Dave Sharma (Wentworth, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish today to pay tribute to 21 remarkable Australians, local residents from my electorate of Wentworth, whose contribution to our nation was recognised as part of the Queen's Birthday honours. Across science, sport, community service, academia and even our parliament, these Australians have distinguished themselves during a lifetime of service.

Congratulations to Cyril Baldock OAM, the oldest person to swim the English Channel and a lifelong supporter of Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club; Margaret Bowering OAM, for her work in higher education; Michel-Henri Carriol AM, for his services to Australia-France relations, to business and to the community; Michael Clarke AO, for his distinguished work, which is a bit of an understatement, in cricket as a player and as a contributor; Peter Conrad OAM, for his service to vascular medicine; Philip Cunningham OAM, for service to medical research; Commander Matthew Eglen CSM, Royal Australian Navy, for meritorious devotion to duty in the field of marine engineering; Detective Chief Inspector Peter Faux APM, for longstanding service to the New South Wales Police Force; Professor Lesley Forster AM, for significant service to tertiary education and rural health; Professor Stephen Garton AM, for significant service to tertiary education; Colleen Goodwin OAM, for services to the community; John Hawke AM, for significant service to community mental health, and to business; Professor John Ham AM, for significant service to medical education. There's only another 10 or so to go!

Honourable Member:

An honourable member interjecting—

Dave Sharma (Wentworth, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wentworth is a well-endowed electorate! Dr Anthony Joseph AM, for significant service to emergency medicine and to education; the late Dr Michele Cotton AM, for significant service to veterinary science and education; Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead AO, RAN, Fleet Base East commander, for distinguished service to the Royal Australian Navy in senior management and command roles; Greta Moran AO, for distinguished service to the visual arts through philanthropic initiatives and as an advocate for Australian art and artists, and to the aged-care sector; Gretel Packer AM, for significant service to the community and to the visual and performing arts; the Hon. Graham Richardson AO, who is well known here, for distinguished service to the people and the parliament of Australia, and as a political commentator; Ryan Stokes AO, for distinguished service to business, particularly in the media, mining and construction sectors, and to cultural institutions; and, lastly, Raymond Whitten AM, for significant service to the law, particularly to legal reform and consumer protection. Our country is a more culturally rich and prosperous country, and my community is a safer place, because of the efforts of these Australians, and the efforts of so many other Australians who serve our community every day. I congratulate each and every one of them.