National Honours Advisory Committee - Selected Biographies

BROWN The Honourable Robert James (Bob) - AM

ROSENWAX Dr David Barry- AM

 

ARCHER Mr John Robert - OAM

 

CARMICHAEL Mr Thomas McLeod - OAM

 

de SAYRAH Mr Harold Lancelot - OAM

 

EDDY Mrs Maureen Palmer - OAM

 

GIBSON Mr Eric Edward (Joe) - OAM (Deceased)

GRAHAM Mr Max - OAM

HODGES Mr Ian Keith - OAM

MELLS Mr Patrick - OAM

 

PICKETT Mr Edward Arthur - OAM

 

SKINNER Mr David Murray - OAM

 

TOMS Mr Gordon Alan- OAM

 

WENDON Mrs Nance Elaine - OAM

The Honourable Robert James (Bob) BROWN - AM

Corlette NSW 2315

For service to the Australian Parliament, particularly in the area of transport policy, to the community of the Hunter Region through local government, heritage and sporting organisations, and to economics education.

Federal Minister for Land Transport, 1988-1993.
Federal Member for Charlton, 1985-1998.
Federal Member of the Hunter, 1980-1984.
Chairman, (Federal) Economic Policy Committee, 1983-1987, Secretary, 1980-1983.
Conventions Delegate (Federal) and Leader of Parliamentary Delegations, 1980s-1990s.
State Member for Cessnock, 1978-1980.
Australian Labor Party, Life Member, 2000; 50 years’ membership.

Life Patron, Australian Workers Heritage Centre, 2003; Foundation Member.
Secretary, Weston Retired Mineworkers, 1999-2003.
Chairman, Federal Parliamentary Labor Party, 1987-1988.
Vice Chairman, (former) Hunter Regional Association of Councils, 1975.

Mayor, City of Greater Cessnock, 1968-1969 and 1974-1980; Alderman, 1968-1980.
Member, Hunter Regional Planning Committee, 1974-1975.
Member, Hunter District Water Board, 1976-1980.

Established a museum at the Kurri Kurri High School with items of historic relevance to the Hunter Region; involved in relocating the Museum, renamed the Sir Edgeworth David Memorial Museum, to larger premises; Member of the Coalfield Heritage Group established to manage the Museum's operations.

Former Patron of educational, youth, sports and recreational organisations.
Patron, Kurri Kurri Sub-Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia.
Chairman, Fundraising Committee, Kirinari Hostel, Cardiff.
President, Kurri Kurri Rugby League Football Club, 1973-1977.

President, Kurri Kurri Lions Club, 1971-1972.

President, Maitland Arts Council, 1961-1962.
Delegate, Maitland Youth Welfare Council, 1961.
Deputy Principal, Kurri Kurri High School, 1976-1978; Teacher, 1966-1976.
Classroom Teacher of Economics, Broken Hill High School, appointed 1956; other teaching roles at Raymond Terrace High School and Deniliquin High School.

Author, The Australian Economy, published in 1989 in response to a change in the NSW economics curriculum.
Author, Student Economics (Parts 1 and 2), and Economics Workbooks, published between 1966 and 1984.
Custodian Member, State Library of New South Wales.
Foundation Member, Fred Hollows Foundation.

Dr David Barry ROSENWAX - AM

Dover Heights NSW 2030

For service to dentistry, particularly through the Australian Society of Implant Dentistry, and to the community.
Federal Secretary, Australian Society of Implant Dentistry, since 1992; NSW President, 1992-1993; NSW Vice-President, 1986-1991; Federal Counsellor, since 1988; NSW Counsellor, since 1985.
Member, Foundation Committee, ‘Filling the Gap’, Indigenous Dental Program, since 2006.
Senior Clinical Associate, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Sydney, 1994-1997.
Member, Australian Society of Periodontology.
Member, Australian Dental Association.
Dentist, 1960-2003

President, Woollahra-Vaucluse Lions Club, 1978-1979, 1989-1990, 1997-1999 and 2003-2004;
Secretary; Treasurer; Committee Chair; Member, since 1973.
Regional Chairman, Lions Club International, 1995-1997;
Zone Chairman, 1991-1992 and 1994-1995.
Director, Lions NSW/ACT Save Sight and Health Care Ltd; recently retired after several years.

Current Board Member, Point Zero; working with youth at risk, youth prevention and counselling program.
President, Jewish Centre on Ageing,, since 2006;(not-for-profit organisation partially funded by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care; Vice-President; Member, since 2000.
Member, The Great Synagogue Sydney, 4th Generation; Volunteer Guide, since 1994.

