Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia Day honours are among our nation's most meaningful acknowledgements. They recognise Australians who have gone above and beyond, often quietly and without expectation, to serve others, strengthen institutions and contribute to the common good. Recipients from Bennelong this year exemplify the values of service, integrity and generosity that sit at the heart of our national story.

This year, Bennelong is proud to see two constituents appointed as members of the Order of Australia. Emeritus Professor Prem Ramburut of Lane Cove is recognised for her outstanding contribution to tertiary education. Her impact has been felt nationally and internationally through her leadership in business and management education across African and Asian communities. Through her distinguished career at the University of New South Wales, she has advanced teaching excellence, research capability and gender empowerment on a global scale. Congratulations to her.

Secondly, Christopher Robison AM of Hunters Hill is recognised for his significant service to the law and the legal profession. Across nearly three decades in both civil and criminal jurisdictions, Mr Robison has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice. His judgements have been marked by fairness, rigour and humanity, and his long service has strengthened confidence in our legal system.

Two Bennelong constituents have also been appointed as officers of the Order of Australia. Associate Professor David Dossetor of Hunters Hill is recognised for his exceptional service to psychiatry. His contribution to neurodevelopmental and child adolescent mental health research has been profoundly important, particularly for families navigating complex diagnoses. Alongside his clinical and research work, Associate Professor Dossetor's dedication to paediatric education has helped shape the next generation of clinicians. This is well deserved.

Professor Robyn Gallagher AO of North Ryde is recognised for her distinguished service to nursing, cardiovascular health and disease prevention research. Through her work at the University of Sydney, Professor Gallagher has been at the forefront of advancing contemporary health technology, rehabilitation and cognitive impairment research.

Believe it or not, there's more! Five Bennelong residents have been recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia. The late Dr Christopher Armitage of Greenwich is posthumously honoured for his exceptional service to the judiciary. Dr Armitage served with distinction as a judge of the Compensation Court of New South Wales and was appointed to both the Dust Diseases Tribunal and the District Court of New South Wales. His work delivered fairness and dignity to people facing some of life's most difficult circumstances.

Mrs Nunziata Basile of Gladesville is recognised for her service to seniors. For more than four decades, Mrs Basile has been a tireless community volunteer with the Italio Australian Senior Citizens Group, fostering connection, purpose and joy for older residents right across Bennelong.

We then have the late Mr James 'Jim' Butt, who is posthumously recognised for his outstanding service to veterans and their families. For more than 50 years, Mr Butt volunteered in the Gladesville and Ryde communities, including a decade—a decade!—as president of the Gladesville RSL and community club. He's remembered for his leadership, his advocacy and his dedication to supporting veterans and strengthening local community ties.

We then have Mr Benjamin Gregory of Gladesville, who is recognised for his service to rugby union, across junior, senior and professional levels. His ongoing involvement with New South Wales rugby and the Hunters Hill Rugby Cup reflects a lifelong commitment to grassroots sports.

We then have Mr George Moscos of Ryde, recognised for his service to community and education, being a former president of the North Ryde Soccer Club and St Michael's Greek Orthodox Church in Crows Nest.

Finally, we have two recipients of the Public Service Medal. Ms Margaret Baker of Marsfield is recognised for her service to public education in New South Wales. Ms Julie Ravallion of Eastwood is recognised for her more than 30 years of outstanding contributions to environmental planning and natural resource management in the New South Wales public sector.

To all of this year's Australia Day honourees from Bennelong, we say this: your service reflects the very best of our community, from Lane Cove and Hunters Hill to Ryde, Gladesville, Eastwood, Marsfield and North Ryde. You've strengthened our schools, our courts, our hospitals, our education facilities and our community.

Debate adjourned.

Federation Chamber adjourned at 19:30