King's Birthday Honours

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:12): I move:

That this house expresses its appreciation to South Australian recipients of King's Birthday Honours for their services to our communities, state and nation.

The honours system, with the honours awarded at the King's Birthday and at Australia Day, I think is a significant opportunity for all of us to reflect on those good works that are being done in our communities, across our state and our nation by individuals who do not necessarily seek recognition for the honours, but by their recognition we can all be inspired to do better. Today I will take the opportunity to highlight a few of those examples of service from those who were awarded King's Birthday Honours so that we may all take a moment to think about those in our electorates and our communities—and, for those of us in portfolio areas, those in our portfolios—and thank them for their work.

The first notable one was in the Officer of the Order of Australia, the AO division, which was awarded to the late Sir James Gilbert Hardy. I was in attendance at his state funeral where his extraordinary service to our nation was recorded. In reflecting again, this was a person who was the skipper of Gretel II in 1970 at the America's Cup challenge, the skipper of Southern Cross in 1974 and the skipper of Australia I in 1980. At his funeral, John Bertrand noted that, without his important role as a senior adviser and relief skipper for Australia II, that famous day, which was so important in Australia's sporting history—and, even more than that, our cultural history—would not have been able to take place.

Sir James Hardy was somebody whose work in business was recognised significantly through Hardys Wines and also more broadly throughout the wine sector and he constantly looked for an opportunity to give back to the community. In South Australia we particularly recognise and remember his service through the One and All foundation, Landcare Australia, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Royal Society for the Blind. All of these roles were significant and justify the honour, and it is only a shame that it was not able to be awarded during his lifetime.

I indicate I am not proposing to go through and give a summary of all of the awardees who were recognised, but I just want to touch on some with whom I either had a personal connection or, indeed, there are special portfolio reasons for me. I am sure other members will make contributions.

Dr Colin Croft Twelftree OAM was promoted, I suppose is the word, to AM, a Member of the Order of Australia, this year for his service to orthodontics and to education. I particularly appreciate the role he has played over more than three decades at Adelaide University in that very important work.

Recognised also in the Member of the Order of Australia division was Mr Alexander James Ward, now AM. His recognition was for significant service to the legal profession and to the arts. It is some time since Alex Ward was President of the Law Society of South Australia—nearly 20 years, I think—but I think it is also fair to say that his role modelling of that for subsequent Law Society presidents is still reflected on positively. He has obviously also served as President of the Law Council of Australia and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.

I thought that his service to the legal profession was worthy of the honour for which he has been identified, but I was really interested that they included his service to the arts. I was reflecting on this. I knew he served in the Australian Defence Force and I am aware of him being a significant patron of the arts. It was good to learn of his work in the Fringe Festival, through comedy in particular.

I think many South Australians would be familiar with Alex's work as a commentator on morning radio on FIVEaa and ABC over the years. I think, too, he has turned legal commentary on morning radio into an art form of its own. I commend him for that. I was really pleased to see the significant role he plays in the South Australian community recognised in this way.

We have recently commemorated National Police Remembrance Day. While there are a range of different public service-related awards that are particular to their fields of endeavour, and I recognise all of those recipients, given that it has just been Police Remembrance Day I highlight the three awardees of the Australian Police Medal from within SAPOL. I commend Chief Superintendent Scott Allison, Senior Sergeant Heidi Baldwin, and Senior Sergeant First Class Richard Errington for their significant service.

In the range of different and varied ways that we recognise people with Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM), I highlight a couple of examples of that service. I have known Mal and Val Hansen for an extended period of time through the Rotary Club of Campbelltown, which is a significant community organisation providing service and support and enriching the community in the areas served by myself and the member for Hartley, in particular, and the broader north-east.

Mal and Val's special elevating role within the club has been, I think, particularly their contribution to the Campbelltown Rotary Outback Experience—10 trips around regional, rural and remote Australia with convoys of cars doing works in different areas and raising significant funds for charity in the Royal Flying Doctor Service: hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last two decades. It was great to see them recognised.

