Coasties recognised in Australia Day Honours List

Eight Central Coast residents have been recognised in the 2024 Australia Day Honours List, one of them posthumously.

Governor-General David Hurley announced honours and awards for 1,042 Australians on January 26, saying they had all had an impact at the local, national and/or international level.

“Individually, they are inspiring and collectively they speak to the strength of our communities,” he said.

One Central Coast resident was awarded an AM, four were awarded an OAM and three received Australian Fire Service Medals (AFSM).

Here are the Coasties honoured:

Professor Brett Mitchell AM

An internationally recognised researcher in infection prevention and control, Professor Brett Mitchell of Green Point has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to nursing.

With extensive clinical experience coupled with his academic and research skills, Mitchell has set his sights on addressing the serious issue of controlling infection in healthcare settings.

With one in 10 patients in an Australian hospital acquiring an infection during their hospital stay, Mitchell, an author and internationally renowned speaker, said finding solutions to preventing infections from occurring in the first instance was his area of concern.

Mitchell, who moved to the Central Coast about 10 years ago, said he was honoured by the award.

“I do believe we can make a difference with research – good research which would inform best practice,” he said.

“I believe there have to be better ways of preventing infection; for instance looking at environmental cleanliness and how important it is in a hospital setting.

“What we could do in clinical practice to prevent infection, from a care point of view.”

As an academic and researcher, Mitchell has more than 150 peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations, has authored several books and has been an invited speaker at numerous infection prevention and control conferences in Australia and internationally.

A Fellow of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control and the Australian College of Nursing, Mitchell said as far back as he could remember he had wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.

He has achieved that goal by becoming a major influence on the infection prevention and control agenda in Australia through his committee roles at such as on the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), the first nurse to have chaired one of these committees.

Cathy Cole OAM

When Cathy Cole of Jilliby was informed she would be awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to surf lifesaving and the community, her initial reaction was disbelief.

“I remember thinking I don’t deserve this, I was totally shocked,” she said.

“I was very surprised; it’s a huge honour.”

“It’s quite unbelievable.”

A member of Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club since 1992, Cole has her father, David Roberts, to thank for her dedication to surf lifesaving and the community in general.

“My father received an OAM for his involvement in surf lifesaving and played a pivotal role in many changes in the surf lifesaving movement,” Cole said.

While it’s about a two hour round trip from Jilliby to Terrigal, Cole is patrol captain and coach, particularly in what she describes as the more traditional aspects of the movement, including rescue and resuscitation and march pasts.

She has been an official and judge at the Australian championships since 2005, and judge at state and federal levels and has been an official and referee at competition carnivals since 2001.

She was named Club Person of the Year in 2017 and Volunteer of the Year in 2018.

Aside from surf lifesaving, Cole has been very involved with the Parents and Citizens Association and is a life member at Gosford and Wyong high schools, after acting as the P&C Federation’s State Treasurer from 2003 to 2005 and Central Coast Councillor from 1992 to 2003.

In 2005 she was awarded the Federation’s Distinguished Service Award.

She is a life member of Jilliby Public School P&C, was president in 2017-18, is a former treasurer and has been a member since the 1980s.

The late Roy Hazlewood OAM

The late Roy Hazelwood was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the Anglican Church of Australia.

Hazelwood lived with his wife of 65 years, Maureen, at Kanwal until his death at the age of 93 on New Year’s Day last year.

The couple moved to the Central Coast from Newcastle in 1995 when Hazelwood was meant to retire.

“The bishop knew he was too young to retire mentally, so he asked him to be the chaplain at the Ourimbah campus, and he had been doing that ever since,” Mrs Hazelwood said.

“He loved it.

“He loved talking to people and he did a lot of counselling.

“He would also fill in at Terrigal church.

“He was still working when he died, still reading and still studying sociology.”

Mrs Hazelwood clearly remembers the day she met her future husband.

“I was 17 and was introduced to him at church in New Lambton,” she said.

“A voice in my head said this is the one, and it was.

“I knew him for 70 years and we were married for 65 years.

“He would be very shocked to get this award.”

Hazelwood remained chaplain at Ourimbah campus until 2022 and was an executive member of the Tertiary Campus Ministry Association (Australia) where he was treasurer from 2000 to 2017 and a member for 25 years.

The former deacon and parish priest with the Newcastle Diocese, was also active in the Anzac Day Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Doyalson Wyee RSL Sub-Branch.

Chris Harper OAM

Chris Harper of Gosford has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to sailing.

Harper said he was very honoured when he learnt of the award.

Formerly from Sydney, Harper moved to Gosford in 2019 and promptly joined Gosford Sailing Club after a lifetime of being involved with sailing.

A Life Member of the International Yngling Association and life member of Sailing Friends Worldwide, Harper was secretary, president, treasurer and chief measurer during various stages with the International Yngling Association and deputy chairman and organising committee member of the World Youth Sailing Championships in 2000.

The Yngling is a sleek small racing keelboat designed by Norwegian Jan Herman Linge.

Yngling is pronounced ying ling and is Norwegian for youngster.

“It looks like a small sailing yacht with a keel separate from the rudder,” Harper said.

“It’s the biggest three-person keel boast class of its size in world.”

Over 30 years he has watched the number of Yngling sailors rise from around 390 to 3500 boats racing.

He has a trophy named after him and helps structure championships all over the world.

He was also instrumental in getting international class rules changed to allow sailing in Sydney Harbour.

Harper was chairman of the NSW Yachting Foundation for nine years and co-ordinator of the World Youth Sailing Championships in 2001.

He has been chairman of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron publications committee since 2010.

Warren Lupica OAM

Warren Lupica of Berkeley Vale has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to surf lifesaving.

“I was very surprised to be nominated,” he said.

Over a 60-year period, Lupica has been involved in surf lifesaving and still visits his beloved Shelly Beach almost every day.

“I have definitely seen a lot of changes over the years like during the 1980s when the ladies were brought into the movement,” he said.

“I have seen a lot of changes in equipment as well; I’ve seen the old belt and line disappear, and now even the rubber duckie is starting to disappear, replaced with jet skis and drones.”

He is the current branch historian and has held various management committee positions over many years with Surf Life Saving Central Coast where has been patron since 2007 and a life member since 1998.

He is the former president of Shelly Beach Surf Life Saving Club, patron since 1990 and a life member since 1982.

He has also held various management committee positions with the club since the 1980s.

He has held various positions with Surf Life Saving NSW and has been a life member since 2004.

A founding member of the Tuggerah Lakes Winter Swimming Club and still an active member, Lupica got a 100 per cent attendance record for last season.

The first-generation Australian remains passionate about surf lifesaving.

“I always try to promote surf lifesaving because it is the Australian way of life,” he said.

“It has fresh air, sunshine and camaraderie.”

AFSM recipients

Receiving Australian Fire Service Medals (AFSM) were Fire and Rescue NSW officers Captain Jamie Loader of Wyong Fire Station and Senior Firefighter John McGarvey of Gosford Fire Station and NSW RFS firefighter Barry Myers of Kariong.

See separate story for full details on these three firefighters.

Denice Barnes