David Smith (Bean, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Some 18 residents in my electorate of Bean received awards and recognition in the civilian categories of the Australia Day 2024 Honours List. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise all of them for their service to our community and country. In the Member of the Order of Australia category, three residents in Bean were recognised for their service and contributions. Emeritus Professor Hilton Kobus was recognised for significant service to forensic science through governance and administrative roles. He has been an emeritus professor of forensic science at Flinders University and has held leadership positions in various forensic science organisations, such as Forensic Science South Australia, the National Institute of Forensic Science, the Senior Managers of Australian and New Zealand Forensic Laboratories group and the Australia and New Zealand Forensic Science Society.

Emeritus Professor Christian Lueck was recognised for significant service to neurology and neuro-ophthalmology through medical research and clinical practice. Professor Lueck has been emeritus professor and former chief investigator at the Australian National University. He co-founded clinical units at Canberra Health Services and is a former president of the national body the Neuro-Ophthalmology Society of Australia.

Finally, Ivan Slavich was recognised for significant service to business and to the community through governance and philanthropic endeavours. Ivan is a former CEO of Capital Football and Soldier On. He has held leadership positions with Service One Alliance Bank, the Canberra Business Chamber and TransACT Communications, among other roles. His philanthropic endeavours include fundraising for Camp Quality and through Movember and March On.

In the Medal of the Order of Australia category, I would like to recognise and congratulate Stephanie Armstrong for her service to Indigenous health and education. Stephanie is a consultant on First Nations education and health, and she has also run reconciliation committees, Indigenous health networks and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education programs.

Vicki Brown was recognised for service to education and to the community. Vicki is a former teacher and has held leadership roles with organisations including ACT Children's Week, ACT Playgroups, Marymead Child and Family Centre and the ACT School Board Forum.

Kyira Cox was recognised for service to softball. Kyira has been a national umpire-in-chief for Softball Australia and an international umpire, including at the Tokyo Olympics, and she has received prestigious awards such as Umpire of the Year from the World Baseball Softball Confederation and Softball Australia.

David Hatherly was recognised for service to the community of the Australian Capital Territory. David has been a dedicated volunteer with the State Emergency Services, the Australian Red Cross, the University of the Third Age and community orchestras and for various cultural and environmental causes.

Elizabeth Dawes was recognised for service to the community through social welfare organisations. Elizabeth has worked with Lifeline as a telephone crisis counsellor for 45 years.

Wendy Parsons was recognised for her service to animal welfare. Wendy is a former president of ACT Rescue and Foster, a non-profit association of volunteers who rescue and rehome unwanted dogs in Canberra and the surrounding regions.

Lastly, Roy Teymant was recognised for service to chess. Roy is the president, chief organiser and passionate promoter of the Canberra Chess Club.

I'd like to congratulate the following Public Service Medal recipients in Bean: Nicholas Housego, for outstanding public service in developing and embedding the practice of facilitation services within government departments; Jonathan Kobus, for outstanding public service to the Canberra and region tourism industry through the COVID-19 pandemic; Jenny Priest, for outstanding public service in leading the delivery of business support grants to businesses in the ACT impacted by COVID-19; Charmaine Smith, for outstanding public service to the ACT government's COVID-19 vaccination program, as just one part of a great public service career; and Chantelle Stratford, for outstanding public service in leadership and innovation in gender equality and women's policy within the Australian government.

In addition to these fine recipients, I would also like to recognise and extend my congratulations to recipients of the Australian Police Medal, Peter Dean and Detective Chief Inspector Neil Grey, as well as the Australian Corrections Medal recipient, Dean Smith, for their critical roles in keeping our community safe.

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