Mark Coulton (Parkes, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Australia Day, some outstanding citizens from the Parkes electorate were honoured with an Order of Australia medal.

I'd like to recognise Mrs Ruth Sandow from Milparinka in the far west of New South Wales not only for the work she's done for the Milparinka community but also for her role over many years with the Royal Flying Doctor Service; Mrs Ellen Stanmore, who has been actively involved in the Dubbo community, particularly with the support group in Dubbo for the Royal Flying Doctor Service; my good friend Councillor Vic Bartley from Bourke, a Vietnam veteran, an Indigenous elder and a great role model for the community of Bourke; Mrs Anne Bell Knight from Gunnedah for her service to the arts, largely through the Eisteddfod and other organisations in Gunnedah; Sue-Ellen Lovett, a blind equestrienne who's competed at international level completely visually impaired, a great role model there; Dr Robert North, for his services to medicine and to the community of Dubbo—over his period of time, we have certainly seen a great dedication from him—and Coonabarabran's Rod Coombes, who's one of the mainstays of the VRA there. He received the Emergency Service Medal.

He's not a constituent, but I also want to mention Senator John Williams AM.