Mr John Robert ARCHER - OAM

Bexley NSW 2207

For service to lawn bowls as a competitor and through executive roles.

President, Royal NSW Bowling Association, since 2005; Senior Vice-President, 2003-2005; Chairman, State Membership Committee, since 2005; State Councillor, 2002-2004; Member, Charity of the Year Committee, 2000-2002; Deputy Chairman, General Services Committee, 2000-2002; Reporter and Journalist, Bowls NSW, 2001-2004; Member, General Services Committee, since 1999.

President, Zone 12 Bowling Association, 2000-2003; Vice-President, Zone 12, 1999-2000; Chairman, Zone Match, 1999-2000; State Councillor from Zone 12, 2002-2003; Delegate to Zone 12, 1996.

President, Sydenham-Bankstown District Bowling Association, 1999-2000; Senior Vice-President, 2001-2002; Treasurer, 2002; Assistant Secretary, 1995; held positions of Vice-President, Senior Vice-President; Chairman, Match; and Chairman Greens, between 1995-1999.

President and Chairman, Belmore Bowling Club, 1987-1998; Treasurer, 1981; Vice-President, 1983; Senior Vice-President; Life Member, 1992; Member, from 1979.

Member, Dubbo City Bowling Club, 1977-1978.
Member, Orange City Bowling Club, 1970-1976.
Member, Forbes Bowling Club, 1967-1969.

Author of 2 books on lawn bowls.

Secretary, Lions Club of Forbes, 1967-1970.

Honorary Ambulance Officer, Forbes, 1967-1970.

Awards include:
Australian Sports Medal, for his service to lawn bowls, 2000.

Mr Thomas McLeod CARMICHAEL - OAM

Yarrawonga Vic 3730

For service to the community of the Yarrawonga district through a range of church, local government, emergency service, educational, and sporting organisations.

Chairperson, Bundalong Presbyterian/Uniting Church, since 1986; Member, Parish Council; Convenor, Parish Property and Finance Committee; also served on the Council of the Yarrawonga Region Parish of the Uniting Church in Australia.

President, (former) Yarrawonga Shire Council, 1969-1970; Councillor, 1963-1982.
Captain, Bundalong Rural Fire Brigade, 1963-1982; Inaugural President, 1959-1963; Member, for 40 years.
Member, Silo Committee, 1958-2001.
President, School Council, Yarrawonga Secondary College, 1980-1990; Member, School Council, 1974-1990.
Councillor, Yarrawonga State School, 1970-1974.

Member of local Lions Club, 1964-1966.

Captain, Bundalong Tennis Club, 1959-1967; Secretary/Treasurer, 1949-1955; Member, 1959-1971; Life Member.

Mr Harold Lancelot de SAYRAH - OAM

Thornleigh NSW 2120

For service to the community through Lions Australia and as a supporter of humanitarian aid projects in Sri Lanka.

Treasurer, Lions Club of Bankstown, since 1997;
President, 1995-1996; involved in the Club's initiative to donate $50,000 for relief building in Sri Lanka following the 2004 Tsunami;
Project Chairman in 2002 [in association with the Sydney Sri Lankan community and St John Ambulance Australia (NSW)] for the export of stretches to rural hospitals in Sri Lanka;
Project Chairman since 1993 for the export of used spectacles and conducting of eye camps in remote areas of Sri Lanka (approximately one million people have been screened).

Life Member, Lions Club International, 2005.

Former Region and Zone Chairman, Lions Clubs District 201N5.

Publicity Officer, Ceylon Society of Australia, since 2005.
Justice of the Peace for New South Wales, since 1993.

Awards include:
Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, Lions Club International, 1995.

Mrs Maureen Palmer EDDY - OAM

Marulan NSW 2579

For service to the community of Marulan and district through local government and a range of service, arts and charitable organisations.

Councillor, Goulburn Mulwaree Shire Council, since 2004; Member of a range of Council committees and represents the Council in the Marulan Progress Association.
Deputy Mayor, Mulwaree Shire Council, 1990-2004; Councillor, 1987-2004.

President, Marulan and District Lions Club, 2001-2002 and 2005-2006;
Vice-President, 1995-1997; Treasurer, 2002-2003; Zone Chairman (responsible for clubs throughout the Southern Highlands of NSW), 2002-2003.

Current President, Heritage Fair Association; established the annual Heritage Fairs, 1990.
Current President, Marulan Progress Association; involved since 1980s.
Current Secretary, Mulwaree Arts Inc; involved since 1999.
Secretary, Marulan and District Pre-School, 1998-2002.
Member, Marulan Historical Society, for many years; involved in the organisation of the Marulan Sesquicentenary and the Railway Sesquicentenary.

