Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has marked Australia Day 2020 by bestowing official honours on a wide range of dedicated and committed public service professionals serving the Victorian community over and above the requirements of their jobs in the public sector.
Her Majesty’s awards, presented under the Order of Australia, were released at Yarralumla by the Governor-General, General David Hurley on Australia Day.
The Victorian Public Service employees honoured by the Queen this year, including those receiving the Public Service Medal (PSM), were:
OFFICER IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AO)
Charles Roderick CURWEN CVO OBE AO
Government House, Melbourne
For distinguished service to the Crown, and to public administration in Victoria, to medical research, and to Australia-China business relations.
Professor John Kinley DEWAR AO
La Trobe University
For distinguished service to education through leadership roles in the universities sector, and to professional organisations.
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)
Colleen Georgette PEARCE AM
Office of the Public Advocate
For significant service to the community through public advocacy roles.
Ms Pearce has been Victorian Public Advocate since 2007.
Claire Elena SPENCER AM
The Arts
For significant service to arts administration, and to the community.
Ms Spencer has been Chief Executive Officer at the Arts Centre Melbourne, since 2014.
Heathcote McMichael WRIGHT QC AM
The Law
For significant service to the law, and to the performing arts.
Mr Wright was a member of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal from 2013-2017.
Dr Desiree Swei-Lien YAP AM
Women’s Health Victoria
For significant service to women’s health, and to medicine.
Ms Yap has been Chair of Women’s Health Victoria since 2016.
The Honourable Hartley Roland HANSEN QC AM
Supreme Court of Victoria
For significant service to the law, and to professional associations.
Mr Hansen was Reserve Judge from 2013-2018.
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM)
Professor Stephen Moile CORDNER AM PSM
Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
For outstanding public service to forensic medical and scientific services, training and research in Victoria.
As inaugural Director of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM), Professor Cordner has been instrumental in the establishment and development of the Institute’s form and functions.
Under his leadership the VIFM managed Australia’s largest Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) response following the devastating Victorian bushfires in 2009.
Additionally, he has overseen the deployment of VIFM teams to the Netherlands for the DVI response to the crash of MH17 in Ukraine, and to other events in New Guinea, Indonesia, Congo and various Pacific countries.
Professor Cordner’s outstanding public service to local, national and international communities, and his dedication and commitment to forensic medicine, has earned him high respect.
Shelagh Elizabeth DONEGAN-BRAGG PSM
Department of Education
For outstanding public service to education, and to people with a disability, in Victoria.
Ms Donegan-Bragg has shown significant leadership over the past 15 years as Principal of the Sale and District Specialist School in Victoria.
Her vision, and now legacy of creating a purpose-built educational facility for students with a disability has created an environment for all students to achieve better outcomes and has strengthened the sense of pride and inclusion within the community.
Ms Donegan-Bragg’s outstanding public service to education, and to the community of Victoria, has been exemplary.
Noelene DUFF PSM
Local Government
For outstanding public service to local government in Victoria.
Ms Duff has made a long and distinguished contribution to local government in Victoria and her extensive experience and policy influence has been regularly called upon, including as Vice President of the International City Managers Association.
She has also been a strong and influential advocate of gender equality in local government and is a mentor and coach to many emerging women leaders.
Ms Duff’s outstanding public service to local government, and to the community of Victoria, is most noteworthy.
Christine Michelle FERGUSON PSM
Department of Environment, Land, Planning and Water
For outstanding public service to policy and program delivery in Victoria.
Ms Ferguson has made a significant contribution to the public sector across a range of portfolios in regional Victoria during a career spanning more than 20 years.
She is recognised for her ability to cut through complex cross portfolio issues and deliver outcomes for communities, particularly in the Grampians region.
Ms Ferguson’s outstanding public service, particularly to policy and program delivery in Victoria, is highly commendable.
Reegan Odette KEY PSM
Victoria Emergency
For outstanding public service to emergency management systems in Victoria.
Miss Key has initiated and led improvements in emergency management within the Victorian community particularly in the aftermath of the devastating 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
She was instrumental in the development and implementation of the VicEmergency channels, a world-leading initiative that has had a significant positive impact on the way the community receives emergency information.
