QUEENSLAND NOMINEES FOR 2022 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Posted

MEDIA RELEASE

WEDNESDAY 27 OCTOBER 2021

 

QUEENSLAND NOMINEES FOR

2022 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Twitter: @AusoftheYear and #AusoftheYear Facebook: @AustralianoftheYear

Nominees for the 2022 Queensland Australian of the Year Awards include a man creating safe places for the homeless to rest, parents committed to preventing domestic violence, a woman making education possible for country children in need, a VC recipient and a man helping bridge the digital divide.

They are among 17 Queenslanders in the running to be named the Queensland Local Hero, Young Australian, Senior Australian or Australian of the Year.

The 2022 Queensland award nominees are:

Queensland Australian of the Year

Sue and Lloyd Clarke – Founders, Small Steps 4 Hannah (Camp Hill, Brisbane) Norm McGillivray – Founder, Beddown (Brisbane)

Melissa McGuinness – Founder, YOU CHOOSE Youth Road Safety (Gold Coast) Annette Whitaker – Co-founder/CEO, Pulmonary Hypertension Assoc Australia (Cairns)

Queensland Young Australian of the Year

Dr Tahnee Bridson – Founder, Hand-n-Hand Peer Support (Mareeba) Jack Growden – Founder/CEO, Lite Haus International (Townsville)

Cody Schaeffer – Founder/Director, Borderline Australia (New Farm, Brisbane) Dr Heidi Walkden – Neuroscientist and science policy fellow (Ipswich)

Queensland Senior Australian of the Year

Dr Colin Dillon AM APM – Australia’s first Indigenous police officer (McDowall, Brisbane) Beryl Neilsen OAM – Founder/Director, Winchester Foundation (Mackay)

Keith Payne VC AM – War veteran and Victoria Cross recipient (Mackay) Beverley Trivett – Director and Chair, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation (Brisbane)

Queensland Local Hero

Saba Abraham – Founder, Mu’ooz Restaurant & Catering social enterprise (Brisbane) Dr Nova Evans – Co-founder, Sunny Street (Sunshine Coast)

James Hill – Mental health advocate (Sunshine Coast)

Dr Zoe Knorre – Clinical psychologist, CEO Grace Homestead (Brisbane)

 

*see bios on following pages

 

The nominees are among 129 people being recognised across all states and territories as part of the program, which began in 1960.

The four award recipients from Queensland will be announced on the evening of Thursday 11 November 2021 in a ceremony at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane which will also be livestreamed.

 

They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2022.

National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand congratulated the Queensland nominees on being recognised for their achievements.

“The Queensland nominees are all extraordinary people in their own way,” said Ms Brand.

“They are helping and supporting others, taking leadership roles, advocating for change and making groundbreaking discoveries.”

For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards visit australianoftheyear.org.au.

ENDS.

Nominee bios on the following pages and can also be viewed from australianoftheyear.org.au.

Nominee photos can be downloaded from this link (note all photos provided by nominees): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lwtbgeb8ox4jycp/AABbPs-kA6EH27wWLn76RYsVa?dl=0

Media contact: Nicole Browne 0414 673 762   or      nicole@mediaopps.com.au