SEVEN Mid North Coast community champions are among the 1100 people across the nation today (June 14) receiving a Queen's Birthday honour.
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Among the top awards in the nation, Christine Nixon, Australia's first female police chief commissioner, was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia. She is among 416 women on the general awards list, which equals 44 per cent of recipients, a record number of females.
Five people were appointed the Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia: foreign affairs chief Frances Adamson, former Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, incoming Tasmanian governor Barbara Baker, Australian Ballet director David McAllister, and geophysics researcher Kurt Lambeck.
Among the sportspeople recognised are AFL's Michael Long and Neale Daniher, plus rugby league's Glenn Lazarus and Ricky Stuart.
The Mid North Coast recipients are:
George Hoad AM
Killabakh resident George Hoad's voluntary service to the community has spanned 35 years, 20 of those years spent in the gardening world locally, and 10 years nationally.
For this he has been appointed an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours List for significant service to the residential horticulture industry, and to the community.
Nancy Boyling OAM
Nancy Boyling of Wingham was honoured for 'service to the community through charitable organisations'.
Nancy has been a member with Taree Quota Club (formerly Quota International Taree Inc.) since 1993, holding various executive positions over the 28 years, including two stints as president, first from 2003 to 2005, and again from 2018 to 2020.
Virginia Cox OAM
Virginia Cox's life can be written in chapters and together they deliver a story of what can be achieved when you believe anything is possible.
Virginia has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in this year's Queen's Birthday honours list.
She was awarded the OAM for her services to librarianship.
Virginia was the children's librarian at Port Macquarie-Hastings Library for 18 years and she treasured every day. Life, she says, is about learning and giving it a go.
Felicity Carter OAM
A passionate and dedicated community worker, Felicity has been awarded a prestigious OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) for her selfless service to the Great Lakes region.
Felicity described working with and getting to know Worimi Elders, Janice Paulson, Lynette Davis, Pam Paulson, Steve Brereton, Noeline Lever, Margie Donnelly and educator, Lee Townsend as one of life's greatest joys.
"Working together with these inspirational Elders to create programs supporting education and culture has had a powerful impact on me and changed my life for the better."
Meg McIntyre OAM
Meg McIntyre of Port Macquarie has been recognised for her passion and dedication to physiotherapy and community work with a prestigious honour - a medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to community health.
She was the physiotherapist for the Australian Women's Cricket Team from 1989 to 1998 while also becoming the physiotherapist for the Australian Women's Hockey Team between 1994 and 1998.
While working with the world champion Women's Cricket Team, one of the players became unwell and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a neurological disease Meg herself would later be diagnosed with at the age of 42.
Kevin Alford OAM
Associate Professor Kevin Alford's love of helping people as a cardiologist in Port Macquarie has spanned more than 40 years.
Now he has been recognised for service to medicine as a cardiologist.
He has been instrumental in the institution and expansion of cardiac medical services in the region.
Associate Professor Alford said he was extremely honoured and grateful.
Chris Dempsey OAM
Chris Dempsey of Manning Point has been involved with cricket since he moved to Australia from England when he was 16.
"I just love the game. The camaraderie, the sportsmanship; it's a great game for the kids and that's probably the main thing,'' Chris said.
He's been rewarded for his devotion to the sport in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List. Chris has received an OAM for Services to Cricket.
