In 2013, Vision Australia is very proud to congratulate people who have been recognised for, among other things, their dedication to supporting people who are blind or have low vision and for eye health.
The Governor-General, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC CVO, Chancellor of the Order of Australia, has approved awards announced today in the Australia Day 2013 Honours List.
Included in these awards are 571 recipients, who are receiving awards in the general division of the Order of Australia, in recognition of their diverse contributions and service to fellow citizens in Australia and internationally.
Mrs Bryce said of this year’s Awards, “Awards in the Australian honours system represent the highest level of recognition accorded by our nation for outstanding achievement and service. The Honours announced today recognise community values and celebrate what is important and unifying in Australian life”, Ms Bryce said.
Vision Australia is very proud to congratulate the following Australians for their significant contribution in the field of blindness and low vision:
Mr Anjou has been a senior research fellow at the Indigenous Eye Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, since 2010.
In conjunction with one of our founding organisations, Vision Australia Foundation, he established in Low vision services for people in regional Victoria. He was also instrumental in establishing an eye clinic at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
Dr Ellis is an Ophthalmic Surgeon and team leader, Sumba Eye Program, Sumba Foundation, since 2008 as well as the East Timor Eye Program since 2003. Dr Ellis has led a team of Ophthalmic Surgeons, Optometrists, nurses and volunteers to the islands in Indonesia to perform eye surgery and operations.
Mr Harkin is the Disability Services Commissioner for Victoria.
Mrs Hay is a current member on the executive council of the Queensland Braille Writing Association. She is also a current tutoring coordinator in braille and moon alternative print formats, and a current volunteer proof-reader.
Close friend of Vision Australia, Mr Cliff Jackson has been volunteering at our Enfield site since 1994. During that time he was involved in establishing a community-based support network for the visually impaired. This network now stretches Australia wide.
Cliff was also the NSW Regional Director of Ansett Industries, and Chief Executive at British Aerospace. In 1964 he co-founded Papuan Air Transport, Port Moresby and in 1964 the organisation was renamed Papuan Airlines Pty Ltd, later becoming Air Nuigine, the national Airline of PNG.
A dedicated fundraiser of Vision Australia, Mrs Lovett was the co-founder (with her husband) of the Mudgee branch of the Friends of Vision Australia fundraising group. Mrs Lovett is also the Chairperson of the Central West NSW branch of Blind Citizens Australia.
In 1997 she founded the Mudgee VIP Group (Vision Impaired Persons support group) and assisted Mudgee library when they introduced talking books and adaptive technology.
Together, Mr and Mrs MacRaild were the co-founders and coordinators of the Vanuatu Prevention of Blindness Project.
The project was established as a primary eye care program to identify preventable and treatable blindness. Since its inception numerous medical teams have been established to provide eye care treatments to communities in remote areas, approximately 3,500 people annually, as well as the establishment of three permanent eye care clinics in the cities of Port Vila, Tanna and Santo.
Awards are an integral part of Australia Day. They recognise and honour the outstanding achievement of Australian. Awards celebrate Australian excellence in our community.
Please accept Vision Australia’s deep appreciation and congratulations to you on your worthy achievements.
The Governor-General, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC CVO, Chancellor of the Order of Australia, has approved awards announced today in the Australia Day 2013 Honours List.
Included in these awards are 571 recipients, who are receiving awards in the general division of the Order of Australia, in recognition of their diverse contributions and service to fellow citizens in Australia and internationally.
Mrs Bryce said of this year’s Awards, “Awards in the Australian honours system represent the highest level of recognition accorded by our nation for outstanding achievement and service. The Honours announced today recognise community values and celebrate what is important and unifying in Australian life”, Ms Bryce said.
Vision Australia is very proud to congratulate the following Australians for their significant contribution in the field of blindness and low vision:
Member (AM) in the general division of the Order of Australia
Mr Mitchell David Anjou, VIC
For significant service to optometry and public health, particularly in the Indigenous community, as a researcher, clinician and educator.Mr Anjou has been a senior research fellow at the Indigenous Eye Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, since 2010.
In conjunction with one of our founding organisations, Vision Australia Foundation, he established in Low vision services for people in regional Victoria. He was also instrumental in establishing an eye clinic at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
Dr Mark Ellis, VIC
For significant service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology, and to eye health in Indonesia and Timor-Leste.Dr Ellis is an Ophthalmic Surgeon and team leader, Sumba Eye Program, Sumba Foundation, since 2008 as well as the East Timor Eye Program since 2003. Dr Ellis has led a team of Ophthalmic Surgeons, Optometrists, nurses and volunteers to the islands in Indonesia to perform eye surgery and operations.
Mr Laurence Harkin, VIC
For significant service to the community, particularly through the care and protection of people with a disability.Mr Harkin is the Disability Services Commissioner for Victoria.
Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the general division
Mrs Beryl Gwendalen Hay, QLD
For service to the blind and partially sighted.Mrs Hay is a current member on the executive council of the Queensland Braille Writing Association. She is also a current tutoring coordinator in braille and moon alternative print formats, and a current volunteer proof-reader.
Mr Clifford Robert Jackson, NSW
For service to the blind and partially sighted, and to the aviation industry.Close friend of Vision Australia, Mr Cliff Jackson has been volunteering at our Enfield site since 1994. During that time he was involved in establishing a community-based support network for the visually impaired. This network now stretches Australia wide.
Cliff was also the NSW Regional Director of Ansett Industries, and Chief Executive at British Aerospace. In 1964 he co-founded Papuan Air Transport, Port Moresby and in 1964 the organisation was renamed Papuan Airlines Pty Ltd, later becoming Air Nuigine, the national Airline of PNG.
Mrs Mary Elizabeth Lovett, NSW
For service to the blind and partially sighted, and to the community.A dedicated fundraiser of Vision Australia, Mrs Lovett was the co-founder (with her husband) of the Mudgee branch of the Friends of Vision Australia fundraising group. Mrs Lovett is also the Chairperson of the Central West NSW branch of Blind Citizens Australia.
In 1997 she founded the Mudgee VIP Group (Vision Impaired Persons support group) and assisted Mudgee library when they introduced talking books and adaptive technology.
Mr Donald Lane MacRaild and Mrs Nisia Margaret MacRaild, VIC
For service to the community through the Vanuatu Prevention of Blindness Project.Together, Mr and Mrs MacRaild were the co-founders and coordinators of the Vanuatu Prevention of Blindness Project.
The project was established as a primary eye care program to identify preventable and treatable blindness. Since its inception numerous medical teams have been established to provide eye care treatments to communities in remote areas, approximately 3,500 people annually, as well as the establishment of three permanent eye care clinics in the cities of Port Vila, Tanna and Santo.
Awards are an integral part of Australia Day. They recognise and honour the outstanding achievement of Australian. Awards celebrate Australian excellence in our community.
Please accept Vision Australia’s deep appreciation and congratulations to you on your worthy achievements.