Congratulations to our Western Sydney Queen's Birthday Honours recipients.
He’s received death threats, survived a bombing at the Family Court at Parramatta and endured the assassination of a predecessor during his time on the job, but today the Honourable David Collier has been recognised for his longstanding service to the law.
The former judge and current adjunct professor at the University of Western Sydney’s Parramatta campus has been inducted as a member into the general division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the judiciary, to the law and to legal education, an honour that left him feeling ‘‘absolutely speechless’’.
■ David Collier: The Honourable David Collier, of Parramatta, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the judiciary and to the law, particularly through the Family Court of Australia, and to legal education.
■ Sheila Clough: The grandmother of Westmead, the late Sheila Clough, has been posthumously honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community, particularly as a hospital volunteer. From 1979 until her death in November at 95, Mrs Clough volunteered tirelessly at Westmead until she passed away inside the hospital to which she gave so much of her life.
■ Michael Bell: Former Hornsby deputy mayor Michael Bell, of Arcadia, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Hornsby. He was also Hornsby Council's 2008 Citizen of the Year.
■ Lynton Bradford: Lynton Bradford, of Castle Hill, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Castle Hill, particularly seniors' computing. The 82-year-old is the president of the Anglican Retirement Villages Residents’ Computer Club.
■ Harold Benyon: Harold Benyon, of Kenthurst, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Kenthurst. He's been a member of the Rotary Club of Kenthurst since 1975 and even has a park named after him: John Benyon Rotary Park (formerly Kenthurst Rotary Park). He was The Hills Council Citizen of the Year in 2006.
■ Olive Black: Olive Black, of Dural, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to dog show judging, standards, education and dog welfare. the author of History of Fox Terriers in Australia (Terrier Magazine, 2009), she is the first point of contact for NSW council pounds in regards to pure bred Fox Terriers.
■ Larry Bolitho: Former Hills mayor Larry Bolitho, of Carlingford, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to local government, and to the community. He has been a delegate for the Floodplain Management Association for more than 20 years and is its current deputy chairman. His past awards include the Centenary Medal in 2001.
■ Dr Kenneth Chant: The Reverend Dr Kenneth Chant, of Werrington, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to religion, and to theological education. He founded the Vision Christian College for Australasia in 1974 and is its current president. It is an international and inter-denominational bible correspondence school currently ministering to more than 100,000 students across 145 nations, primarily through its internet-based bible college programs and through 4000 local church campuses.
■ Donald Feltis: Donald Feltis, of Orchard Hills, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to rugby league football in NSW. He has been chairman of both Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club Ltd and Panthers on the Prowl since 2009. Between 1947 and 1970 he played at numerous clubs including Penrith Waratahs, NSW Police, Wellington, NSW Country, St Mary's and Richmond. He also coached numerous clubs, including Penrith Waratahs, St Mary's, Richmond and Emu Plains (1964-1981). He retired from the NSW Police in 1986 as an Inspector.
■ Katherine Georgouras: Professor Katherine Georgouras, of Kenthurst, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine in the field of dermatology. She was the founder and director of the Dermatology Centre in Lidcombe Hospital (1987-1994) where she established a range of dermatological services, including the Melanoma Prevention Clinic. She was also a foundation fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists (1966).
■ Donald Liddle: Donald Liddle, of Old Toongabbie, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the preservation of Australian automotive history. He was president of the Vintage Motorcycle Club Australia (NSW) from 1975 to 1987 and has been an honorary patron since 1996. He's been organising the Bathurst Easter Rally for 40 years.
■ Carmel Moriarty: Carmel Moriarty, of Castle Hill, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to nursing, particularly in the field of cystic fibrosis. A former president of Cystic Fibrosis NSW (1998-2005), since 1995 she has been co-organiser of the Clare and Annmaree Moriarty Charity Golf Day which raises money for Cystic Fibrosis NSW. She is the co-author of more than 11 research papers on support of adults with cystic fibrosis and has participated in numerous state, national and international policy forums on this topic.
■ Alan Pendleton: Blacktown councillor Alan Pendleton receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to local government, and to the community of western Sydney. The Schofields resident has served as both mayor (1999-2003 and 2010-2012) and deputy mayor (2008-2009) of Blacktown Council. He has been patron of the Cumberland Nepean Softball Association since 1999 and Blacktown and District Soccer Club since 2000. He is also the patron of Mitchell High School and Seven Hills West Primary School.
■ Donald Roberts: Donald Roberts, of Castle Hill, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the sport of rowing. He sat on the board of Rowing NSW (formerly the NSW Rowing Association) from 1970 to 1975 and managed the NSW Rowing Team in 1968 and 1970. He received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
■ Robert Ryan: Robert Ryan, of Castle Hill, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the wool industry. He has been chairman of the Federation of Australian Wool Organisations since 2010 and is also the chairman of the China Australia Joint Working Group on Wool; the Exotic Animal Disease Joint Working Group; and India-Australia MOU for Co-operation on Wool and Woollen Products. He is the ambassador of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
■ John Trlin: John Trlin, of Kellyville, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through driver awareness education programs. A former presenter of the Rotary U Turn the Wheel Program youth driver awareness program, he lobbied his council for traffic lights at Windsor Road, Kellyville. He is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Rouse Hill, and has owned various car dealerships since the 1960s. He was the 1982 Policeman's Friend of the Year Award recipient.
■ Ray Warren: The Voice of Rugby League, Ray "Rabbits" Warren, receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the broadcast media industry as a sports commentator. The Castle Hill resident is most famous for his coverage of televised professional rugby league matches and swimming on the Nine Network since 1989.
■ Trevor Bosher: With 37 years of dedicated and exemplary service to Fire & Rescue NSW, Inspector Trevor Bosher has been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal - one of the highest honours an Australian firefighter can receive.
■ Parramatta Local Area Commander, Superintendent Wayne Cox: was awarded the Australian Police Medal. Superintendent Cox was instrumental in reducing a range of criminal offences in the local area. His innovative leadership and strategic organisational skills has led to a number of strategies which incorporate other government stakeholders in diverting young offenders from the criminal justice system.
■ Phil Gould: Panthers general manager Phil Gould has been made a member in the general division of the Order of Australia (AM) his significant service to rugby league football as an administrator, commentator, coach and player, and to the community. Mr Gould played for the Penrith Panthers from 1976-1986 and returned as coach in 1990, taking them to their first premiership in 1991. Mr Gould is well known to rugby league fans as a commentator on Channel Nine, Triple M, 2GB and 2UE and writes for the Sun Herald and Sydney Morning Herald.
For more about the recipients of the Queen's Birthday Honours pick up this week's Blacktown Sun, St Marys-Mt Druitt Star , Parramatta Holroyd Sun, Hills News, Rouse Hill Courier and Penrith City Gazette newspapers.
