Australia Day Honours 2015

Professor Wakefield, 64, of Sylvania, was made an officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to medicine, particularly in the field of ocular immunology and immunopathology, as a clinician, researcher and academic.

St George and Sutherland Shire residents have featured again in the Australia Day Honours list, with one named an AO (Officer of the Order), one an AM (Member of the Order) and six awarded OAMs (Medals of the Order), one a Public Service Medal and one a Fire Service Medal.

Born in North Sydney in 1950, Professor Wakefield was the eldest of six children.

He studied medicine at the University of NSW and a myriad of distinguished achievements followed.

"I'm pleased I've been able to help people as a result of my research and teaching," he said.

"When I first started I suppose I was interested in disease and suffering. It is a unique profession in that it is rewarding and has so many aspects to it in terms of researching clinical care as well as teaching and trying to influence students positively," he said.

Professor Wakefield has worked in medicine for more than 30 years and established the Sutherland Centre of Immunology 15 years ago.

He said a hunger to learn and desire to help teach others had driven him to continue his work.

"We are in such an exciting phase in the history of medicine," he said. "Everyone involved in it can't wait to see what happens in the future. We've getting so much better at treating so many diseases. It is very exciting."

Stephen Loosley believes politics is a bit like a line from the Eagles hit Hotel California — you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Mr Loosley, 62, of Blakehurst, becomes a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his significant service to the community through the development of public policy, international relations and the Australian parliament.

Since retiring from his position as a NSW senator in 1995, Mr Loosley has taken up a number of positions, including his present role with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Mr Loosley said the honour was a humbling experience.

"It's very gratifying," he said.

"To be acknowledged by fellow Australians was a pleasant surprise.

"I always took the view after I retired from the Senate and officially departed public life to try to continue to contribute based on my understand of policy and assessment of national interests.

"My work has been very stimulating and fulfilling; it has been a very important part of the fabric of my life since I left politics."

The Reverend John Hely of Kirrawee has had two distinct careers: first in senior management of multinational companies, for which he received the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), and then as a Minister with the Uniting Church, for which he has now received an OAM.

Dr Hely, 92, became a chartered engineer at 25 and was NSW and national president of the Australia British Trade Association.

At the hight of his career he decided to become a minister.

"I couldn't live with what happening in the business world," he said.

He was ordained as a minister with the Uniting Church when he was 68.

He became involved in Freemasonry and is Grand Chaplain of the United Grand Lodge of NSW and ACT.

"People said I could have made a million dollars but I decided I had to live by my personal credo," he said.

Flora Wickham, OAM, considers hospital volunteering as a labour of love.

"I love people and I'm honoured that I've been allowed to it," she said.

"You can't play golf all the time after you've retired."

Mrs Wickham, of Peakhurst Heights, has been involved with community service for 31 years, some of that time overlapping with her working life as an office administrator.

The work that earned her an OAM includes patient support, flower arranging and palliative care at Calvary Hospital.

There is also an ongoing involvement with Our Lady of Fatima church and St Vincent de Paul Society Conference.

Mrs Wickham likes to play cards with Oatley Bridge Club.

She won't divulge her age:

"I won't tell you that — I've done my hair, I'm wearing nice clothes and lots of perfume and I'm a little bit cheeky for my age".

"I'm the first in my family from the year dot to have received anything."

Gene Smith of Hurstville, who has received a Medal in the Order of Australia, has volunteered for 48 years, having started after her husband died.

"I had two daughters so I decided not to sit back," she said.

Mrs Smith, 92, joined Soroptimist International of Sydney, "the largest women's service club in the world", and worked tirelessly for the betterment of women and young girls, particularly in the areas of education and anti-violence.

"But my big thing is disabled people," Mrs Smith said.

Her work in this field has been through the Pioneer Living and Learning Centre for Adults with Disabilities, where she has performed various roles.

She also takes out people with disabilities and their carers for weekend activities.

