King’s Birthday Honours
Several local residents were honoured on the official King’s Birthday weekend; stories about their amazing service
DR PAUL GAUDRY AM from Kenthurst for significant service to emergency and forensic medicine and to professional associations.
Westmead Hospital inaugural director of emergency 1980 to 1998 and Forensic Medical Officer in the NSW Police Force Clinical Forensic Medicine Unit from 2010 to 2017. Trained as a cardio thoracic anesthetist, clinical instructor and has numerous awards for distinguished service to emergency medicine.
CHRIS SINCLAIR AM from West Pennant Hills for significant services to squash as an umpire and administrator
Chris has been a leader in the sport since the 1980s becoming an international squash referee in 1987. She is recognised nationally and Internationally for her work as a World Squash Federation assessor and mentor and the work she did as the Championship Referee for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and at all subsequent Commonwealth Games.
A World Senior squash referee assessor since 2010 and a referee from 2003 to 2014, Chris also ran the Sydney Junior pennant for many years, and administered the senior pennant in Sydney’s north when there were 260 Women’s Teams and 350 Men’s Teams.
Chris is an executive with Squash NSW and has won numerous awards including Sports NSW Official of the Year for her outstanding achievements and dedication to the sport. She is also a volunteer with Meals On Wheels.
ANNE STANFIELD AM of Northmead for social welfare.
As Director of St Vincent DePaul housing with St Vincent DePaul Society since 2018, Anne has helped co-ordinate the building of 502 social and affordable housing units.
“We are very proud of the commitment the St Vincent De Paul Society has made to affordable housing,” she said.
“There is a great need in the community. If someone has safe and secure housing it enables them to build on other aspects of their life.”
Anne is a director of Saint Vincent DePaul society national redress scheme and is former president of The Hills regional council.
She attends St Paul’s at Winston Hills and is on the Winston Hills Local Conference but started her association with the St Vincent de Paul while at Harris Park over 35 years ago.
“It’s a way of putting faith into action,” she said.
Now retired she used to work in education, training and recruitment and has found her professional skills useful in the not for profit sector.
She has been involved in many St Vincent Paul programs over the years including its support centres and the Western Sydney night patrol food van which heads out every night to help people in Mt Druitt and Parramatta.
Her great learnings are not to judge people and understand what their needs are.
She paid tribute to the many volunteers who are doing their best to help others with compassion.
Anne is a member of the Consumer Council at Western Sydney Health District
DR FRANK DOHERTY OAM from Cherrybrook for services to veterinary sciences and the community.
Frank has been President of the Castle Hill and Hills District Agricultural Society since 2016 and honorary vet surgeon since 2013.
His involvement with the Castle Hill Show spans more than 60 years, first as a member of the Epping Junior Farmers and later showing Jersey cattle.
He has been a Representative State disaster plan New South Wales agricultural and animal services committee and is a life member of the Australian Veterinary Association.
He trained as a vet and qualified in 1962 and worked in the Agriculture Department’s Laboratory and in the Field for over 40 years becoming Director of the Animal Quarantine Services in 1983. It saw him travel to many parts of the world ensuring (pre-export) the safe passage of pedigree horses and cattle from their home country and through quarantine in Australia.
As President of the Castle Hill and Hills District Agricultural Society he has focussed on giving students at agricultural schools in the area an opportunity to show and judge sheep, cattle and chickens at the Castle Hill Youth Expo run in March.
“We have about 300 young students attending … it’s their last chance to qualify for the Royal Easter Show,” he said.
Frank has also been a tour coordinator with the Naval Historical society of Australia since 2010 and a Justice of the peace since 1962
HARINDER KAUR OAM for service to the community through social welfare organisations
Harinder Kaur and her husband Maninder Singh set up the Harman Foundation in 2013 after their eldest son died in a car crash. Harinder said they felt so lost following Harman’s death “we were looking for a purpose”.
While the Harman Foundation started off as a grief and loss support network it has evolved into supporting victims of domestic violence and the homeless. Harinder says they have a holistic approach and as well as helping people in DV situations they also work with people struggling and have a chaplaincy.
The Harman Foundation is run by volunteers and deals with people in crisis around the clock. The Foundation has food drives and runs events, since 2013 it has reached 20,000 people.
In 2015. The Foundation set up a helpline (1800 116 675) which operates 24/7. In the DV area alone the Foundation has had 500 calls and helped in 150 complex DV cases.
Harinder says the culturally appropriate service is aimed at the South Asian community.
“As we travelled down the path of providing support for grief and loss we came across so many cracks in services,” she said.
“We ran a survey of 500 people to find out what services people needed so we started the 1800 number.
“As.a family we had never come across family and domestic violence. We had to find resources. In 2016. We opened a shelter in Western Sydney which has helped 75 people. There is such a need, it is always full There’s such a scarcity of accommodation that is culturally appropriate.
“In 2022. Because of the need. We also opened a multicultural community hub as well. We have no Government funding.”
Harinder says the OAM Recognises the work of the Foundation which is also supported by the couple’s children Manu and Nikki.
“The Harman Foundation’s work is grounded in a collaborative approach, for the community by the community. I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to our more than 200 volunteers and our donors, “ she said.
She hopes that the government at all levels will help support the foundation and the services it provides.
CAROLYN KITTO OAM Castle Hill service to the community through social justice
Co Director of Be Slavery Free since 2011 consultant and co-director Spirited Counselling since 1999. Be Slavery Free is seeking to solve this global problem of modern slavery by preventing it from occurring in the first place.Be Slavery Free works with industry to employ practices that will eliminate slavery, educates consumers with the knowledge that they need to choose slavery-free products and lobby governments for better regulations and guidelines to stop slavery.
Carolyn has been a community engagement officer with UTS and worked with World Vision Australia. Her consultancy, Spirited Consulting, has worked in 51 countries in the last 22 years.
STEPHEN O’DOHERTY OAM of Dural service to the community
The OAM recognises Stephen’s involvement with organisations including Hope Media (Hope 1032 Sydney), with the Christian Media and the Arts Australia (CMAA).
Stephen began his career in commercial radio, then moved into television before becoming an MP. He was elected to State Parliament in 1992 for the seat of Ku-ring-gai and in 1999 he was re-elected to the seat of Hornsby following a redistribution of electoral boundaries. He served as a Shadow Minister for Education and Community Services, and was then Shadow Treasurer until his resignation in 2002 to take the role as CEO of Christian Schools Australia.
He has been involved in music and the arts since the 80s. Stephen has been musical director and principal conductor of the Golden Kangaroos Hornsby concert band since 2009.
Hope Media Chair 2005 to 2023 and Director produced programs at the open house program, Paton of studio arts north side since 2000. Chief Executive Officer Christian schools Australia for 14 years Chair family radio Limited since 2016, Chair Sunshine Coast Christian broadcaster Limited Christian media and art Australia director since 2013.
He was a broadcaster on 2GB radio for its Breakfast and Drive programs, national affairs reporter Network 10 and NSW political reporter 730 report ABC 1989. He has been Principal Stephen O’Doherty Communications since 2017.
NALIKA PADMASENA OAM from Schofield service to the multicultural community
Nalika said she was overwhelmed when she received notification she had been nominated for an OAM.
“To me. It’s about the recognition for the work and the services that we are providing in the multicultural community. We have been working in this area since 1974, but we still have a long way to go.”
Nalika was President of the Sri Lankan Association of NSW 2019 to 2021, a language Teacher North Parramatta from 2006 director Positive Vibes foundation for four years, member South West regional advisory Council multicultural NSW since 2016, member multicultural communities consultation Council anti-discrimination board of NSW 2014 to 2019, Board member Northwest Community services Riverstone, member of India club, member Elder abuse Network management committee, member Toongabbie Legal Centre, Volunteer coordinator open community legal education workers network since 2013, anti-violence project officer Cumberland women’s health service, Senior service acting principal solicitor solicitor since 2008.
Nalika said she had received so many messages of congratulations.
“I have been living in this country for about 30 years. I feel I am so lucky to fall into the community sector work. “I came here as a trained lawyer but never intended to get my practicing certificate. However, the way people looked down on my status and the position, stirred me to change the path to where I am today.
“It was a hard road to keep my head up as a migrant woman sometimes.
This country adopted multiculturalism and its benefits in 1974.
“However, there is a lot to be done to build community harmony and cohesion.
“Community cohesion, understanding diversity, respecting cultural diversity that we embrace in this society are very important factors for how we live and progress in this country.
“I was drawn to community activities to occupy myself from homesickness and loneliness. That enabled me to grow a great network and engage in interesting and unique work which gave me the opportunity to learn.
“Social justice and access to justice are particularly my strong advocacy points because education and empowerment I believe give one the strength but also build a better and stronger society with far better outcomes for individuals as well as for the society.”
PROFESSOR ANDRE RENZAHO OAM of Kellyville Ridge distinguished for medical research particularly refugee and migrant health
Distinguished professor School of medicine at Western Sydney University since 2015 and Professor of humanitarian development studies. Prior to that he was the Director of Migration, Social Disadvantage, and Health Programs at Monash University.
With a background in Global Health and International Development, he has professional experience in complex humanitarian emergencies and development practice, international public health, and nutrition epidemiology. From 2003 to 2006, he oversaw the evaluation of more than 40 AusAID NGO Cooperation Programs with World Vision Australia covering Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, the Pacific, and Asia; and acted as the Technical Director of the Impact Assessment of Australian Aid for the Bougainville Infrastructure.
He has worked with a number of United Nations including working with Care Australia, Concern Worldwide, Médecins Sans Frontières, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and the United Nations Children’s Fund. He has published more than 180 papers.
