For their outstanding service in a range of fields, an inspiring and distinguished group of staff, students and alumni from The University of Queensland community have been honoured in the 2013 Australia Day awards and honours list.
UQ alumni were in the running for Australian of the Year in three of the four categories, while many other staff, students and alumni received Australia Day honours.
The University congratulates Ms Ita Buttrose on being named Australian of the Year 2013 and all awardees for their achievements.
Australian of the Year finalists from the UQ community:
National Finalist Australian of the Year
Professor Adele Green AC
Professor Green has been at the frontline of melanoma research for 20 years. As head of cancer and population studies at Queensland Institute of Medical Research, her research establishing that daily sunscreen use can halve the risk of melanoma set the benchmark for prevention. At UQ, she gained a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (1976) and Doctor of Philosophy 1984. More information is available here
National Finalist Senior Australian of the Year
Laurie Lawrence
Starting with the smallest babies, Mr Lawrence’s widely acclaimed program teaches children the skills to save themselves from drowning. Aiming to reduce child drowning rates to zero, he demonstrates the same conviction that saw him coach the Australian Olympic swimming team at Los Angeles in 1984, Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992. At UQ, he gained a Diploma of Physical Education (1963). More information available here
National Finalist Young Australian of the Year
Julie McKay
In her five years leading UN Women Australia, more than $1 million has been raised for projects which directly affect the lives of women and girls in the developing world and hundreds of thousands of Australians have engaged with the organisation’s work. At UQ, she gained a Bachelor of Arts (2004) and a Bachelor of Business Management (2004). More information available here.
More information on Australian of the Year awards is available here.
Australia Day Honours list
Australia Day Honours recipients from the UQ community are:
Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia
The Honourable Justice Margaret Jean WHITE
This honour is awarded for distinguished service to the judiciary and the law, through leadership in administration, contributions to education and law reform, and to the community of Queensland.
Justice White was Deputy Chancellor of UQ between 2006 and 2010 as well as a tutor and temporary lecturer at the TC Beirne School of Law between 1970 and 1982, and a member of Senate between 1993 and 2009.
She has been Judge at the Queensland Court of Appeal since 2010, and Judge, Supreme Court of Queensland, from 1992-2010.
Mr Gregory Neil HARTUNG
This honour is for distinguished service to sport and to people with a disability through contributions to the development and promotion of the paralympic community, particularly in the South Pacific.
Mr Hartung completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1972 and Diploma of Journalism in 1976 at UQ.
Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia
Professor Malcolm George GILLIES
This honour is awarded for significant service to tertiary education through leadership roles, and to the humanities, particularly as a scholar of musicology.
Professor Gillies was Dean of the Faculty of Music, University of Queensland from 1992-1999, and is now Vice-Chancellor of the London Metropolitan University in the UK since 2010.
Dr Ian William MARSHALL AE
He is awarded this honour for significant service to the community of Queensland as a medical practitioner and through contributions to the cattle industry and rural education.
An aviation medical practitioner since 1964, Dr Marshall is a former lecturer in aviation medicine for the UQ Royal Australian Airforce Squadron.
The Honourable Justice Glenn Charles MARTIN
This honour is awarded for significant service to the law, particularly through contributions to the Australian Bar Association, and to the community of Queensland.
Justice Martin is a Judge, Supreme Court of Queensland, since 2007. In 1976, he was president of The University of Queensland Law Society.
Mrs Janine Betty SCHMIDT
She is awarded the honour for significant service to the promotion of library services and information sciences, particularly through the development of electronic access initiatives.
Mrs Schmidt was University Librarian at UQ from 1993 to 2005 and a Board Member of the UQ Press and Bookshop from 1996 to 2004.
Emeritus Professor Steven SCHWARTZ
This honour is awarded for significant service to tertiary education, to the community, and to mental health.
Professor Schwartz was the President of the UQ Academic Board from 1991 to 1993 and Professor and Head of the Department of Psychology, 1987 to 1990. He is also former Vice-Chancellor and President of Macquarie University in Sydney.
Professor Peter Allen SILBURN
He is awarded this honour for significant service to medicine as a neurologist, particularly in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Professor Silburn has been the Inaugural Chair, Clinical Neurosciences Group at UQ since 2007; and has been a national leader in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease and other diseases through his work in Deep Brain Stimulation.
Professor Peter Silburn is available for interviews and photographs Saturday 26 January 2013. (Media: Colleen Clur, M 0418 253 340 or colleenclur@gmail.com or Kirsten Rogan, M 0412 307 594 or k.rogan@uq.edu.au)
Alumni (while we congratulate all UQ alumni, we recognise that there are others to add to this list who we have not yet identified).
Mr Clive Perry HILDEBRAND
He is honoured for significant service to business, particularly through leadership in the promotion of international relations and the protection of the sugar industry, and to tertiary education.
Adjunct Professor David Anthony HOOD
He is honoured for significant service to environmental engineering as an educator and researcher, through contributions to professional organisations, and to public awareness of sustainability.
Mrs Ann Kathleen PORTER
For significant service to people who are deaf or hard of hearing through executive and advocacy roles.
Emeritus Professor Robert Lynton STABLE
This award is for significant service to the community of Queensland through innovative and strategic management in the areas of tertiary education and health.
