Five Highlanders have been recognised for their community service in the Queen's Birthday Honour List 2020. This year the region has one Order of Australia (AO) and four Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM).
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Individuals are appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large. An OAM is awarded to individuals worthy of particular recognition.
Robyn Anne Nevin AO
Robyn Anne Nevin AM AO of Sutton Forest has been honoured with a further recognition of Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
This is in acknowledgement of distinguished service to the performing arts as an acclaimed actor and artistic director, and as a mentor and role model.
Ms Nevis was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1981.
Beginning her career in entertainment in the 1960s Ms Nevin has taken on an impressive list of roles in movie, theatre and television productions including:
- Gods of Egypt (Sharifa), Thunder Road Pictures, 2016.
- The Matrix Revolutions (Councillor Dillard), Village Roadshow Pictures, 2003.
- The Castle (Federal Court Judge), Village Roadshow, 1997.
- The Matrix Reloaded (Councillor Dillard), Village Roadshow Pictures, 1995.
- Careful, He Might Hear You (Lila), 20th Century Fox, 1983.
- My Fair Lady (Mrs Higgins), Capitol Theatre, Sydney, 2017.
- All My Sons (Mrs Keller), Sydney Theatre Company, 2016.
- King Lear (The Fool), Sydney Theatre Company, 2015.
- Hamlet, Belvoir Street Theatre, 2013.
- The Drowsy Chaperone, Melbourne Theatre Company, 2010.
- Upper Middle Bogan (Margaret Denyar), ABC, 2012-2015.
She is equally comfortable behind the scenes influencing the industry as a whole a Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre Company from 1999-2007, Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Queensland Theatre (now Queensland Theatre) from 1996-1999 and former Associate Director of the Melbourne Theatre Company.
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She has also directed productions including Don Parties On for the Melbourne Theatre Company in 2011, Hedda Gabler for Sydney Theatre Company in 2004 and 2006.
Her contributions to the entertainment industry have also been well rewarded with Ms Nevin receiving an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Tasmania in 1999 and appointment to the Member of the Order of Australia in 1981.
John Douglas D'Arcy OAM
John Douglas D'Arcy OAM of Berrima is one of four Highlanders to be presented with a Medal of the Order of Australia OAM.
He has been honoured for service to the performing arts, particularly to music.
The musical educator, conductor and composer said that while he was very happy about receiving the accolade he felt it was also recognition for the work of all conductors and composers.
"People will often ask you to change a key in some music, but they don't realise how much work goes in to doing that," he said.
"It could take several hours to re-write the music and make rehearsal CDs etc, but all people hear is something that is played over about three minutes."
Mr D'Arcy's contribution to music is extensive and he has had significant influence in Southern Highlands musical circles since moving to the region about 20 years ago.
His life-long love of music moved up a notch when he studied music and mathematics at Sydney University.
More recently he has influenced the entertainment appeal of several Southern Highlands groups including Highlands Singers and Sing Australia Southern Highlands.
Mr D'Arcy has also assisted his wife singing teacher Yvonne D'Arcy, the driving force behind Berrima Smalls Concerts which have been delivering classical entertainment to Highlanders for the past 13 years.
He has had a long association working with various other Highlands projects including the Highlands Theatre Group Orchestra, as well as being the founder and principal of Tutor's Orchestra Southern Highlands and a piano teacher at Powerpoint Music.
Mr D'Arcy said that some of the proudest moments of his career have been his long teaching association with Sydney Grammar and most recently becoming a published composer.
John James Johnston OAM (deceased)
The late Mr John James Johnston OAM of Bowral has been recognised for service to the community through a range of roles associated with Lions Clubs at a local national and international level.
John passed away on April 22, however, his work and dedication to the community has been recognised in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours' List.
John's devoted wife Marie, cried with pride for a man she described as someone who spent his life helping others.
Marie said her husband of 61 years was a lovable character who would encourage everyone to achieve their best.
She said that John would have been "chuffed" to learn that he had received a Queen's Birthday Honour.
"He would have been thrilled to bits, but he would have also said that he didn't deserve it," she said.
"He considered helping others as something natural to do."
Marie said that some of John's favourite activities with Lions included raising money for the blind and seeing eye dogs, and overseeing the sale of Lion's Christmas cakes each year.
John's commitment to Lions did not go unnoticed within the organisation. He has previously received several coveted awards including the Melvin Jones Extension Pin Lions International in 2010, and Melvin Jones Award Lions International in 1992.
Dr Ann Elizabeth Parker OAM
News of a Medal of the Order of Australia has come out of left field for Dr Ann Elizabeth Parker OAM.
As far as the Berrima-based medico is concerned "doing a job to the best of your ability comes from loving what you do."
"If you like what you do, then you are not looking for rewards," she said.
However, she is still overwhelmed about receiving acknowledgement in the 2020 Queen's birthday honours list for service to medicine and to the community.
The co-founder of the Walker Street General Practice in Bowral in 1992 said she was humbled by her inclusion on the list.
Such an accolade hardly seems surprising for anyone who takes a closer look at the many contributions of Dr Parker.
She has taken on a host of leadership roles during her career including Visiting Medical Officer at both Bowral and District Hospital and Southern Highlands Private Hospital, Clinical Senior Lecturer and co-ordinator for the Undergraduate course Phase 3 at Wollongong University, and several roles of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice including chair and deputy chair over almost 30 years.
But perhaps her most inspiring role has been her involvement with the Remote Area Health Corps working in the Northern Territory outback.
Dr Parker said she had always wanted to work in the outback and has been realising that ambition since 2007.
She has been a part of the Remore Area Health Corps visiting Lajamanu, an indigenous community about six hours from Katherine, since 2014.
Dr John Allan Lowndes OAM
Dr John Allan Lowndes OAM of Bundanoon has been honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the law and to the judiciary.
While he is now living in the Southern Highlands Dr Lowndes spent many years working in the Northern Territory Local Court.
He was Chief Judge from 2016-2019, Chief Magistrate from 2013-2016, Deputy Chief Magistrate in 2013, and Magistrate from 1990-2013.
He was also the inaugural Territory Coroner from 1993-1996, the Chief Coroner from 1990-1993 and the Managing Magistrate for Work Health Court.
Dr Lowndes is a member of the Law Reform Committee of the Northern Territory, Department of the Attorney-General and Justice.
He was also chairperson of the Lands Planning and Mining Tribunal from 2007-2012.
Other credits to his name include being a former President and Honorary Life Member of the Association of Australian Magistrates, and former President and Council Member of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association.
He played a key role in the establishment of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and its procedures and was delegate of the inaugural President of the Mental Health Review Tribunal from 2000-2001.
