Mary Doyle (Aston, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to congratulate three of Aston's finest who received the Medal of the Order of Australia last week as part of the Australia Day 2026 honours list. Mrs Elizabeth Aylett OAM received the award for her service to netball. Elizabeth has been a netball player since 1952 and an umpire since 1964. Elizabeth is the founder of the White Horse Netball Association, and went on to become a life member of the association in 1981. Following her outstanding contribution to netball, the Lizzie Aylett Umpires Award was established in 2016.

Mrs Rita Brown received the OAM for her service to community health. Rita has been the Australian Borderline Personality Disorder Foundation President and Chair since 2018, and foundation director since 2013. Rita is additionally a member of the International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders, a member of the Lived Experience Advisory Committee, and is the Associate Director of the Lived Experience Workforce.

Mr John McGrath received the OAM for his service to surf lifesaving and to the community. From 2011 to 2020, John was the Director of Communications at Far South Coast Branch Surf Life Saving New South Wales. In 2014, John became the deputy president of the surf life saving club and presided over this role for three years. John has been a member of the surf life saving community since 1964 and has played a major role in the communities in which he has served.

I thank them all for their contribution to Aston and also our nation. Thank you.

Colin Boyce (Flynn, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently, many communities across the Australian continent have celebrated Australia Day. That was the same in the electorate of Flynn, where Australia Day is revered. It is one of the No. 1 days on the Australian calendar. Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General, obviously announced all of the Australia Day honours lists awards, and these included, in the Flynn electorate, Mrs Alison Ray from Emerald, who has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, the OAM, for services to the community through her charitable organisations. Ms Quinn Cramer from Gladstone has been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal. I offer my congratulations to them both on behalf of the whole Flynn community. Congratulations.

There were also many other community events across the Flynn electorate. I attended the Australia Day Awards ceremony at Proston and the Australia Day Awards in my hometown of Taroom. I extend my congratulations to everybody and all of the organisers concerned. I gave a speech at Australia Day, and it is important that everybody in Australia understand that we have won life's lottery. If you're an Australian, you're living in the best country on this planet. Everybody needs to revere Australia, and as I said in my message, have a go, ya mug.