Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It gives me enormous pleasure today to honour, acknowledge and thank two wonderful Australians who are with us today in the gallery—John and June Brown. John Graham Brown has been awarded the title of Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to rural and regional economic development in Victoria. Perhaps better known for his service to the wine industry, John is a third-generation winemaker from Brown Brothers at Milawa. His roles there include chief winemaker, CEO and chairman of the board. He has also been foundation chair of Champions of the Bush, an organisation set up to encourage investment to deliver commercial returns to regional Australia. He is a founding member, the inaugural chair and now, proudly, patron of the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program. He has given over 50 years of service to the CFA. He is also inaugural chair of the Alpine Valleys Agribusiness Forum. June and John, I cannot think of a more wonderful and humbling role than to be your representative in this House. I thank you for what you have done. I acknowledge your role as leaders, community development people and business people in tourism, trade and exporting. June, I acknowledge you for your work as an artisan and craftswoman. It is fantastic. Thank you.