I was pleased to see Sally Neville recognised with the OAM for her service to the hospitality industry and to business, particularly her lengthy service in food, wine, tourism and hospitality, Restaurant and Catering Australia, and more broadly to the community now through AmCham.

I highlight the work of Alan Kimber Field. Obviously, in my role as shadow education minister and former education minister I am always pleased when people's service to education is recognised. Alan's recognition was for music, serving the Country Choral Association and the South Coast Choral and Arts Society for many years. He is a life member of both organisations.

He was also a former principal of Victor Harbor High School, Murray Bridge High School, Glengowrie High School and, indeed, Alice Springs High School between 1968 and 1990. This is no small service. He was also a secondary school teacher for 12 years prior to that.

I think when you are in that order of 30 years-plus in the education department, serving particularly regional and rural students—and many of those years as a principal where you carry the weight of the school not just during school hours but around the clock—that is worthy of significant recognition. I am pleased to see that potentially many years after he could have been awarded, he was given that recognition.

In the arts portfolio, I am also cognisant of the work of Rosemary Liston Johnston, awarded an OAM for a range of services to arts, but particularly the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust, the State Theatre Company, Guildhouse, Brink Productions and others.

I thank Dr Pauline Margaret Morgan OAM for her service to the Catholic Church and, more broadly, to education in South Australia. The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart are currently benefiting from her efforts. She has been around Australia at different times, but in the South Australian education network her roles as a teacher and counsellor at Mary MacKillop College in Kensington, and as Principal of Caritas College, Port Augusta, stuck out to me.

Two other recipients I will highlight are a bit closer to home for me geographically. I want to commend Reginald Ernest Palmer, who lives very close to my electorate office actually. His recognition for service to primary and secondary education includes being a teacher in the South Australian Department for Education for 40 years, from 1951 to 1991, and since then working as a private tutor and also Principal of Adelaide Hills and Murraylands Education Centres.

Finally, Mr Maxwell Arthur Slee. Maxwell Slee has made services to community history. He was a police officer from 1963 to 1985 and has since that time maintained a significant role in the South Australian Police Historical Society. He has worked researching there, he has worked learning about information that has been able to be passed on to members of the society over many years. His publications across a range of topics have been appreciated, as has his service as a justice of the peace through Apex, and a range of other community activities.

To those recipients, and to all others in our community, I offer my commendation, and I am sure that all members of the house will join in that commendation to our King's Birthday Honours recipients this year.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (12:22): I also stand in support of this motion. The King's Birthday Honours are awarded each year to outstanding Australians who have made a significant impact in their respective fields, so it is very important that today we acknowledge those people, and ensure they are celebrated as they deserve. In 2024, 737 Australians were recognised, including 493 Australians across community service, science and research, industry, sport and the arts, and more fields were recognised in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

The Order of Australia is the nation's recognition for outstanding achievement and service. People from all backgrounds and parts of Australia are honoured and celebrated through the Order. The Order of Australia is an Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. For that reason, I am very keen today to make sure we acknowledge every single one of them listed, to make sure that their service is honoured and it goes down in Hansard today and acknowledged in our history books forever.

Congratulations to the late Sir James Gilbert Hardy for distinguished service to yachting, to the business sector, to charitable organisations and to the community. He has received an Order of Australia. For a Member of the Order of Australia, I congratulate Mr Peter John Blunden for significant service to journalism, particularly through print media, and to the community; Professor Katina D'Onise for significant service to public health through translational research, and policy and legislative reform; and the late Dr Arnold Gillespie for his significant service to medicine, particularly as an advocate for voluntary assisted dying. Congratulations also to Dr Geoffrey David Higgins for significant service to medicine through clinical virology testing technology and to microbiology.

Congratulations to Mr Ted Walter Huber for significant service to defence through science and technology development, Mr Mark Hayden Turra for significant service to community health through pathology, particularly microbiology and infectious diseases, and Dr Colin Croft Twelftree OAM for significant service to orthodontics, to education, and to professional associations.

