2019 Queensland Greats recipients
The 2019 Queensland Greats are:
Individual
- Robert (Bob) Atkinson AO APM
- Distinguished Professor Judith Clements AC
- Dr Mark Loane AM
- Kay McGrath OAM
- Patricia O'Connor
Institution
Posthumous
Honorary
Mr Robert (Bob) Atkinson AO APM
Former Queensland Police Commissioner
Robert (Bob) Atkinson AO APM commenced his public service with the Queensland Police Service in 1968 and quickly discovered a passion for investigations. Bob was appointed to the rank of Inspector following the Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry, and in the year 2000 was appointed Commissioner of Police. Bob successfully oversaw security for the 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the first high-level meeting of international leaders after the United States terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. Other significant achievements include overseeing responses to Cyclone Larry in 2006 and the 2010–11 statewide flood and cyclone disasters, reductions in crime and the road toll, enforcing welfare support, advocating for multiculturalism, and increasing Police Liaison Officer positions, including the first Sudanese and Muslim positions. Bob retired as Police Commissioner in late 2012 and in January 2013 was appointed as one of six Commissioners for the five-year Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. His contribution continues today in advisory roles for youth justice, sentencing for child homicide offences and as Chair of the Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Taskforce.
Distinguished Professor Judith Clements AC
Biomedical cancer researcher
Distinguished Professor Judith Clements AC is one of Australia's leading biomedical researchers. In 2015 Judith was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for her eminent service to the biological sciences through cancer research and education. Judith has made a significant contribution to both prostate and ovarian cancer research, and the development of cancer research infrastructure and capability in Australia. Judith played a key role in establishing the Australian Prostate Cancer Bioresource and the Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre – Queensland and is a national leader in international collaborative research spanning discovery and preclinical and clinical trials. Her advocacy and dedication has influenced the research landscape to bring hope to people with cancer and has provided a visionary pathway for future scientists.
Dr Mark Loane AM
Ophthalmologist and sporting legend
Born and bred in Queensland, Dr Mark Loane AM has excelled in the fields of medicine and sport. As Captain of the Wallabies from 1979 to 1982, Mark was inducted into the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame and named one of the Queensland’s top 50 sportspeople of all time in 2007. Mark later retired from his stellar rugby career to pursue studies in ophthalmology, receiving the Cedric Cohen Medal for Excellence. Mark established, and still runs, the Cape York Eye Health Project, which provides health services to many remote Indigenous communities in northern Queensland and has treated more than 20,000 patients. In 2011, Mark was named a Member of the Order of Australia for services to medicine in the field of ophthalmology, particularly to the Indigenous communities of northern Queensland, and as a contributor to the development of sustainable health services.
Ms Kay McGrath OAM
Journalist and community advocate
Kay McGrath OAM is an award-winning Queensland journalist with more than 40 years’ experience. Throughout her career, Kay has been an inspirational and exemplary public figure, coupling her journalism with volunteer support for some of Queensland’s most deserving causes. In 1985, Kay co-founded the child protection organisation, Protect All Children Today (PACT). Since its establishment, PACT has worked on behalf of children, providing support for more than 20,000 child witnesses and their families through the Child Witness Support Program, establishing the now-national Child Protection Week, and advocating for child witnesses in a variety of forums. Kay is also an Ambassador for Act for Kids and Patron of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. In 2017, Kay was appointed to serve as Chair of the Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council, overseeing and championing implementation of Queensland’s domestic and family violence reforms. In this role, Kay has led representatives from the community and key government agencies to review and promote action to address domestic and family violence in Queensland.
Mrs Patricia O’Connor
Indigenous advocate
Patricia O’Connor is a co-founder of the Kombumerri Aboriginal Corporation for Culture, formed 35 years ago to research and promote her community’s language and story. In 1986, Patricia jointly led Australia’s first major repatriation of about 200 Aboriginal remains on the Gold Coast. Shortly after, Patricia organised community meetings to regather their Yugambeh language, which experts had previously said was lost. This work led to the corporation opening the Yugambeh Museum, Language and Heritage Research Centre in 1995, as an Aboriginal research space. In 1991 with her sister Ysola Best, Patricia created Australia’s first war memorial to Indigenous service men and women. At 90 years of age, Patricia continues to work at the Yugambeh Museum. A legacy of Patricia’s work is that Yugambeh Language can now be taught in schools and through community.
Institution recipient
Queensland Country Women’s Association
Empowering and inspiring women
Since 1922, the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) has connected, supported, advocated and cooked its way to improving the lives of women and their families in rural, regional and remote communities across Queensland. With 240 branches and more than 3700 members spread throughout the length and breadth of Queensland, the QCWA has set the benchmark as Queensland's oldest, largest and one of the most influential women's organisations. QCWA’s vision is for the women of Queensland to come together to support communities, celebrate their interests and forge friendships in a respectful and caring environment. This is achieved by advocating and providing opportunities for women centred around education, health and community, throughout every phase of a woman’s life.
Posthumous
Dr John Sinclair AO
Conservationist
Born in Maryborough, Dr John Sinclair AO joined the Wildlife Preservation Society in the 1960s. John became increasingly involved in the conservation movement and in 1971 formed the Fraser Island Defenders Organisation (FIDO). For six years FIDO fought sand-mining of the forested dunes of K'gari (formerly Fraser Island). The battles came at significant personal and financial cost for John, including bankruptcy, but he never lost his love or passion for the island. John’s fight to protect K'gari from overexploitation meant sand-mining and logging were stopped and countless visitors are now able to experience its World Heritage listed beauty. In 2014 John was appointed the Order of Australia for his outstanding commitment to conservation and in 2017 the Sunshine Coast University presented an honorary doctorate to John as ‘one of Australia’s leading nature conservationists’.
Honorary
Photo by Peter Foley.Mr Charles (Chuck) Feeney
Philanthropist and entrepreneur
The late Charles (Chuck) Feeney was, by global standards, a major philanthropist and his contribution to Australian philanthropy in general, and to the development of educational, scientific and research infrastructure in Queensland, in particular, was nothing short of game changing. In 1982 Chuck founded The Atlantic Philanthropies (TAP), which operated anonymously for more than 15 years and, in all, donated some $10.9 billion (AUD) to health, education, science and other social causes. From 1990, Chuck, through TAP, donated $549 million (AUD) to Australian and Australian-related entities with the majority of that benefaction directed towards Queensland-based initiatives and institutions. These included The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Queensland Brain Institute; Translational Research Institute; QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and Science and Engineering Centre; QIMR Berghofer Queensland Institute; and Griffith University, as well as significant support for the Wesley Medical Research Centre and the Princess Alexandra and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospitals.