Former Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell now has three more letters to go after her name after being awarded the Order of Australian in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
She received the award for service to local government and to the community of Lismore.
Ms Dowell, who was highly regarded by all sides of politics during her term and led the council’s opposition to CSG mining, is currently travelling in Germany.
She is joined on the list by a range of local figures, including Mullumbimby’s Leonie Mills. The founder, director and artistic director of Spaghetti Circus has received an OAM for her services to the town’s youth.
Ms Mills is a highly skilled and experienced circus coach, a nationally ranked gymnastics champion and an accomplished performer and choreographer who has performed all over Australia. She has been the driving force behind the success and longevity of a little town’s big circus footprint.
Tweed Shire Council general manager Troy Green has been awarded a NSW Public Service Medal. Mr Green was recognised for outstanding public service to local government in northern NSW.
According to a media announcement from the council, ‘since his appointment as GM, the Tweed Shire Council has become one of the most digitally progressive Councils in NSW in the area of ePlanning, a transformation from the traditional paper-based and face-to-face interactions to an online environment where people can access planning services from anywhere at any time.’
Murwillumbah Hospital doctor John Moran was awarded an AM for service to medicine in northern New South Wales, to medical administration education, and to the community.
Banora Point’s Des Turner received an OAM for services to snooker. He has been president of the Twin Towns Snooker Club since 1978 and the Far North Coast Snooker Association since 1987.
Chillingham’s Harlie Axford was awarded for services to choral and jazz music. He is the musical director and founder of Chillingham Voices Community Choir and former director of SCAT vocal jazz ensemble.
Alstonville’s Judy Birmingham received an AM for services to higher education, particularly to historical archaeology, as an academic, and to professional associations.
Rodrick Fayle, of Ballina, was awarded for services to the macadamia industry, including as chair and board member of the Australian Macadamia Society, as well as industry delegate and chair of the Horticulture Australian Council.
Long-standing National Party MP Ian Robinson was posthumously awarded for his state and federal parliamentary service.
Banora Point’s Janet Woods received an award for her decades of community work in the Tweed Valley.
President of the New Italy Museum, John Barnes, has been awarded for service to the northern rivers community, not only in that role but also a long stint with the Rotary Club and as a supporter of, and innovator in, the waste and recycling industry, since 1984.
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