Congratulations to Mr Alexander James Ward for significant service to the legal profession and to the arts, Mr David John Bryant for service to the community through a range of organisations, Mr Alan James Coulter for service to community sport and Mr David Cunningham for service to the beef cattle industry and to the central Australian community.

Congratulations to Mrs Laurel May Danzo for service to the community through St John Ambulance, Mr Alan Kimber Field for service to the community through music and to education, Mr Malcolm Ronald Hansen for service to the community through varying voluntary roles and Mrs Valerie Mary Hansen for service to her community through voluntary roles.

Congratulations to Mr Richard John Harry for service to the community through a range of organisations, Mrs Judith Margaret Hunter for service to the community of the Lefevre Peninsula, Mr Donald Ross Hurley for service to model railways and to rail history, and Dr Richard David Johnson for service to medicine and to hospital administration.

Congratulations to Mrs Rosemary Liston Johnston for service to the arts and to her community, Mr Douglas Herbert Kaesler for service to cycling, Dr Pauline Margaret Morgan for service to the Catholic Church of Australia and to education, and Ms Sally Denene Neville for service to the hospitality industry and to business.

Congratulations to Mrs Joy Nugent for service to nursing, particularly to palliative care; Mr Reginald Ernest Palmer for service to primary and secondary education; Mr Sandy Roberts for service to media as a sports commentator; Dr Jonathan Percy Rogers for service to dentistry in a range of roles; Ms Rona Evelyn Sakko PSM for service to science education; and Mr Trevor Robert Sharp for service to the community of McLaren Vale. I know him well and he does a lot for the car clubs down that way.

Congratulations to Mrs Nanette Gwendoline Sharp for service to the community of southern Adelaide; Mrs Sandra Rae Sharp for service to the community of McLaren Vale; Mr Maxwell Arthur Slee for service to the community, particularly history preservation organisations; Mr Peter Snowdon for service to the community and to Australian Rules football; Mr Phillip Wasley Styles for service to tourism in South Australia and to the community; and Mr John William Thorpe for service to the community of Gawler.

For the Public Service Medal, congratulations to Mrs Sandra Bridgland for outstanding public service in paediatric nursing, specifically in eating disorder care; Mr Samuel James Crafter for outstanding public service in leading energy project delivery within the South Australian government, significantly reforming the South Australian energy sector; Mr Andrew Robert MacDonald for outstanding public service in local government, providing strategic leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic; and Mrs Caroline Mary Mealor for outstanding public service in providing strategic leadership and reforms in the Attorney-General's Department.

For the Australian Police Medal, congratulations to Chief Superintendent Scott Antony Allison, Senior Sergeant Heidi Maria Baldwin and Senior Sergeant First Class Richard James Errington. For the Australian Fire Service Medal, congratulations to Mr James Ernest Keatch and Mr Phillip John McDonough.

For the Ambulance Service Medal, congratulations to Mr Anthony Cuzzocrea and Mrs Naomi Suzanne Stidiford. The Emergency Services Medal went to Dr Sara Lesley Pulford. Finally, the Australian Corrections Medal went to Mr Daniel Richard Colson.

Congratulations to all of those who have been awarded and thank you so much for your service. I commend the motion.

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (12:28): I rise to speak in support of the member for Morialta's motion expressing this house's appreciation to all the South Australian recipients of King's Birthday Honours for all of their various services to our communities, our state and our nation. I join with all members of this house in marking our acknowledgement and our appreciation for all those who have been honoured with King's Birthday Honours. Some of them are famous names and are well known to us all. Others are perhaps unsung heroes. All of them have contributed to our community and our state in really important ways, and it is right that this house today acknowledges them.

