Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to acknowledge and congratulate members of the community of Bennelong who recently received Australia Day awards. The Australia Day honours recognise the incredible work of Aussies who have made a positive impact on our society. They are a celebration of our shared values and of the remarkable people who embody them, and I can say with confidence that each of Bennelong's honorees is a true embodiment of those values. It's an immense honour to recognise here in the parliament some of the exceptional members of our community who were recipients of these awards and recognitions.

For Ryde, the City of Ryde Citizen of the Year was Ross Forster, a volunteer coach who for the last 40 years has dedicated his time to the athletics community in Ryde. He played a crucial role in setting up Ryde Athletics' fundraising activities to provide travel grants for their athletes who represent New South Wales or Australia. The Ryde Young Citizen of the Year is Maria Gharemanian, who supports our vibrant and large local Armenian community. She volunteers her time and skills at a community club. She volunteers at various organisations throughout the community and encourages young people to volunteer as well, particularly to support migrant families settling in Australia.

Two members of the Bennelong community received the privilege of becoming members of the Order of Australia. Jennifer Collins of Ryde has received an AM for her significant service to veterans and their families and to nursing. She has served as the chair and director of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, as well as deputy chair of the New South Wales branch of the War Widows Guild of Australia. In Eastwood, Emeritus Professor Richard Lionel Howitt, someone I have met a number of times, received an AM for his ongoing and significant service to education and to the Indigenous community. Professor Howitt has served at Macquarie University since 2009 and became professor emeritus in 2018. He was instrumental in looking at opportunities to connect the university with the local community through his role as director of the Macquarie-Ryde FUTURES project. Emeritus Professor John Thomson of Marsfield received an AM for his service to botanical science and research and to tertiary education. He served at the University of Sydney as professor emeritus in the school of biological science and at the Royal Botanic Gardens as an honorary research associate.

Eight members of our community were awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. This is a nice story: in Denistone, Warren and Clare Hopley, a husband and wife, received joint OAMs for their service to education, particularly to the disadvantaged and to children who are hard of hearing. Warren and Clare have both served outstanding long-term careers as teachers in schools across Sydney. Clare has had an outstanding career working with children who are deaf or hearing impaired and developed a program that improved the social and educational outcomes of children with hearing loss. Her husband, Warren, has always chosen to work at schools where he can advocate for the marginalised in our community. He has had a long and extraordinary commitment to welcoming, settling and integrating refugee children, as well.

In Marsfield we have Janet Craik, who received an OAM for her service to her community. She served as coordinator of music at the Australian Christian Music Seminar in Cooma from 1978 to 2002, as well as being coordinator of the World Festival of Praise in Fiji. In Ryde and West Ryde, Trisha Gardiner-Wilson received an OAM for her service to the community through charitable organisations. She founded the Adam Gardiner Fund in 2006 in loving memory of her husband, Adam. The fund's mission is to raise awareness for amyloidosis. Ronald Palmer won an award for his service to lawn bowls at the ripe young age of 93. Ronald has a remarkable record of achievement. He won 20 club championships, won 20 singles titles and took part in 35 pairs finals. Joan Ryan has served at St Michael's Catholic Church in Meadowbank. She serves as a bus driver for frail and elderly people, and she does a fantastic job.

In Gladesville, Giles Gunesekera received a medal for service to social welfare in the community. He has served as a White Ribbon Australia ambassador since 2014 and has done a wonderful job locally for the Ryde Hawks Baseball League.

Finally, in Denistone East, my old neighbour, the late Rosario 'Ross' Rocca received the OAM posthumously for his service to the community through a range of organisations. He was an outstanding member of our community, particularly through his service to state emergency services, and he established many parks in the area as well.

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