An inspirational selection of Sunshine Coast residents who “reflect the richness of spirit, selflessness and good in our community” have been honoured with Australia Day awards.
The heroes, some sung and others unsung until now, have made considerable contributions in sport, charity, health, crime prevention, water safety and education.
Olympic swim sensation Kaylee McKeown was the highest profile recipient from our region.
The 20-year-old received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.
Ms McKeown, a Pacific Lutheran College graduate, emerged as one of the stars of the Games, when she won the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 4x100m medley relay.
When she claimed her first gold medal, she said: “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of and to make it a reality is really amazing.”
“There’s a lot of effort that goes behind these kind of things and it’s not every day you get to sing the national anthem at the Olympics.
“It’s the pinnacle of sport, so it was an honour to be standing up there and singing the anthem.”
Ms McKeown lost her father Sholto to cancer in 2020.
When asked by Channel 7 what she would like to say to him, she said: “I hope you’re proud and I’ll keep doing you proud.”
The USC Spartans athlete also claimed a bronze medal in the 4x100m mixed medley relay.
She was among a select group of Sunshine Coast locals to be acknowledged with an Australia Day honour.
Caloundra’s Debra Knight received an OAM for service to community through charitable organisations.
She has been the managing director of Gateway Care for the past 12 years. The resource centre works with families and community groups to support others.
Pelican Waters’ Robert Reid received an AM for significant service to international criminal investigations.
Mr Reid was a war crimes investigator, who was the chief of operations with the United Nations’ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. He tracked down and arrested scores of criminals, including ‘The Butcher of Bosnia’ Ratko Mladic.
Buderim’s Peter Ellis (pictured) was awarded an OAM for service to medicine as a forensic pathologist.
He was the long-time director of forensic medicine at Westmead Hospital and was involved in victim identification operations following disasters including the Thailand Tsunami, the Bali bombing, the Victorian bushfires and aircraft crashes.
Dr Ellis was also involved in international forensic teams that took part in human rights abuse investigations in Kosovo and East Timor.
He received Australia Day Achievement Awards in 2010 and 2012.
Margaret Thorsborne, of Buderim, received an OAM for service to education.
She is the chair of Restorative Practice International and has co-authored many books that have helped change organisations and relationships. She has helped transform the way schools respond to wrongdoing, via accountability, responsibility and empathy.
Susan Davis, of Eumundi, earned an OAM for service to education, and to the performing and regional arts.
She has held leading roles with prominent arts groups, been a consultant for councils and held several positions in the education department. She has also authored several books about arts education. Dr Davis has also been involved in conservation, with the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
Alexandra Headland’s Caroline Hutchinson was awarded an OAM for service to the radio broadcast media.
Mrs Hutchinson has been a host on 92.7 Mix FM since 1998 and been involved with several charities and community groups, including the Sundale Community Foundation, the Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge Society and the Integrated Family and Youth Services.
James McClelland received an OAM for services to lifesaving.
Mr McClelland, a Life Member of Ithaca-Caloundra City Royal Life Saving Club at Bulcock Beach, has patrolled for 50 years.
He has performed several rescues and received a Queensland Bravery Medal for saving two girls off the Caloundra Bar in 1974.
Mr McClelland mentors and trains new members and serves on the committees of Royal Life Saving Australia and Royal Life Saving Queensland.
Mountain Creek’s Benjamin Hance claimed an OAM for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
The USC Spartans club-member, who has an intellectual impairment, won gold in the 100m backstroke (S14) and captured silver and bronze in the mixed 4x100m freestyle and 100m butterfly.
‘Outstanding Australians’
More than 1000 Australians received Australia Day awards.
”Congratulations to the outstanding Australians recognised,” Governor-General of Australia David Hurley said.
“Collectively, the recipients, whose achievements span community service, science and research, industry, sport, the arts and more, represent the strength and diversity of Australia.”
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Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson congratulated the recipients, saying their awards, announced by the Governor General, reflected outstanding service.
“Each of these Australia Day Award recipients has worked extremely hard in their respective professions to make a positive impact on our community and our Nation,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“The wide array of fields in which our Sunshine Coast award recipients have been recognised also highlights the diversity of excellence that exists within our region, from education and performing arts, to forensic pathology, international criminal investigations with the United Nations, to winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics and broadcast media and charity work.”
Scientists in the spotlight
A number of scientists have been recognised in the honours system, including former chief scientist Alan Finkel, who picked up the highest honour in being made a Companion of the Order (AC).
Dr Finkel, one of seven people to be made ACs this year, received the award for his work across a range of fields include energy innovation, climate change and COVID-19 response initiatives.
Other scientist ACs include James Dale, who has developed a range of genetically modified bananas, and Jennifer Graves for evolutionary genetics research.
Some 58 people were recognised for their efforts in Australia’s pandemic response, with those to be added to an ongoing and permanent COVID-19 honour roll.
Basketball player Patty Mills, was awarded an AM for leading the Boomers to bronze at the Olympics and his Indigenous leadership.
Other notable names on the honours list include: singer Delta Goodrem (AM), mining magnate Gina Rinehart (AO), cook and food author Maggie Beer (AO), former NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons (AO) and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims (AO).
