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Perth, |
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Locals
honoured for Queen's
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Eight people in the western suburbs were named in the Queen's Birthday 2000 Honours. They are listed here according to their awards and in alphabetical order. Officer (AO) in the General Division Beryl Grant , of Daglish, has dedicated her life to helping children and families, and her Queen's Birthday AO is the most recent recognition for her services to nursing and to the community. Miss Grant said the greatest achievement in her career was helping the community through nursing. She said: "I don't need awards. The rewards are the people who keep in contact with you over the years." Born in Subiaco, Miss Grant was orphaned at 14. After finishing her junior schooling she worked in the accounts section of the Public Works department. She said she'd always wanted to work with children, and when someone suggested nursing, it seemed a means to an end. She gained general nursing and midwifery qualifications, teaching and clinical experience at the Children's Hospital, now Princess Margaret Hospital. She then trained in the eastern states and received the Florence Nightingale scholarship. In 1959 Miss Grant was appointed matron - later director of nursing - of the new Ngala Mothercraft and Training Centre in Perth, later the Ngala Family Resource Centre, a position she held she retired in 1980. Ngala was noted for its innovative and compassionate care of children and families. Miss Grant said she still kept in contact with the woman who was the first baby born at the centre. She also received a congratulatory phone call this week from the woman who was the first nurse she trained at Ngala. A woman came up to her at a conference last year and said, "Matron Grant, you taught me child care". That former student is now a lecturer at La Trobe University, specialising in child care. Miss Grant said these were the experiences life rewarded you with, and the positive experiences she looked forward to. She said the most important thing she worked towards was to improve family life. Miss Grant was a significant contributor to the change from hospital-based to tertiary education for nurses. She has received an OBE for services to nursing and the welfare of children and families (1976), The Queen's Jubilee Medal (1977), the Advance Australia Award (1993), and in May was conferred as a Distinguished Life Fellow of the Australian Royal College of Nursing.
Member (AM) in the General Division Peter Graham, of Nedlands, received his AM for service to ophthalmology, particularly his part in developing programs to save sight and set up eye health care services in communities here and overseas.. However, Dr Graham said the award should really go to his wife, Gwyneth, who had always been a pillar of support. He said: "I'm just a freelance ophthalmologist indulging in my hobby." Dr Graham worked as a medical officer in Java, West Timor and Malaysia, as well as with Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley region, with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. He has taught in Pakistan, Somalia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, China and Indonesia, as well as working with the Rotary Sight Restoration project in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and WA Aboriginal communities. Dr Graham said other hard workers who never got any publicity were those in mission hospitals who worked on "a shoestring and an oily rag". He said despite developments in the treatments of eye diseases, even simple things like vitamin A supplements for children, the world's ageing population meant blindness was becoming more common. "One doesn't feel terribly satisfied that there are more blind people than when one started," he said. Dr Graham retired from private practice in 1992 but still takes on honorary appointments and voluntary work with Aboriginal communities, charitable organisations and developing countries.
Bill Hassell Exchange students from around the world shared the Dalkeith home of Bill and Sue Hassell each year for about a decade. For Mr Hassell, it was his way of repaying Rotary for the support it had given him as a youngster - he had been a foundation graduate in his student days. Though never a Rotary member, Bill said he and Sue supported its work by opening their home to students from South Africa, Japan, Mexico, Argentina, Canada and the UK over the years. "Some are still friends today, others we have not heard from since," said Mr Hassell. The former leader of the WA Liberal Party received an AM in the Queen's Birthday honours list. Speaking to the POST from a ship as it was about to dock in Naples harbour, Mr Hassell said he and his wife would celebrate by visiting the ruins of Pompeii. "I am very pleased," he said. "I do quite a lot of voluntary work and hope it is helpful to people." He said he had been involved with the annual Anglicare appeal since the Archbishop of Perth invited him to join in the 1980s. Mr Hassell is also on the board of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The Hassells have two daughters, Alison (25) and Helen (20), and a son, Tom (22).
Jeffrey Howlett West Perth architect Jeffrey Hamilton Howlett, who designed Perth Concert Hall, has been made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia. See our front page story for the details.
June Jones Swanbourne education guru (Gweneth) June Jones has spent the past 45 years involving herself in school and tertiary education. Involved in almost 40 different committees, councils, boards and education centres (among other groups), she is still an active member of the University of WA Senate. Mrs Jones was the principal of St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Mosman Park for 18 years, retiring in 1997. "I miss the girls, the staff and the families," Mrs Jones said. "I loved it, but it was a very demanding life. "After 18 years, I was physically worn out." Mrs Jones said the highlight of her career was simply the opportunity to help build a community in education for young people.
Medal (OAM) in the General Division John Hollingshead, of Dalkeith, received an AM for his service to community health. On a visit to Bali in 1988, Mr Hollingshead was shocked by the high rate of blindness caused by treatable cataracts. He instigated a Rotary Sight Restoration Project on the Indonesian island and raised more than $1.2 million for it. It is estimated the project, which was given a permanent base in Denpasar by the Indonesian government in 1996, has saved the sight of 14,000 impoverished people. Mr Hollingshead has spent 25 years working in health in WA including long-term positions as the state organiser of the Muscular Dystrophy Research Association of WA and the administrator of the Neuromuscular Foundation of WA.
Medal (OAM) in the Military Division Being an inspiration to his fellow soldiers won Captain Neil McNamara an Order of Australia Medal. The 44-year-old father of two daughters from Wembley was described as a great credit to the Australian army in the official citation. It also recognised his total dedication to progressing professional excellence within the Special Forces Group. He joined the army 25 years ago. "His forthright manner, together with his excellent leadership and managerial skills has provided inspiration to all members of the Special Forces Group," the citation reads. Captain McNamara was not available to comment.
Conspicuous Service Cross A Swanbourne soldier won the Conspicuous Service Cross but his mates were taking it all in their stride. Warrant Officer Glenn Hibbert was an outstanding instructor at Australia's Royal Military College, according to the citation in the Queen's Birthday honours. But army officers at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, said he would not want his picture or any information about himself in the newspaper. Major Bill Brydon said WO Hibbert had been posted to the Military College as part of his job and he had shared his experience with recruits. |
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