Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

On Australia Day, I announced the recipients of this year's Griffith Australia Day Awards. This is a tradition which was started by my predecessor as the member for Griffith, former Prime Minister Hon. Kevin Rudd, AC.

Each of the wonderful recipients for the Griffith Australia Day Awards this year has made an enduring contribution to our community as a volunteer, seeking neither financial reward nor recognition. I'd like to acknowledge these award recipients and their contributions to our community. Candi Kelly, Julie and Barny Barnhill, Andrew Grace, Noel Murray, Carl McAlevey, Rodger Graf and Bernard Goodwin have all held various volunteer roles within Community Friends. That's a wonderful organisation which collects and delivers food to our most vulnerable community members.

The dedicated Easts Tigers Committee has tirelessly run a junior rugby league club every year, especially in 2020, when they navigated the global pandemic and kept the juniors playing. I'd like to thank the committee for being nominated. Chris Dawson and Tracey Olivieri from the Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery have an extensive record. For over 15 years they have worked to improve and promote the cemetery, including organising 23 community cleaning bees and over 100 other events. The Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery is now the largest cemetery related community organisation in Australia, and Chris and Tracey dedicate over 40 hours of their own time each week to the cemetery.

Luanne Carter has made a tremendous contribution to the Royals Netball Club, managing registrations, encouraging participation and making everyone feel welcome and supported, all with a smile on her face. Nicole Carey has dedicated her time to the Camp Hill P&C Association through various roles over the years. Nicole spends an enormous amount of time supporting the school. Her calm, happy and inclusive demeanour is why she is often described as a superwoman.

Bill Dahl is the president of the Lions Club of Brisbane Camp Hill-Carindale and is an outstanding community leader who volunteers his time to people of all ages by assisting school students in our electorate to develop their public-speaking and leadership skills. He also helps elderly people develop their IT skills and welcomes new citizens each Australia Day. Jeff Croll has been a proactive and valued member of the Brisbane Holland Park Lions Club since 2006. He has held roles such as the secretary and president. Jeff has been integral to the success of the club and has coordinated events, fundraisers and a food drive for those experiencing hardship during the pandemic. He has even procured and arranged installation of an at-home chairlift for an elderly gentleman.

Stephanie Ford is the well-known president of the Norman Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee, which cares for our southside environment daily. In addition to her role on the committee, she runs a community nursery and a Bushcare group and provides support and encouragement to other Bushcare groups in the area. Angela Christodoulou has put in countless hours rescuing koalas—personally rescuing them—in South-East Queensland. She also spends her time educating others on the risks that koalas are facing and about how they can help.

Bailey Newbold from Meals on Wheels Holland Park & District gives back to the community. He was in the youth category of the awards. He gives back to the community by volunteering in the kitchen and sharing the skills he has learned as an apprentice chef. He has a contagious enthusiasm and a can-do attitude.

Cate Vickers is an outstanding community contributor through her work for the Bulimba Community Centre. Cate and her committee have repositioned the centre, turning it from a senior citizens centre to a community hub, preparing the centre for its future while honouring its history. Ali Kadri is an outstanding advocate for the Muslim community and antidiscrimination, including at the Holland Park Mosque which serves part of my electorate. Ali has been the Queensland coordinator of Charity Australia for almost a decade and is a member of various advisory councils which work to build community understanding and cohesion. Of course, his impact extends well beyond the part of the mosque's patch which falls within my electorate.

Elizabeth Cowie from House Conspiracy and Kurilpa Futures nurtures and empowers local artists and creative directors by offering affordable art studios for emerging artists in the West End community. Linda Francis has been secretary of the Bulimba Hockey Club for over five years and a club member for over 20. She has worked tirelessly to make sure the club has a home. She has even welcomed Brisbane hockey newcomers into her own home for several years.

I also want to thank this year's Griffith Australia Day Awards committee for advising me: Craig Bowen, OAM, our chair; former councillor Faith Hopkins; and former deputy premier the Hon. Paul Lucas. I really look forward to seeing all of the recipients and their supporters at this year's awards ceremony, which will be held very shortly. And I want to congratulate all of the recipients again for a job well done throughout this year and for many, many years before.

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