Lord Mayor’s Australia Day Awards

John is an Army and Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam War. He was a leader in the Boys' Brigade and, alongside his wife, led on the HMS Lady Nelson, guiding and mentoring young people through numerous voyages over the years.

John and his wife were committed foster parents and care openly and deeply about young people. John’s compassion extends further, ensuring his neighbour receives consistent support by regularly taking him to his medical and hospital appointments and is the only person who is frequently in contact with him.  

John is dedicated to his local church and undertakes various acts of service - mowing the lawns each week, managing the donation bins and hosting a weekly Men’s Meet Up each Tuesday at his own house. Additionally, both John and his wife actively engage in their local community - sharing garden produce, meals and chats with their neighbours along with willingly assisting with odd jobs. 

Betty has devoted 23 years as a Diggers Dozen volunteer at Greenslopes Private Hospital, serving as President for the past 7 years. Her unwavering commitment and dedication to helping those in need in the community makes her an inspiring role model.

Betty’s remarkable leadership and fundraising efforts for the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation (GMRF) deserves merit recognition alone. She diligently works on the information desk directing visitors to wards and doctors’ rooms.  

Amongst other activities, Betty organises bookfests, trash ‘n’ treasure events and raffles at the hospital, which has raised more than $300,000. This substantial sum has been donated back to GMRF to support the efforts of researchers in finding cures, medications and treatments for veterans and the broader community.  

Dig In is a not-for-profit charitable organisation established by a group of university students in 2017.  Their aim was to create the most inclusive and accessible charity in Brisbane, serving food 'made with love by Nonna' to those experiencing food scarcity.  

Operating across 2 locations in Fortitude Valley and West End, Dig In serve 300-350 meals every Saturday. Witnessing a growing need for meal support each week, co-founders Dan and Curtis began devising alternative ways to ensure their vital meal services reached those in need.  

Their innovative solution was a hot food vending machine model. This machine is programmed to provide one free hot meal daily via individual PIN codes distributed to recipients. Designed for 24/7 accessibility, minimal operating resources and greater cost-effectiveness compared to traditional food services, the trial vending machine was deployed at St James College in Spring Hill and catered to the refugee student population.  

Marie has generously shared her artistic talent with the elderly citizens of Brisbane or more than 30 years. 

Commuting by bus to the 50 Plus Centre in Brisbane City Hall 4 times a week, Marie teaches painting and drawing skills to seniors. 

Many of Marie’s elderly students comment that these classes are the only time they get out of the house and socialise in a warm, safe and friendly environment. Over the years, her classes have allowed for wonderful friendships to be forged, artistic skills to be gained and passions to be uncovered. 

Through her efforts, Marie has significantly improved the lives of countless elderly residents. Her classes help reduce isolation and loneliness while giving students a sense of pride and confidence to uncover new hobbies.  

Ryan has been volunteering his time to the Para Sport of boccia for more than 7 years. He visits specialist schools across Brisbane, empowering young people with disability to enjoy and engage in sports.

As a social, state and national representative player, Ryan tirelessly advocates for the sport’s recognition and support.  

Despite being wheelchair-bound and facing various challenges, Ryan’s disability and illnesses have never hindered his commitment to donating his time to his community.  

Throughout his impressive 36-year tenure at Gadens law firm, Paul has stood as a leading figure in the arts and philanthropy, significantly influencing corporate leadership in Brisbane.

Within the corporate world, Paul has held and still retains numerous notable positions, including former Chair of Brisbane Festival, former Chair of the Brisbane Institute and former Councillor with Creative Partnerships Australia. He currently serves as a Member of the Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art Foundation, Councillor of the Queensland Futures Council and Chairman of Brisbane Economic Development Agency.  

Paul’s initiatives at Gadens have driven $1.2 million worth of pro bono work each year, engaging 50% of staff to participate annually in their pro bono program.  

Beyond his professional commitments, Paul helped establish the Small Steps for Hannah charitable foundation. He has supported Women’s Legal Service Queensland, partnered with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and generously supported the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust. 

North-East Baptist Church has hosted community Christmas carols in Nundah for more than a decade. This magical and memorable Christmas event is free for locals to enjoy and is highly anticipated by the community.

With the collaborative efforts of the Senior Pastor and a dedicated team of more than 100 generous volunteers, the event allows more than 1,800 attendees to enjoy carolling and free recreational activities. 

The event fosters an inclusive community spirit, encouraging all locals to enjoy the festivities of the Christmas season.

Rita has been an active volunteer since 2015. Her involvement began with tending to a small Bulimba Creek catchment waterway and a surrounding public park area, which encompassed a popular bike and pedestrian pathway. Being Council land, the area became part of Council’s Habitat Group, which extended support to the volunteers.

Rita assumed a leadership role after witnessing a decline in volunteer numbers. Before long, she was doing the work on her own, from rubbish removal to extensive weeding, complementing Council’s native vegetation planting efforts. In 2017, Rita joined forces with another local resident and together they remove blockages and rubbish on a regular basis. 

Rita’s commitment and dedication continues today. She diligently stores a barrow load of equipment while maintaining meticulous records. Additionally, Rita established and administers a Facebook group for the Stellar-Harrington Habitat Group. On volunteer days, she also generously provides morning tea for the participating volunteers. Beyond her immediate efforts, Rita actively engages in community planting days in other local suburbs and has been an integral member of the group since 2011.

• Joan Coghlan OAM & Paul Coghlan
• David De Santi
• Diane Gage
• Paige Garland
  
• Greg Goebel
• Jyoti-Amarjot Goraya
• Emma Gray
• Beverley Isdale
  
• Syl Johns
• Mary & David Kearney
• Jeff Kruger & Mitchell Rowing
• Andrew Lescesin
  
• Jeanette Meyer
• Craig Moore
• Syed Asghar Naqvi
• Bruce Riddel
  
• Lisa Robinson
• Richard Tanner
• Don Willsher

A judging panel reviews the nominations for the Lord Mayor’s Australia Day Awards. The judges’ decisions are final, and no further correspondence will be considered.