2007 Queensland Greats recipients
The Queensland Greats honoured in 2007 were:
- Surf Life Saving Queensland
- Ashley Cooper AO
- Leneen Forde AC
- Doug Hall AM
- Emeritus Professor John Hay AC
- Sir Leo Hielscher AC.
Surf Life Saving Queensland
Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) is Queensland’s peak beach safety and rescue authority, and is part of one of the largest volunteer-based community service organisations in Australia. Surf life saving in Queensland began in 1909 and comprises 59 affiliated clubs in six regions with more than 35,000 members. SLSQ also includes 42 supporters clubs with more than 200,000 members and is affiliated with Surf Life Saving Australia and the International Life Saving Federation. SLSQ’s mission is to provide excellent beach safety and lifesaving services, water safety advocacy, education and sport. Queensland’s surf lifesavers have saved over 110,000 lives (since recording began in 1930) and each summer save over 4000 lives.
Ashley Cooper AO
As winner of eight Grand Slam titles, Ashley Cooper has achieved outstanding success on the international tennis circuit and made a significant contribution to the development of tennis in Queensland through providing support and mentorship to help guide youths through their tennis careers. A celebrated singles and doubles player, Ashley’s career highlights include singles champion at the Australian Open (1957 and 1958), Wimbledon (1958), and the US Open (1958); doubles champion with Mal Anderson at the French Open (1957); and doubles champion with Neal Fraser at the US Open (1957), Australian Open (1958) and French Open (1958). He was also a member of the Australian Davis Cup team from 1956 to 1958. Ashley was inducted into the Member Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987, the Member International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991, and Member Tennis Australia Hall of Fame in 1996.
Leneen Forde AC
As Queensland’s first female Governor, Leneen Forde has played a leading role in advancing the social and economic welfare of the people of Queensland, and has made significant contributions to enhancing the status and interests of women. Leneen has sat on a number of boards including Scouts Australia, Queensland Ballet, Rosies, Karuna Hospice Service, National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame (Alice Springs), Alzheimer's Association of Australia (Darling Downs and South West Inc), Foundation for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Estate Division of the International Bar Association (IBA), and was formerly the Chair of the Queensland Supreme Court Probate Rules Review Committee.
Doug Hall AM
Doug Hall expanded the Queensland Art Gallery’s international focus and developed a strong engagement with Asia, especially through the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art. He conceived the idea for the Gallery of Modern Art and oversaw its development and opening in December 2006. Doug was director of the Queensland Art Gallery from 1987 until April 2007. Prior to this, he had been director of two regional galleries in Victoria. He has served on a range of state and federal cultural organisations including the Visual Arts/Crafts Board of the Australia Council, Australia Council, Australia International Cultural Council, Council of Australian Art Museum Directors and Queensland Art Gallery Foundation.
Emeritus Professor John Hay AC
Since becoming the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland in 1996, Professor John Hay has made a number of exceptional contributions to Queensland including the development of a series of major research institutes and centres. Professor Hay is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities, Australian Institute of Management, Australian College of Educators and Queensland Academy of Arts and Science, and has been awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Western Australia, Deakin University, Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland. He has chaired national and international boards on university learning and teaching, research, libraries, art galleries, philanthropy, performing arts, humanities, bio-sciences and medical research. He has published widely in English and Australian literature, comparative literature and education.
Sir Leo Hielscher AC
Sir Leo Hielscher has been acclaimed as one of the key figures responsible for transforming Queensland’s economy over the past 40 years in his positions as Under-Treasurer and Chair of Queensland Treasury Corporation. He has more than 50 years experience in the areas of government, banking and finance, domestic and global financial markets, superannuation and as an independent company director.
Sir Leo has held a number of distinguished positions including the inaugural Chairman of Austsafe Ltd, Chairman of the Independent Superannuation Preservation Fund and the Queensland Health Reform Advisory Panel. Sir Leo has considerable experience at board level and has been associated with a number of public and private sector boards. Sir Leo has also been honoured with a Knight Bachelor, a Companion in the Order of Australia (AC), an Eisenhower Fellowship and an Honorary Doctorate of Griffith University.