Mrs Smith also volunteers with Georges River Community Service, Missionholme aged care and St Stephen's Church.

She has received two certificates of recognition from the NSW National Council of Women.

An advocate for the Lebanese community who also raised funds for various charities, the late George Khouzame has been named a recipient of a Medal in the Order of Australia.

When civil war broke out in Lebanon in 1975, Mr Khouzame founded the Lebanese Welfare Centre, a non-profit organisation that was a first stop for displaced migrants arriving in Australia. It offered free services for newcomers seeking housing, employment and help learning English.

Mr Khouzame, who with his wife Julie established a Middle Eastern cuisine catering and events company, the George Khouzame Group (formerly the Lebanese Catering Service), was also involved in the George Khouzame Charity Foundation, which supported the oncology unit at Westmead Children's Hospital, the Diabetes Foundation and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Mr Khouzame died in May last year and his wife said the award was an honour.

"He has given the community all of himself, unconditionally and completely," Mrs Khouzame said.

Marion Ethel Taunton has graced the bowling green in style and with dedication since 1962.

Now Mrs Taunton, 96, of Bexley North, can add another achievement to her long list of contributions to what started as a hobby after she was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia for service to lawn bowls.

A club patron at Leichhardt Women's Bowling Club since 2002, Mrs Taunton has held several executive roles.

She was president, vice-president and secretary and served on the management committee for more than 20 years.

A skilled leader in the field, Mrs Taunton was a national umpire, a volunteer catering organiser and the foundation president of City West District Women's Bowling Association in 1986-88.

"It's wonderful to receive this," she said.

"I'd never heard of it before.

"The only other thing I like to do is bingo . . . but bowls is good exercise and very social — I've made lots of friends."

Paul Gallagher, of Bangor, received a Medal in the Order of Australia for service to children through charitable paediatric care organisations.

Mr Gallagher, 47, is a founding member and former president of the Sydney Kids' Committee of Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, which has raised more than $1.2 million for medical, diversional and play equipment for sick children.

The father-of-four is nurse manager with the Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS).

"My sister, Fiona, was born with brittle bones, so from the age of four I spent most of my holidays visiting her at Randwick Children's Hospital," he said.

"This gave me a passion to be a nurse and to become involved in fund-raising for children's services."

Fund-raising is a family tradition: his mother, Jean Gallagher, was a founding member of the Christopher Robin Committee, which also raises funds for Sydney Children's Hospital.

Hurstville firefighter Clayton Allison is one of three officers who received the Australian Fire Service Medal as part of Australia Day honours.

Station officer Allison has worked in the fire service for 33 years, including the past seven at Hurstville.

He has also trained rescue teams and travelled overseas to help other rescue crews with natural disasters including the 2011 Japan tsunami and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

It was a boyhood dream that led him to join NSW Fire and Rescue.

"It's a great life. Every day is different and you never know what you'll be called to," he said.

"[The award] was very much a surprise but it's a great honour," he said.

Fire and Rescue Commissioner Greg Mullins said station officer Allison was "an internationally recognised leader and innovator within the rescue sector of the emergency services".

Raymond Brownlee of Lugarno received a Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service in NSW through executive roles with a number of local councils and for the introduction of water conservation practices.

Mr Brownlee has been is the general manager of Randwick Council for the past 10 years, generating operating surpluses and solid capital works programs.

One of his most notable achievements has been the annual water saving of 550 million litres, saving $1 million.

During his tenure, the council has extended the popular coastal walkway, collaborated with police, business and the community to achieve a 23 per cent reduction in antisocial behaviour incidents during the past four years.

He has also had a hand in securing a major light rail project for the city.

The Leader has collated honours information, by recipients’ current suburb, from the Australia Day Honours List. If you know of any other award recipients from southern Sydney, email leadernews.com.au

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia.  If you know someone worthy, nominate them at www.gg.gov.au