Nicolle Flint (Boothby, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia Day saw outstanding men and women in my electorate of Boothby recognised for their service to our community through the Order of Australia awards and local council awards. I am delighted to be able to congratulate this year's recipients and to acknowledge the contribution of so many local residents and groups to our local community.

I recognise the following residents for their outstanding service. Dr Helen McLean was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to dentistry, and to professional associations. Dr Walter Russell was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to medicine in the field of anaesthesia, and to medical health standards.

The following local residents were awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day honours: Mrs Judy Burke, for service to community health; Mr Donald Cant, for service to the community through a range of organisations; Ms Anne McEwen, for service to the Parliament of Australia and to the community of South Australia; Mrs Helen Oxenham, for her service to the community through social welfare initiatives and advocacy; Ms Brenda Rayner, for service to music; Dr Andrew Rolland, for service to medicine and to local government; and Mr Bruce Wilson, for service to conservation and the environment. Dr Dale Lambert, a world-leading scientist in high-level information fusion, was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the use of artificial intelligence in surveillance and reconnaissance, command and control, intelligence, and autonomous platforms.

My local councils also recognised local volunteers in ceremonies on Australia Day. I was present for several of these and I would like to sincerely congratulate the award recipients. I congratulate recipients from the City of Holdfast Bay. The Citizen of the Year award went to Ian Grant, who dedicated 12 years as president of the Glenelg Community Club; Young Citizen of the Year, Alex Miller, for her tireless work over four years, resulting in the North Brighton Community Garden; Community Event of the Year, Glenelg Brass Band; and Community Recognition Award, Anthea Williams. A Community Recognition Award went to Be The One members Jonty Belfield, Sam Patterson, Bryce Gassner, Sam Young, Alex Triplow and Austin Edwards. This group of young men formed Be The One to raise money and awareness for charities and current issues, including the bushfire crisis. A Community Recognition Award also went to Tamara Aitchison for her life-changing work with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The Local Hero Award went to Barry Heffernan. I know Barry really well. He is a Vietnam veteran, and he founded the William Kibby VC Veterans Shed in Glenelg North. The shed is a wonderful haven for veterans and ex-service personnel, where they can go to discuss their concerns, past trauma and welfare issues in a safe environment, whilst also doing really good work for the community. I have had the honour of visiting the shed on a number of occasions and I know that everyone in my community is incredible grateful to Barry and his volunteers for the wonderful work that they do to support veterans in our community.

Another Local Hero Award went to Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club female boat crew members Diane Donaldson, Katrina Meehan, Stephanie Wyatt, Dayna Blyth and Ken Screen. During a training session three kilometres offshore, this boat crew of volunteer surf lifesavers rescued a fisherman who had fallen out of his moving boat and wasn't wearing a life jacket.

I congratulate these recipients from the City of Marion: Citizen of the Year was John Turner; Young Citizen of the Year was Jessica Musson; and the Community Event of the Year went to Emmaus Christian College for their work with the Ernabella Aboriginal community.

I congratulate the Citizen of the Year joint recipients from the City of Mitcham. David Ennis was recognised for his dedicated service in our local community, including his work with the Repatriation General Hospital Museum. The other citizens of the year were Geoff and Lis Bartlett, who were recognised for their five decades of service to the Blackwood Hills area and community through the Blackwood South Neighbourhood Watch and Blackwood Action Group. I would like to take this opportunity to personally recognise Geoff and Lis for their award. They're very dear friends of mine, they are incredible community volunteers, and I was really, really pleased to see them finally recognised for their tireless work for our local community. The Community Event of the Year went to the Mitcham City Brass band—and, everyone in the community, if you haven't already seen them, please do; they are absolutely brilliant.

All of these honours recipients, whether recognised nationally or locally, are dedicated members of our local community, and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of them for their contribution to our community and our broader society through all the wonderful volunteer and professional work that they do.