Miss Key’s outstanding public service to ensuring the safety of people in Victoria during public emergency situations brings great credit upon herself and on the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
Gabrielle Hedwig LEVINE PSM
Department of Justice and Community Safety
For outstanding public service to community safety projects in Victoria.
Ms Levine has been instrumental in leading a number of high-profile projects on behalf of the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety.
This has included leading the implementation of the first Youth Justice Multi-Agency Panel which has resulted in increased collaboration in managing young people at risk of reoffending.
Her strong leadership and engagement has led to many positive outcomes for adults and young people who have had dealings with the justice system.
Ms Levine’s outstanding public service to the delivery of justice services, particularly to the community in regional areas in Victoria, is most commendable.
Dr James Richard PEARSON PSM
Victoria Police
For outstanding public service to forensic science, particularly to chemistry, in Victoria.
Dr Pearson has led research, development and innovation across a variety of forensic disciplines in order to optimise forensic support to Victoria Police.
At a national level he has raised the capability of forensic laboratories in all jurisdictions, training others in a range of techniques and methods.
He has also been a role model and mentor to emerging forensic scientists and has dedicated his skills and experience to a range of professional organisations including the Chemical Warfare Agent Laboratory network and the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society.
Dr Pearson’s outstanding public service to Victoria Police, and to the community of Victoria, in the field of forensic science is most noteworthy.
Janine Louise TOOMEY PSM
Department of Health and Human Services
For outstanding public service to policy design and service delivery in Victoria.
Ms Toomey has dedicated her career to supporting and facilitating self-determination for people with disability most recently in her role as Executive Director, Community Services Operations in the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.
She has been instrumental in leading the co-design of individualised support approaches within Victoria, as well as the transition of services to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the transfer of government services to community service providers.
Ms Toomey’s outstanding public service through the efficient delivery of health and human services demonstrates her significant dedication and commitment to Victorians with disability.
AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL (APM)
Detective Superintendent Peter John BRIGHAM APM
Detective Superintendent Brigham is a career police officer with 38 years of consistent and demonstrated distinguished service to the community and to Victoria Police.
He has consistently demonstrated his capability, determination, skill and capacity to manage complex investigations, and was a leader in the team which investigated serious criminal and corrupt behaviour by police.
His recent efforts in managing a legal matter on behalf of Victoria Police saw him responsible for an enormous workload for over two years, an expectation that was well above and beyond the norm. His instructions to legal counsel on behalf of Victoria Police were always well considered and mindful of the consequences of his decisions.
He has championed diversity and gender equality in the workplace and has recently been nominated as a Male Champion of Change by his colleagues.
Detective Superintendent Brigham always makes the time in an exceptionally busy role to provide coaching and mentoring to individuals as he works to develop the future leaders of Victoria Police.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark William CHRYSTIE APM
Since joining Victoria Police in 1976 as a Cadet, Detective Senior Sergeant Chrystie has shown outstanding service to the community and to law enforcement which has greatly contributed to the development and future of Victoria Police.
He has been recognised for his efforts over the past 44 years by receiving many community awards that have recognised his engagement within the community that he serves.
He is known for his dedication to crime investigation as a frontline investigator who has assisted in apprehending some of Victoria’s most dangerous offenders, and he has been vital in shaping the way in which serious crime is investigated in Victoria.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chrystie’s ability to influence those around him to create a positive work environment which fosters innovation, creativity and a strong work ethic that enhances the reputation of Victoria Police, and the safety of the community is most notable.
Leading Senior Constable Andrew Neil DOWNES APM
Leading Senior Constable Downes has served Victoria Police since 1986 and is a well-respected police officer who has specialised in youth/community roles in Swan Hill since 2011. Andrew possesses a high level of emotional intelligence, one of his strongest aptitudes is his ability to form productive relationships built on trust and mutual respect. He has a highly demonstrated history of working with youth, both indigenous and nonindigenous, in the community. He has on many occasions demonstrated the courage to address difficult situations and people.
Leading Senior Constable Downes is a well-respected police officer who lives and works within his local area and his level of engagement with the community, to achieve positive results, is most noteworthy.
