Eight Highlanders have been recognised for their community service in the Australia Day 2020 honours. This year the region has one Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and six Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
An AM is awarded to individuals for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group. An OAM is awarded to individuals worthy of particular recognition.
Anthony Abrahams AM is an international sportsman, moral advocate and international lawyer. He has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to Australia-France relations, and to the law.
As a member of the Magnificent Seven, Mr Abrahams AM was one of several international rugby players who initiated debate over apartheid in 1971 and campaigned for the cessation of all sporting ties with apartheid South Africa.
Mr Abrahams served as a member on the State Council NSW French Australia Chamber of Commerce between 1998 - 2016, was the vice president of the Association France-Australia in Paris between 1974 and 1993 and was a member of the Board of Australia France Industrial Round Table.
Ken Adams OAM
A Bowral man has received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community, and to the plumbing industry. Mr Adams has been involved with DreamCricket, Rotary and the Movement Disorder Foundation.
Mr Adams has been a part of the Rotary Club of Bowral-Mittagong twice, served three years as the secretary and was the former treasurer/director of avenues. Mr Adams represented Rotary International and was the former assistant governor and chairman of Rotary Youth Leadership Program. Mr Adams has also been heavily involved in the Bowral Uniting Church.
Noeline Mabel Brown OAM
Noeline Mabel Brown OAM is in the spotlight for her service to the performing arts as an actor and entertainer.
Ms Brown is an ambassador for the Actors Benevolent Fund. She has also been an ambassador for Tulip Time, a member on the Wingecarribee Shire Arts and Cultural Board, and an ambassador for ageing. Her awards include a Logie Award for most popular NSW female personality in 1978, and an Actors Equity Lifetime Achievement Award from the Equality Foundation in 2017. She has received the Norman Kessell Memorial Award for her role in 'Glorious' in 2008.
Maree Byrne OAM
After a life of giving back to others, Maree Byrne has received an OAM for her community service.
Maree has worked tirelessly as the secretary and convenor of Rural Australians for Refugees Southern Highlands since 2013. She was also a member of the study tour for Union Aid Abroad - Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad, Australian Council of Trade Unions in 2013. Maree has also been involved in environmental causes, including Climate Action Now Wingecarribee as a convenor as well as a member of the management committee. She has been a member of the Australian Greens Southern Highlands branch for several years as a executive member in the positions of convenor and treasurer. She was a candidate in the NSW state election in 2011. Maree has been an active member of the community, as a member of U3A Southern Highlands since 2002.
Karen Hones OAM
The Bundanoon woman has been recognised for her service to the community of Bundanoon.
Mrs Hones has been involved with the Bundanoon Garden Club, is the garden maintenance manager and current member of the Returned and Services League Memorial Park, a current member of the Nancy Kingsbury Memorial Park and former welfare officer.
Mrs Hones has been a life member of the Friendship Gardens since 2012, and a member since 2003.
Other community achievements include: Bundanoon Community Association Coordinator, founding member of the Bundanoon Garden Ramble, current volunteer at the Green Team, current member of Serendipity the Choir and has volunteered for Meals on Wheels Southern Highlands, since 2013 and as a bingo support worker at Warrigal Aged Care Facility.
Rhonda Langford OAM
Rhonda Langford has received an OAM for her service to music, and to education.
She has been involved with Sing Australia since 1999, with roles including founding member, accompanist, conductor and leader.
In addition to this, she has lent her talents to many other music initiatives in the Highlands.
These include the University of the Third Age Southern Highlands, Moss Vale Uniting Church, Highlands Theatre Group, The Highlands Singers, the Southern Highlands Symphony Orchestra and the Southern Highlands Concert Band.
She has also been a private music teacher and has provided piano entertainment at retirement and nursing establishments.
Dr Mark Tredinnick OAM
Dr Mark Tredinnick OAM has been awarded an OAM for his service to literature, and to education.
He has been a teacher and mentor at the Centre for Continuing Education in the departments of English, media studies and writing studies since 1995. Dr Tredinnick was also a writer-in-residence at the school of education and social work in 2018. He has published several prose and poetry books, and his work has spanned across several countries, including the United Kingdom, China and Germany.
Chris Webb OAM
Chris Webb OAM is a fifth generation Southern Highlands resident whose family has a long history of community work.
Chris has been recognised for his service to to horticulture, particularly through the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens. He became a driving force behind the development of the gardens 21 years ago drawing on a career background in agricultural science, horticulture and landscape design to help shape the community asset in Bowral.