I want to make a very brief contribution to particularly acknowledge two of my constituents who were recipients of King's Birthday Honours, including Sally Neville OAM, who was recognised for service to the hospitality industry and to business. Sally, who is well known to me, has close to four decades' experience in the hospitality sector. Over 20 years, she ran restaurants and cafes such as Boltz and Unley's Cafe 48. During her time with Restaurant and Catering SA, Ms Neville helped pave the way for OzHarvest Australia to make a noticeable impact in South Australia. I particularly acknowledge my constituent Sally Neville and wish her a very big congratulations for her King's Birthday Honours.

I also acknowledge Alexander Ward AM, another constituent who was recognised this year, this time for significant service to the legal profession and also to the arts. Mr Ward is a past president of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the Law Council of Australia and the Law Society of South Australia. He has also made a very significant contribution to the arts, the Royal Australian Naval Reserves and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, so I congratulate Alexander Ward as well. To Sally and to Alexander, I wish them a very big congratulations for being recognised in this way.

As the shadow police minister, I would also like to particularly acknowledge those recipients of the Australian Police Medal this year, including Chief Superintendent Scott Antony Allison, Senior Sergeant Heidi Maria Baldwin and Senior Sergeant First Class Richard James Errington, as well as the winner of the Australian Corrections Medal, Mr Daniel Richard Colson. I pass on my congratulations to all the very worthy recipients of King's Birthday Honours.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:31): I, too, would like to make a contribution to a worthy motion that has been brought to this place by the member for Morialta. It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge Alan Coulter from Renmark. Alan is a great community man. He is also well known for his contribution to sporting clubs, particularly for the fitness programs and rehabilitation programs that he has brought into our country centres. The majority of that has been in Renmark because he is a Renmark man—all 79 years of Alan.

Alan Coulter OAM has been a great community person. The Renmark recreation centre has been named after him, and for very good reason. He was there in the very early days running that rec centre and making sure that the programs were all relevant to getting our sports men and women up and running, or getting them back up and running, for their chosen sports. It really was a great sight to see when Alan was given that recognition.

In some of the portfolio areas, I would like to acknowledge those who have received medals. The Ambulance Service Medal was awarded to Anthony Cuzzocrea, which is great to see, and also Laurel Danzo from the SA Ambulance Service has been given recognition. Doug Kaesler has also been given recognition for service to cycling, and I think he has been a longstanding contributor to the cycling world.

As the member for Bragg has just stated, the Australian Police Medal was awarded to Chief Superintendent Scott Allison, Senior Sergeant Heidi Baldwin and Senior Sergeant First Class Richard Errington. The Australian Fire Service Medal was awarded to James Keatch, as well as Phillip McDonough, in honour of their service to the frontline. The Ambulance Service Medal, as well as being awarded to Anthony Cuzzocrea, was awarded to Naomi Stidiford. The Emergency Services Medal was awarded to Dr Sara Pulford for her contribution as a frontline provider within the emergency services sector.

I will finish by acknowledging Sir James Hardy AO. What a great South Australian he has been. Affectionately known as 'Gentleman Jim', he has made his way around South Australia and made his mark globally as a world-renowned winemaker and businessman. I met Jim and his lovely wife, Joan, on a number of occasions. My vineyard property was across the road from Banrock Station, and obviously the Hardys name is quite synonymous to Banrock. Jim was regularly there when Banrock was being developed and built as not only a large vineyard but also an environmentally credentialed centre in the heart of the Riverland on the banks of the mighty River Murray.

The other two notes of Sir James Hardy were that he was a two-times Olympian and also a three-times America's Cup captain. I think he was well credentialled here in South Australia as being a great South Australian. Without further ado, that is my contribution on some of the great South Australians who have made a contribution to everyday life.

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (12:36): I also take the opportunity to support the member for Morialta's motion that expresses our appreciation in this house to South Australian recipients of the King's Birthday Honours for their services to our communities, state and nation. As others have mentioned, it is a significant award for those who win these King's Birthday Honours awards. A lot of it is the culmination of many years of hard work without ever an intention of being recognised in this way through the King's Birthday Honours List. However, their work, because it makes such a difference to everyone's lives here in South Australia, is rightfully recognised at this time.

