Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge those recognised in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List from my electorate of Lyons. John Cauchi AM was named a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to the law, to international relations and for prominent legal roles in the South Pacific. Mr Cauchi is, most notably, the former Attorney-General of Tonga with the Crown Law Department of the government of the Kingdom of Tonga. He was also senior crown counsel, from 1992 to 2001, and has held a host of prominent positions around Australia and the South Pacific. Mr Cauchi lives in Longford.

Tony Nicholson OAM was the recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia. Mr Nicholson was the Derwent Valley mayor, from 2007 to 2009; deputy mayor, from 2000 to 2007; and a councillor, from 1998 to 2009, and again from 2011 to 2014. Mr Nicholson said at the announcement of the honours that one of his proudest achievements was helping the private sale and planned redevelopment of the old Royal Derwent Hospital site, at New Norfolk. He was a founding member and former chairman of the New Norfolk Historical Information Centre and a representative on the New Norfolk District Hospital board.

Tony Foster AM was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to local government through leadership roles, professional governance associations and the community of Brighton. Councillor Foster is now in his 23rd year as mayor of Brighton, making him the longest serving mayor in Tasmania.

The late Dorothy Robinson OAM was a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia. Mrs Robinson was the first female councillor elected in the Derwent Valley and is remembered as a crusader for change. She is believed also to have been the first woman elected to a rural council in Tasmania. Mrs Robinson served with the New Norfolk Council, now the Derwent Valley Council, from 1956 to 1962. Mrs Robinson died in June last year, aged 85. Her brother, Ken O'Brien, who is acknowledged as a great community worker, said she would have been 'chuffed' at this award.

Paul Lennon AO from Broadmarsh in my electorate is a former Tasmanian Labor premier. He is recognised as an officer of the General Division of the Order of Australia for his role in diversifying Tasmania's economy and his efforts in driving reconciliation with the state's Aboriginal community. Michael Polley AM, from Longford, is also a member of the Order of Australia. A former speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Polley is another former Tasmanian politician, from a different political persuasion than mine, but his award is well deserved for his long service to his community. He served in the Tasmanian parliament for 41 years before retiring last year after becoming one of the youngest state ministers at the time, at the age of 26 in 1976. He continues to serve on the Northern Midlands Council. I congratulate them all.