Superintendent David Owen JONES APM
Superintendent Jones has been a member of Victoria Police for 34 years, commencing his policing career in 1985. During that time he has gained extensive experience in a range of areas encompassing general policing, corporate strategy highlighting governance, and Special Projects (OHS, Training and Audit). He has also served in several Investigation Units including the Homicide Squad, Drug Taskforce and Purana Taskforce.
He is dedicated to community service and played an integral part in the HEAT (Hospitality, Employment and Training) program, run by St Kilda Youth Service. This program provides employment opportunities and training for young persons disengaged from mainstream education.
Superintendent Jones is a valued and hardworking leader of the Victoria Police community and is known for his dedication to serve and protect the people of Victoria.
Commander Elizabeth Anne MURPHY APM
Commander Murphy’s excellent leadership and management skills have been recognized throughout her career which includes numerous commendations, along with being recognised by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) as being one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women (Victoria) in 2019.
She commenced her policing career in 1989, serving in general duties, criminal investigation, sexual offence and child abuse investigation, family violence investigations, prosecutions and policy areas.
As the Superintendent at Family Violence Command, and resulting from the 2016 Royal Commission into Family Violence, she was pivotal in the development and allocation of, and providing direction to, 415 Family Violence specialist investigators deployed into 28 Family Investigation Units. This was a major catalyst of change through the Family Violence Response Model project, which changed Victoria Police’s response to family violence.
Commander Murphy’s combined experience as an investigator, supervisor, manager and leader across rural and metropolitan locations provides subject matter expertise in all areas of policing leadership and management that benefits both Victoria Police and the community she serves.
Leading Senior Constable Patrick Joseph STORER APM
Leading Senior Constable Storer has been an operational police officer for approximately 40 years, commencing his policing career in 1978. The majority of his service has been in country Victoria, including 16 years at Kyabram and for the past 11 years he has been the one-member officer at the Violet Town station in state’s north east.
He has developed very strong interpersonal relationships and networks through his role as the community’s police officer, as well as through his involvement with the Lions Club, and as a Councillor with the Strathbogie Shire Council.
Leading Senior Constable Storer’s leadership and ability to forge strong lasting working relationships through an honest, forthright and engaging approach which is based on reliability, fairness, compassion and inclusiveness make him the epitome of a one-member station police officer, and a credit to Victoria Police.
AUSTRALIAN FIRE SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM)
Gregory Francis HITCH AFSM
Mr Hitch has been involved in fire and emergency management in Victoria for 32 years.
He holds numerous competencies and capabilities and is currently accredited as Regional Controller – North West Metro.
In his substantive position as Ranger in Charge – Fire and Emergencies, he has carried out many roles such as Incident Controller, Operations Officer, and Taskforce Leader. He has been actively involved in many emergency management initiatives such as night firebombing trials and the establishment of the Melbourne Bushfire Program.
He has served on multiple deployments, both interstate and internationally, including assisting and leading crews in Canada and the United States during some of their most devastating fires.
Mr Hitch is well respected and a high achiever, with a long and proven record of distinguished service in supporting communities within Victoria.
George Ernest O’DWYER AFSM
Mr O’ Dwyer has been a Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteer firefighter with Barongarook West brigade since 1995. He has also provided 14 years of distinguished emergency service with the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP).
He has undertaken the role of Public Information Officer (PIO) in incident management teams since the roles were established post the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission and was the first Victorian officer to achieve the Incident Management Team (IMT) level 3 PIO status.
He has played significant roles in community fire recovery including after the 2005 Mt Lubra fire, and the 2009 Victorian bushfires. He demonstrated outstanding leadership working with community members in Wye River on Christmas Day 2015, supporting evacuation, relief and early recovery.
Mr O’Dwyer’s contribution to communities in south west Victoria, and performance during emergencies, is a benchmark for others to aspire to.
Graeme John SAUNDER AFSM
Mr Saunder commenced his forest fire fighting career with the Victorian Forests Commission in 1980, after attending the School of Forestry in Creswick from 1977. For over 42 years he has worked across Victoria in district, regional and state forestry and fire roles, and is a highly respected practitioner with both operational and incident management experience.
