy the sport,” she said.

“[It feels] overwhelming, because you don’t do it for recognition, you do it for the love of the sport and giving back.”

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them at www.gg.gov.au.