Public Service members from all States and Territories have been recognised in the Australia Day Honours List this year, honoured with well-earned rewards for their selflessness and commitment to duty and service for the benefit of the Australian community.
His Majesty, King Charles’ awards for members of the South Australian Public Service were decided in accordance with the Order of Australia and announced on His Majesty’s behalf by His Excellency the Governor-General of Australia, General David Hurley.
Congratulating the recipients of all the honours, General Hurley described the significant of the recipients as “quite simply, inspiring”.
“They go above and beyond, are from all over the country, and contribute every day in every way imaginable,” the Governor-General said.
“These are the people who see us through good times and bad. They’re the first to show up and the last to leave,” he said
“It’s important they know how much they are valued.”
Members of the South Australian Public Service honoured this year are:
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)
William Mortimer MUIRHEAD AO
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
For distinguished service to the business sector, to the community of South Australia, and to international relations.
Mr Muirhead was the South Australian Agent General in the United Kingdom from 2007 to 2021.
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)
Helen Germein EDWARDS AM
South Australian Tourism Commission
For significant service to the tourism industry in South Australia.
Ms Edwards was Director of the South Australian Tourism Commission from 2020 to 2022 and has been Chair of the South Australian Regional Visitor Strategy since 2016.
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL PSM
Lisa Marguerite CAVANAGH PSM
City of Playford
For outstanding public service to the Local Government sector and emergency management.
Ms Cavanagh is dedicated to supporting local communities in times of need through her leadership in emergency management.
She was deployed to support local communities during the Bushfires 2019-20 Kangaroo Island and Bushfires 2019-20 Adelaide Hills, COVID-19 Pandemic, 2021 Cherry Gardens Bushfire, 2022 Coles Bushfire, and 2022 State of Emergency resulting from storm impacts from ex-tropical cyclone Tiffany.
In 2019, Ms Cavanagh was part of a convoy of Council staff who supported local communities as three bushfires swept across the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island (Black Summer) threatening land, homes and lives. It was during the Kangaroo Island fires where Ms Cavanagh excelled, demonstrating a high level of leadership and organisational capability.
She established an Operation Centre and Operational Procedures at the Kangaroo Island Works Depot. This involved utilising minimal equipment to establish the Centre, manage staff from across the State to work in a coordinated and efficient manner, establish safety procedures for all involved, coordinate and distribute accurate and timely advice to all those working in the field, and monitor the safety of the workers in the field.
Ms Cavanagh’s contribution in the Local Government Functional Support Group has provided important advice and input into preparedness activities to build a sustainable Local Government sector.
Her support and leadership during the emergencies has enabled the Local Government sector to be better prepared, informed and build greater collaboration between external agencies and Councils, resulting in better outcomes for the community.
Ms Cavanagh has been instrumental during numerous incidents, volunteering her time and expertise to support impacted Councils, emergency services and community members.
Donna Lee DUNBAR PSM
City of Charles Sturt
For outstanding public service to the residents and employees of the City of Charles Sturt.
Mrs Dunbar has dedicated her career to improving local government interaction and connection with residents at a grassroots level.
She has held positions within the City of Charles Sturt including Finance, Records Administrator, Open Space and Engineering Operations, Media, Marketing & Public Relations and Regulatory Compliance (animal management, environmental health and traffic control).
Her experience across all operational areas of Council provided a strong foundation when she undertook various managerial positions over her career at the City of Charles Sturt. Mrs Dunbar used her capabilities and passion for community to work closely with the local Rotary Club and Lions Club to raise considerable funds for much needed local community projects.
In 2018 Mrs Dunbar was promoted to General Manager Corporate Services. In this role, she leads progressive corporate service functions providing internal support to 500 employees and external support to elected members and 120,000 residents.
Her 40 years of service to the western region of Adelaide, including working at the City of Charles Sturt, coupled with her dedication towards developing high performing teams and motivating individuals across the organisation, has resulted in a sustained and significant impact on residents.
Mrs Dunbar’s hard work and demonstration of mutual respect to others, exhibits how working towards a common goal can bridge cultural, experiential and age gaps to unite people and create a sense of connection.
Her legacy is not one that fades as she moves to new challenges, her influence is infused within those individuals she has mentored, the teams she has united and the communities she has connected with and supported across her career.
Brenton James KEEN
Metropolitan Fire Service
For outstanding public service in emergency management including the establishment of South Australia’s Rapid Antigen Test Close Contact Program in response to COVID-19.
Mr Keen has a distinguished 44-year career in emergency services and emergency management.
Commencing with the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) in 1978, Mr Keen progressed to Commander/Assistant Chief Officer and, as a member of the MFS Executive Management Team, he led major training reform.
In 2004, Mr Keen joined the Country Fire Service as Deputy Chief Officer. After participating in the 2005 Wangary Bushfire operations, he significantly improved capability, planning and operational competency assessments.
Mr Keen has been the Director at SAFECOM’s Emergency Management Office since 2012, providing strategic leadership in emergency management in the State and nationally.
He oversaw the establishment of the Logistics Functional Support Group (LFSG), a key element of the State’s emergency management arrangements. LFSG facilitates logistics support to emergency management agencies and South Australian communities during and after major emergencies and disasters including COVID-19.
From 6 January 2022, Mr Keen led a small team to establish the South Australian Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Close Contact Program to distribute free RATs to identified close contacts across the State, thereby alleviating pressure on COVID-19 testing sites.
He coordinated the acquisition of infrastructure and human resources, established distribution sites across Adelaide and regional centres and trained staff. The first super site opened within 6 days of the request being made, which is an enormous logistical achievement. A further 14 sites opened over the next week and the program quickly expanded to 55 sites.
Over his career, Mr Keen has demonstrated exceptional leadership and contributed countless hours of sustained effort above and beyond what was expected of him to achieve what many believed could not be done.
Sandra Elizabeth MANTELL PSM
SA Ambulance Service
For outstanding public service to South Australia Ambulance Service.
Ms Mantell consistently applies herself above and beyond normal expectations and continually produces outstanding outcomes in the projects and programs that she is responsible for.
She commenced with SA Ambulance (SAAS) in 2008 as an Executive Assistant and in 2011, secured the role of Senior Service Delivery Coordinator. Six years later, she was promoted to Senior Coordinator Clinical Service Improvement which primary objective is to support the clinical performance and patient safety directorate by designing, developing and managing strategic plans and processes, researching and analysing clinical service improvements and providing project management.
Ms Mantell has led and delivered diverse pieces of work that have positively influenced the SA Ambulance business; the SAAS Reconciliation Action Plan and cultural change program, and the program of nine projects addressing the Peter Hibbert adverse events report.
She implemented the first Reconciliation Action Plan, embedding the SAAS vision for reconciliation to collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations to remove barriers and improve access to health care.
Ms Mantell brought to the SAAS awareness of culture competence in terms of policies and systems to ensure SAAS could work effectively in cross-cultural situations and responding to the diverse population. Her consistent effort to incorporate, educate and support the SAAS Reconciliation Action Plan across the business has been over six years of dedicated work.
Safety incidents at SAAS in 2018 led to the Peter Hibbert adverse events review and implementing the six domains of healthcare was a vital initiative across SAAS. Ms Mantell developed a cohesive and organisation-wide strategy that had a clear improvement in patient safety and efficacy and resulted in a significant reduction in adverse events for patients. The initiatives that she has delivered over time achieved process efficiencies, cost savings and ultimately improved services for patients across SAAS.