Elder, Marulan Uniting Church, for many years; Representative, Uniting Church Synod and Council; current President, Property Committee.

Author, several books about the history of the Marulan area including Marulan: A Unique Heritage as well as histories of the Big Hill Church, the Uniting Church in Marulan and Greenwich Park.

Involved in range of other community organisations including the Country Women's Association, various youth and sporting organisations, the Anzac Day Committee, Marulan Australia Day Committee, Marulan Sports Clubs and youth and senior citizens groups, for many years.

Marulan Postmistress, from 1980s until her retirement in 1999.

Awards/recognition include:
Marulan ‘Australia Day Citizen’, 2000.

Mr Eric Edward (Joe) Gibson - OAM (Deceased)

Late of Condobolin NSW 2877

For service to the community of Condobolin through ex-service, charitable and sporting organisations.
President, Condobolin Sub-Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia, 1973-1996; Vice-President, 1970-1973; Life Member, 1979; visitor, 1961-1979; hospital visitor, for almost 50 years.
Inaugural Secretary, Toukley Sub-Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia, 1950-1952; Foundation Member, 1950.
Joined the Returned and Services League of Australia, 1946.
Director, Condobolin RSL Club Ltd, for several years; Life Member.

Foundation Member, Condobolin Lions Club, until ca1994.

Volunteer, Meals on Wheels, 1980-1992.

Chairman, Condobolin Housing Advisory Committee, New South Wales Housing Commission; ceased operating in 1987.
President, Condobolin Golf Club, for 4 years; Vice-President, for 5 years; Committee Member, for 20 years; Life Member, 1988; Member, since 1962.
Former President and Captain, Condobolin Veteran Golfers; Foundation Member.
Life Member, Condobolin Diggers Swimming Club; Foundation Member, 1957.

Awards/recognition include:

Citizen of the Year (Condobolin district), Lachlan Shire Council, 1994.
Meritorious Service Medal, Returned and Services League of Australia, 1993.

Mr Gibson died on 13 August 2006.

Mr Max GRAHAM- OAM

Congarinni via Macksville NSW 2447

For service to local government and to the community of Nambucca, particularly through a range of charitable, aged care, disability support and emergency service organisations.

Mayor, Nambucca Shire Council, 1993-1999; President, 1986-1993; Member, 1982-2004.
Member, Nambucca Valley Cancer Support Group Fundraising Committee, since 1996.

Member, Lions Club of Macksville, since 1987.

Current Member, Nambucca Heads Senior Citizens Club, for many years.
Honorary Member, Bowraville Community Pre-School, 2000; involved with Pre-School Committee, since 1985; Member of the steering committee for its establishment, 1985.

Former Chairman, Nambucca Valley Phoenix; provider of employment opportunities for people with an intellectual disability.
Board Member (Council Delegate), Nambucca Valley Care Limited (aged care facility), 1982-1986; Life Member.
Member, Bowraville Chamber of Commerce, for 15 years.

Involved in the establishment of the Nambucca River Marine Rescue in 1995; Member, for many years.
President, Talarm Rural Fire Brigade, for 15 years; Member, for 37 years.
Member, Nambucca Bushfire Management Committee, for 15 years.
Life Member, RSPCA.

Awards
Centenary Medal, 2001.
.

Mr Ian Keith Hodges - OAM

Toormina NSW 2452

For service to the community, particularly through a range of police-related organisations.

Branch Chairman, Police Association of New South Wales, Coffs Harbour, 1983-1999; North Coast Delegate to annual conference, 1998-1999.
Chairman, Retired Police Association, North Coast Chapter, since 2003; current Secretary.
Legator, New South Wales Police Legacy, since 1998.
New South Wales Police Officer, 1972-2000.

President, Sawtell RSL Club, since 2003;
Vice-President, for 14 years; Board Member, since 1983. Life Member.

Foundation Member, Toormina Apex Club, 1977-1992; Club President; organised charity concert for Cystic Fibrosis Association (CFA) of New South Wales; instrumental in Apex New South Wales adopting CFA as beneficiary of fundraising project.

Foundation President, Blue Light Disco, Coffs Harbour.
President, Sawtell District Meals on Wheels, 2001-2005.

Foundation Member, Moulamein Lions Club, 1973-1977; held several executive positions.

Awards/recognition include:
Sawtellian of the Year, 2004.
Service Badge, Police Association of New South Wales, 1986.