Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to acknowledge and congratulate members of my electorate who received OAMs, AMs and Australia Day awards. In the Coffs Harbour City Council area Peter Rheinberger received an OAM for his dedication to the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour and the Glenreagh Mountain Railway Restoration Project. Don Clinch received an OAM for his many years of service to the Woolgoolga community. Pam Fayle was awarded Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to the Department of Foreign Affairs as Ambassador to Germany, Switzerland and Lichtenstein, as well as being a board member of the Australian Trade Commission and far too many local organisations to mention. Congratulations to Isabella Oates Herrera, from Woolgoolga, who was named the Coffs Harbour City Council's Young Achiever of the Year. She was awarded this in recognition of her role as a mentor at Woolgoolga High School and her outstanding team spirit, shown by her selection in the Woolgoolga District Netball Association team and the New South Wales Netball representative team. My congratulations to you all.

I would like to acknowledge and congratulate those in the Clarence Valley Council area who received OAMs and Australia Day awards. Pat Connelly, from Grafton, was recognised with an OAM for his outstanding support of Grafton hockey over many decades, as well as his involvement with the youth suicide prevention program. John Stone was acknowledged with an OAM for his continued support of organisation such as Lions, North Coast Housing and the Grafton Rifle Club. I thank the husband and wife team of Harry and Marcia Le Busque, who received an Australian Fire Service Medal for their 30 years of service to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. The Australia Day Award winners in the Clarence Valley were: Citizen of the Year, Susan Howland; Young Citizen of the Year, Brad Chapman; and Community Achievement Award, Pelican Playhouse. The Local Hero Award was shared by two recipients: Don Frame, for his contribution to the Copmanhurst Saddlery Museum, and George Pringle, for his ongoing commitment to keeping the Cowper Bus Memorial Park in pristine condition. Congratulations to you all. It was a wonderful event to be at.

I would like to acknowledge and congratulate those who received OAMs, OAs and Australia Day awards at the Lismore City Council Australia Day Awards. Father Paul Pidcock was awarded an OAM for his many decades of service to the community and to the Catholic Church. Dr Valerie Atkinson, from Goolmangar, was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia for her continued dedication to the Indigenous community and mental health. The Australia Day Awards winners were: Citizen of the Year, Allison Kelly; Young Citizen of the Year, Lily Harrison; Aboriginal Citizen of the Year, Malachi Canning; Senior Sports Person of the Year, Paul Leadbeater; Junior Sports Person of the Year, Matilda Elliott; Sports Team of the Year, Lismore Swans women's AFL team; Services in the Community Award (Individual), John Maloney; and Services in the Community Award (Group), the 1979 Terania Forest blockaders. Ted Trudgeon won an award for art and culture, while Vivian Martin was recognised for her commitment to a sustainable environment. Congratulations to you all. It was a wonderful event to be at.

I'd like to acknowledge those who received Australia Day awards in Kyogle and district areas. The winners were: Citizen of the Year, Margaret Armstrong; Senior Citizen of the Year, Jack McDonough; Senior Student of the Year, Eliza Williams; Junior Citizen of the Year, Felicity Duley; Senior Sportsperson of the Year, Dean Ferris; and Junior Sportsperson of the Year, Ziah Piggot. In Bonalbo, the West of Range Citizen of the Year was awarded to Jeanette Flanagan, the Senior Citizen of the Year to Yvonne Gay, the Sportsperson of the Year to Matthew Avery and the Young Citizen of the Year was awarded to Leroy Gilroy. Business of the Year went to the Bonalbo post office, and congratulations to Mike Whittaker and Andrea Harvey. The community event category went to the Tabulam hall Medieval Festival. Congratulations to Lynda Shearing and all of the volunteers. In Woodenbong, Margaret Martin was named Citizen of the Year. Taking out the best community organisation award was the Woodenbong craft group, led by Christine Reid, and the business and services award was won by the Woodenbong Hotel. Congratulations to Tony. My congratulations to all the winners for 2019.

At the Ballina council's Australia Day awards recently, Finn Ball of Alstonville, from my electorate, was named the Young Citizen of the Year. For the last few years, Finn has volunteered at the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society, and last year he was named the Lions regional Youth of the Year. Finn is a wonderful ambassador in our community, and I congratulate him on being Young Citizen of the Year.