First of all, I will talk about some of the South Australians who won OAMs at a statewide level and who have some association to my electorate and my background as well. Obviously, one of those is Sandy Roberts. Most people would know Sandy as a commentator of VFL/AFL games. However, before that, he did his grounding in sports commentary here in SA, commentating on the South Australian National Football League. He was a Norwood supporter, of course, and commentated games at the renaissance and peak of the SANFL, those late seventies, early eighties. He then moved to Melbourne in the eighties and basically got to commentate many a football match and saw the progress of the VFL competition as it transitioned across to the AFL.

I myself went over to Melbourne to play AFL for Collingwood. There was many a game that Sandy commentated. Of course, watching the highlights reel to do the review of the game, interspersed would be Sandy, and he really brought many a game to life. He and Bruce McAvaney are probably two of the best AFL football commentators, both hailing from South Australia. Bruce McAvaney is a resident of Morphett, living in Glenelg. I still see Bruce once or twice a fortnight walking along. Certainly, Sandy Roberts deserves his Order of Australia medal.

Another one in a sporting vein, Sir James Hardy was also awarded, posthumously, his Order of Australia. He passed away earlier, in June. He was born in Seacliff, on the coast there. He grew up around the yacht club but made his name of course in winemaking. Certainly, he is synonymous with winemaking but many people would recognise him for his yachting skills.

He was the commodore of Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club as one of his roles, but of course he was very notable for his efforts in the America's Cup and yachting there. He was the skipper on a number of occasions, but also, importantly, was adviser to the Australia II skipper, John Bertrand. Finally, after a century of attempts to wrest the America's Cup away from the New York Yacht Club, to have it come to Australia was massive back in 1983 when it happened. Sir James Hardy, while not actually onboard the yacht, certainly played a significant role.

Another award winner who has an association with my role as shadow minister for space and defence industries is Ted Huber. He was awarded the honour for his contributions to defence through science and technology. He set up his business, Acacia Systems, I think in 1992 and that has gone from strength to strength and, again, plays a substantial role in progressing defence industries here in South Australia. We always aspire to be the defence state here and to have a company that has been able to be established here and then, 30 years later, still remain successful, is worthy of recognition.

Many of these award winners were recognised at Government House not long ago, I think back in August, alongside some other award winners. One of those award winners I would really like to highlight was Andrew John Underwood from Glengowrie. He was awarded the Royal Humane Society Australasia Bravery Certificate of Merit for his heroic act in rescuing his neighbour from her burning house in 2015.

I think it was about 9 o'clock at night when he saw smoke coming from his neighbour's house. Andrew immediately acted and went to the rescue of his neighbour, first of all having to bash down the door to gain access to the burning house, which, by that stage, was heavily filled with smoke; in fact, the smoke was so intense that it caused Andrew to have to leave the house because he could not see, at first search, any sign of his neighbour. However, that did not dispel his concern that his neighbour could well have been in there, so he returned for a second time with a torch this time, and battled his way through the fire and smoke where he was able to see his neighbour face-down on the floor. Again, on attempting to rescue her and take her out, he was beaten back by the flames and smoke.

Fortunately, by that time, on leaving the neighbour's house, the emergency services had arrived and he was able to tell them exactly where the neighbour was and with their equipment they were able to go in and retrieve the neighbour. Sadly, she was overwhelmed and unfortunately died because of the fire and the smoke inhalation, but the sheer act of bravery performed by Andrew really speaks volumes, with him putting his neighbour and his community ahead of himself.

The award itself was certainly a testament to Andrew's bravery and his selflessness in the face of danger. We are very fortunate, I think all of us here in South Australia but certainly people living in Glengowrie, to have individuals like Andrew who are really willing to step up and help others in their time of need.

Of course, it is not every day that we witness such courage, so Andrew's actions undoubtedly are worthy of being recognised with a bravery award for his heroic act. I am so pleased to be supporting this motion which recognises South Australians who are going above and beyond and contributing to their community, and certainly Andrew Underwood is top amongst that list.

Motion carried.