Meet the Queenslanders nominated for Australian of the Year awards

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Grieving parents determined to prevent another tragedy, a Queensland youth dedicated to bringing digital technology to students in underprivileged communities, and the founder of a restaurant training refugee women are among the nominees for the Queensland Australian of the World Awards. Year.

A total of 17 Queenslanders have been nominated for the 2022 awards, which include Queensland Australian of the Year, Queensland Young Australian of the Year, Queensland Local Hero and Queensland Senior Australian of the Year.

The Queensland winners will be announced on Thursday 11 November at the Gallery of Modern Art in South Bank.

National prices will be announced on January 25.

Australian Nominees of the Year from Queensland

Sue and Lloyd Clarke

After the shocking loss of their daughter Hannah Clarke and grandchildren Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey in February 2021, Sue and Lloyd Clarke founded Small Steps 4 Hannah with the aim of educating Australia on the dangers of coercive control and domestic violence.

Their efforts led to the Queensland Women’s Safety and Justice Task Force and changed the national debate on coercive control.

Norm McGillivray

The desire to help those sleeping rough drove Norm McGillivray to develop Beddown – putting pop-up accommodations, showers, and food in empty parking lots overnight.

Norm McGillivray’s organization, Beddown, has helped hundreds of homeless people sleep comfortably at night.(Provided)

Beddown now provides a safe place for homeless people to rest and eat at night.

Melissa McGuinness

Finding a way forward through a deep personal tragedy when her son was killed in a traffic accident, along with four other young adults, Melissa McGuinness founded YOU CHOOSE Youth Road Safety, a program aimed at preventing road trauma among young people. youth.

In four years, the organization has implemented programs in schools across Australia, empowering young people to take responsibility for themselves and their peers on the roads.

Annette whitaker

A long-standing patient support group, Pulmonary Hypertension Association Australia, has advocated for those diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension.

A gray-haired woman sits at a desk and talks on the phone
Annette Whitaker campaigned for better research, drugs and awareness of pulmonary hypertension.(Provided)

Annette Whitaker co-founded the group and campaigned tirelessly for new drugs to be approved in Australia, and led the advocacy in the space for years.

Queensland Young Australian of the Year

Dr Tahnee Bridson

Determined to help her peers in medical fields who were suffering from wellness or mental health issues in silence, Dr Tahnee Bridson founded Hand-n-Hand Peer Support in March 2020.

Since then, it has grown to over 2,000 social media health workers and joined the Black Dog Institute as an official partner, helping healthcare workers find support from friends and of colleagues.

Cody schaeffer

Borderline Australia Founder and Director Cody Schaeffer continued his years of advocating for the well-being of young people with education and youth mental health programs. Borderline Australia is now running the Borderline Youth Camp and continues to advocate for youth issues.

A young man smiling
Cody Schaeffer has worked tirelessly for the rights of young people.(Provided: Cody Schaeffer)

Borderline follows Mr Schaeffer’s earlier efforts to get teens off the streets and give them more opportunities, as well as his work at Brisbane Radio.

Jack Grown

After a visit to Papua New Guinea in 2017 that opened his eyes to the lack of digital technology available to students in the region, Jack Growden left his own laptop at Kuta Primary School.

Six months later, he returned with more laptops and founded LiteHaus International to continue providing digital technology to students in four countries.

Dr Heidi Walkden

Neuroscientist Dr. Heidi Walkden was recognized in the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list for a revolutionary discovery of a new pathway by which bacteria can travel from the nasal cavity to the brain.

A young woman working in a medical research laboratory
Ipswich neuroscientist Heidi Walkden is internationally recognized for her advancements in medical science.(Provided: Heidi Walkden)

Dr Walkden has developed children’s books promoting women in science, distributing over 6,000 copies to children, schools and libraries nationwide.

Queensland Senior Australian of the Year

Dr Colin Dillon AM APM

Australia’s first indigenous police officer, Dr Colin Dillon joined the police force in 1965, two years before the 1967 referendum which introduced the count of indigenous peoples into the national census, and 10 years before the entry into force. force of the Racial Discrimination Act.

Dr. Dillon was the first police officer on duty to come forward voluntarily and testify under oath before the Fitzgerald Inquiry.

Elderly man smiling wearing glasses
Dr Colin Dillon was Australia’s first indigenous policeman.(Provided: Colin Dillon)

His testimony contributed to the results of the investigation and to the imprisonment of the police commissioner, several corrupt politicians and police officers.

Beverley Trivet

After the loss of her husband John in 1997 to glioblastoma multiforme, Beverley Trivett began a 25-year effort to advocate for brain cancer research, advocacy and treatment in Australia.

As Director and President of the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, Ms. Trivett has helped invest $ 21 million in brain cancer research, funded 53 research grants, invested $ 6.3 million in clinical trials and created 2,500 brain cancer resources.

Beryl Neilsen OAM

Determined to help children in rural and regional areas receive a high quality education, Beryl Neilsen founded the Joh and Beryl Neilsen Winchester Foundation, named after her family farm south of Moranbah.

A smiling woman with gray ears wearing glasses
Beryl Neilsen is the founder and director of the Winchester Foundation, which helps children in rural and rural areas to learn.(Provided)

The foundation helps families cover the costs of boarding schools and universities, and has provided children in the region with educational opportunities that might not have been available to them otherwise, and launched them into careers in medicine, science. veterinarians and other professions.

Keith Payne VC AM

In 1951, Keith Payne joined the Australian Army and was sent to war, beginning a military career that saw him rescuing 40 of his soldiers under heavy fire in a Vietnamese jungle in 1969.

His actions won him a Victoria Cross in 1970, but upon his return to Australia, Mr Payne struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. This led him to become active in supporting returning soldiers and defending Indigenous soldiers and communities within the military bureaucracy.

Queensland local hero

Saba Abraham

Knowing firsthand what it is like to arrive in Australia as a refugee, Saba Abraham has spent years working to build multiculturalism in Australia.

During the pandemic, Ms Abraham, as chair of the Brisbane Community Leaders Gathering, helped ensure that public health messages were translated into multiple languages.

Two women speak at a multicultural festival
Saba Abraham came to Australia from Eritrea and has spent years supporting refugee communities and defending multicultural ties in Australia.(Provided: Saba Abraham)

Since 2003, Ms. Abraham has also operated Mu’ooz Restaurant, a non-profit catering and catering business that has employed and trained more than 270 refugee women.

Dr Nova Evans

In 2018, Dr Nova Evans and his colleague Sonia Goodwin quit their jobs in the Queensland health system and opened four-hour primary health clinics for homeless and vulnerable people on the Sunshine Coast.

Since then, Dr Evans’ organization Sunny Street has now expanded to offer clinics in South East Queensland and is expected to operate in Canberra soon.

James hill

After his own experiences with mental illness, James Hill felt that the lack of mental health education and the stigma surrounding asking for help almost cost him his life.

Having started as a volunteer speaker with Beyond Blue in 2015, Mr. Hill has continued his advocacy work through his work at Energy Queensland, where he works as a tradie and has established a mental health advocate position. fulltime.

Dr Zoé Knorre

Grace Homestead Executive Director Dr. Zoe Knorre realized there was not enough support for parents struggling with substance abuse disorders while caring for children.

a young woman wearing a dark suit and long dark hair, smiling
Dr Zoe Knorre runs Grace Homestead, which helps parents struggling with drug addiction care for their children.(Provided: Dr Zoe Knorre)

Grace Homestead, based in Lockyer Valley, now offers drug and alcohol rehabilitation services for women with dependent children. The organization is run by volunteers and operates without funding.

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