A leader in Queensland health, Professor Stable served as an Adjunct Professor at UQ from 1997 to 2007. He was Vice-Chancellor and President, Bond University on the Gold Coast from 2004-2011.
Dr David Leslie GRANTHAM PSM
He is honoured for significant service to public health in the area of occupational hygiene.
Dr Grantham graduated from a Bachelor of Science at UQ in 1969 and a Bachelor of Economics in 1974.
Mr Stephen John JONES
This award is for significant service to local government and the community of the Lockyer Valley, particularly in relation to the Queensland floods in 2010 and 2011.
Mr Jones holds an Associate Diploma in Stock and Meat Inspection, 1982, from UQ.
Mr Howard Percival BAMSEY PSM
He is honoured for significant service to public administration, particularly in the area of climate change and energy efficiency.
Mr Bamsey graduated from a Bachelor of Arts at UQ in 1971.
Emeritus Professor Richard SPEARE
The honour was awarded for significant service to medical and biological research through leadership roles in the areas of public health and wildlife conservation.
Emeritus Professor Speare holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, 1970, and a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, 1975, from UQ.
Emeritus Professor Owen Edward POTTER
He is honoured for his significant service to chemical engineering through leadership in the areas of education, research and development, and to the Catholic Church.
Emeritus Professor Potter completed a Bachelor of Applied Science,1947, and Master of Applied Science, 1950, at UQ.
Medal (OAM) in the Order of Australia in the General Division
Clinical Professor Graeme Leslie BEARDMORE
He is honoured for service to medicine in the field of dermatology.
Professor Beardmore has been a Clinical Teacher at the UQ School of Medicine since 1974.
Mr Francis Xavier ALCORTA
He is honoured for service to veterans and their families, and to journalism.
Mr Alcorta holds three university qualifications from UQ – a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Education.
The Reverand Father Ignatius Tyson DONELEY
The honour was awarded for service to the community through Catholic education organisations.
The Reverand Father Ignatius Doneley completed a Bachelor of Education at UQ in 1957.
Mr Christopher Ben HALFORD
This award is for service to the international community following the earthquakes and tsunami which occurred in Japan in 2011.
Mr Halford graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Economics from UQ in 2008.
Mr Trevor William HOLLOWAY
He is honoured for service to the international community following the earthquakes and tsunami which occurred in Japan in 2011.
Mr Holloway holds a Bachelor of Arts, 1993, and Master in Arts, 1995, from UQ.
Dr Miriam Frances HOLMES
This honour was awarded for service to youth through the Guiding movement.
Dr Holmes graduated with a Bachelor of Science, 1978, and a Doctor of Philosophy, 1986, at UQ.
Mr Bruce David LINDENMAYER
He is honoured for his service to conservation and the environment.
Mr Lindenmayer completed a Bachelor of Applied Science, 1959, and a Bachelor of Engineering, 1960 at UQ.
Sister Berneice Mary LOCH
This honour is for service to the community through the Institute of Sisters of Mercy.
Sister Berneice Loch holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, 1999, from UQ.
Ms Belinda MORRISON
This award is for service to the Australian music industry as a performer and advocate.
Ms Morrison graduated from UQ with a Bachelor of Social work in 1973.
Dr Richard Joohuat TAN
This honour is for service to medicine, and to the community of Biloela.
Dr Tan holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, 1966, from UQ.
Public Service Medal
Adjunct Professor Bill Capati
This honour is for outstanding public service to the sustainable water future of the Gold Coast and the broader South East Queensland region.
Ms Carmel Majella MCGREGOR
This honour is for outstanding public service through administrative reforms including a crucial role in leading 'The Review of Employment Pathways for APS Women in the Department of Defence' and significant contribution in the development of the Reform of Australian Government Administration 'The Blueprint'.
Ms McGregor completed a Bachelor of Arts at UQ in 1986.
Ms Kathryn Mary FRANKLAND
This was awarded for outstanding public service to the development and research of historical family records for Indigenous people of Queensland.
Ms Frankland holds a Bachelor or Arts from UQ.
Ms Patricia Gweneth ANGUS
This honour was awarded for outstanding public service to health and housing policy, and programs and services to Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.
Ms Angus completed a Master of Tropical Health at UQ in 1992.
More information on the Australia Day Honours list is available here. Australia Day Ambassadors
Eleven University of Queensland staff and alumni have been named as 2013 Queensland Australia Day Ambassadors: Dr Dimity Dornan AM, Ms Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Dr Sally Butler, Professor Julie Campbell AO, Emeritus Professor Ken Donald AO, Professor Allan Paull, Emeritus Professor John Pearn AO RFD, Emeritus Professor Roly Sussex OAM, Professor David Tudehope, Mr Terry White AO, Dr Hugh Wirth AM.
More information here.
In addition, UQ staff and alumni have also been recipients of Australian of the Year awards, including Dr Geoffrey Rush (2012) Professor Ian Frazer (2006), Professor Peter Doherty AC (1997) and the late Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE (1961).
For more information about the Australia Day Ambassador Program visit http://www.australiaday.org.au/qld
Media: Janelle Kirkland, UQ Communications, 07 3346 0561 or j.kirkland@uq.edu.au.
