Australia Day Honours

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (15:16): It was a very real pleasure to join other community representatives on Australia Day to recognise the service and dedication of those in our community who have materially improved the lives of others. National and civic honours help define, encourage and reinforce our aspirations and ideals. Making awards of this type in a public way also provides an important opportunity for all in our community to extend our thanks and gratitude.

Australia Day ceremonies were held throughout Kavel, and I was able to attend a number of them. I was delighted to learn that Mr Brian Hagger of Stirling, in the member for Heysen's electorate, was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours. Mr Hagger was recognised for his significant service to education. Nine other residents from throughout Kavel and the Hills received a Medal of the Order of Australia, including:

Mrs Ann Buch of Hahndorf, for service to medicine as a neurological physiotherapist and for her long involvement with many health organisations in South Australia;

Mr John Burston of Woodside, for his service to Australian politics;

Mr Allan Campbell of Hahndorf, for his service to conservation and the environment, including his long involvement with the Hans Heysen Foundation as curator for 27 years and Trees Please Inc;

Mr Stan Evans of Heathfield, for his longstanding and extraordinary involvement with so many community groups in the Hills and for his service in this place;

Mrs Norma Keily of Strathalbyn, for her service to the community, including Scouts Australia, the Strathalbyn Garden Club, U3A Strathalbyn and the Holy Trinity Church in Mount Barker;

Mr Robert Myers of Birdwood, for his service to conservation and the environment through his work with many preservation groups;

Mr Leigh Radford of Crafers, for his service to broadcast media with the ABC in rural and regional areas;

Mr George van Holst Pellekaan, for his service to the community, including the Hans Heysen Foundation, the Nora Heysen Foundation and Country Arts SA; and,

Mrs Joan Zanker, a stalwart of Mount Barker, for her service to the community over many years, including as a councillor and mayor of the Mount Barker District Council, and her service to the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels.

Within the Adelaide Hills Council, civic awards were presented to Neil Mullard, Shaun Clarke, Chris and Irene Barry, Ron Nelson, Peter Holderness, Helen Atkinson, Brianna Green, Sheryl Collins, Ian Carpenter, Anne Cooper, and the h.ART Advocates Group. I wish to specifically acknowledge members Rose Kemp, Bronwen Klose, Kim Jordan, Kirsty Emery and Anne Griffith for their work with this group to facilitate and promote arts activities in the central Adelaide Hills.

The Adelaide Hills Council recognised Mr Robert Brooksby as Citizen of the Year, Mr Rhys Jarret as Young Citizen of the Year and the Uraidla Sustainability Fair as Event of the Year. Mr Brooksby has been volunteering since age 11 and trained and worked as a school teacher. His commitment to St John's Ambulance over many years, to Lions, the RSL and to other community causes, is extraordinary. Mr Jarret, the recipient of the Young Citizen of the Year award, has worked in community media and, amongst many other significant achievements, assisted his friend Sarah Hammond in establishing Kids Arthritis.

Within the Mount Barker District Council, the council's Citizen of the Year award was given to Mr Errol Crouch. Mr Crouch was instrumental in establishing the Mount Barker Men's Shed. The award was bittersweet because Mr Crouch's friend, Mr Graham Simmons, passed away recently from illness. Mr Simmons worked closely with Mr Crouch to develop and sustain the Men's Shed. Listening to Mr Crouch speak about Mr Simmons' life was very moving.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr CREGAN: Mr Amos Washington was recognised as Young Citizen of the Year.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, please!

Mr CREGAN: Mr Washington has made a very significant contribution as the 2018 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations. The council also recognised the Hahndorf Christmas Village as the event of the year. I wish to thank Jordana Ashcroft O'Sullivan and Jon Oertel and the efforts of many other volunteers at the village. Ms Sharon Johinke was recognised with a mayor's award. Ms Johinke has worked tirelessly to curate community art exhibitions for the Hills Arts Collective. At the same time, she has suffered from a very significant illness.

I record in this place my gratitude and the gratitude of my community for the work undertaken by the men, women and community groups whom I have mentioned.