He is currently Project Leader Emergency Management, and also regularly performs the role of Regional Controller for the Grampians Region. The development of a fully automated ‘Fireweb Regional Readiness Forward Planner’ was his brainchild.
Mr Saunder’s ability to engage with regional staff from across emergency management agencies is widely valued, along with his vast technical knowledge, skills, thoroughness, attention to detail and exceptional performance in ensuring the safety of the community of Victoria.
Peter John SHAW AFSM
Mr Shaw has served the Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA) with integrity and commitment as a volunteer for over 45 years. He has distinguished himself by demonstrating exceptional leadership and outstanding operational ability as an Incident Controller.
His Level 3 accreditation is evidence of his outstanding operational knowledge and experience distinguishing him as one of the State’s elite fire and emergency managers. He has been the architect of a number of innovative changes and solutions that have improved efficiencies including operational capabilities, increased readiness, and shortened response time.
His appointment to the CFA board in 2016 is a further indication of his exceptional standing amongst volunteers. As a board member he strives to contribute to a more effective and cohesive emergency management sector and his exceptional record of service and achievement inspires others to strive to achieve better performance.
Mr Shaw’s lengthy service is evidence of his dedication to creating a safer Victorian community, and a stronger and more effective Country Fire Authority.
AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL (ASM)
William Allan BRIGGS ASM
Mr Briggs has served Ambulance Victoria with distinction over a career spanning more than 28 years. He has been instrumental in the research and development of the Single Responder platform, including the implementation of the Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) Single Responder Program.
As a MICA paramedic, he continues to design and evaluate equipment for Ambulance Victoria’s Single Responder platform. He has also made a significant contribution to the promotion of occupational health and safety. He played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the Back-To-Basics training and manual handling programs.
Furthermore, he has provided vital support and direction to paramedics in performing dynamic risk assessments at both high acuity medical and mental health cases, ensuring the safety and welfare of the workforce.
Mr Briggs has provided dedicated and committed service to Ambulance Victoria, and to the community of Victoria, and his efforts are most noteworthy.
Rain HISTEN ASM
Ms Histen has served Ambulance Victoria with distinction over a number of years, including as an Advanced Life Support Paramedic. During this time she has demonstrated leadership in the encouragement and development of others through her commitment to advocating for improved awareness of paramedic physical and mental health.
She has promoted the wellbeing of Ambulance Victoria staff through prolonged and consistent efforts and has been instrumental in establishing networks across the organisation in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, to improve the physical fitness of staff, enabling them to undertake service at major events such as the Eureka Stair Climb and the MCG Stadium Stomp.
Ms Histen has also been pivotal in the establishment of Ambulance Victoria’s on-line workplace platform for a fitness and wellbeing group, allowing people to share valuable health content including the benefits of diet, mental health awareness and group training.
Terrence Patrick MARSHALL ASM
Mr Marshall has served Ambulance Victoria with distinction during a career spanning more than 32 years. He has developed and implemented training in rapid sequence intubation for Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics and has completed a Fellowship with the National Institute of Clinical Studies with a focus on pain management.
His contribution has been significant in introducing a new, lifesaving skill to the ambulance industry. The ability for paramedics to perform rapid sequence intubation for a particular cohort of patients has saved and improved the quality of life for many patients.
Mr Marshall has provided outstanding leadership in demonstrating, educating and embedding the values of Ambulance Victoria, which his contributions have also helped improve community safety in Victoria.
Gail SHARP ASM
Mrs Sharp has provided outstanding service to Ambulance Victoria, and to her community of Birchip, a small town in the Mallee region of Victoria, in her capacity as a volunteer for more than 15 years.
As an inaugural member of the Birchip Community Emergency Response Team she has not only provided emergency care to her local community, she has also been instrumental in recruiting and training volunteers. She has also provided a pivotal link between volunteers and the paramedic workforce at all levels.
Mrs Sharp is a committed volunteer who willingly goes above and beyond expectations in providing exemplary service to Ambulance Victoria and to her community.
Lance Francis SIMMONS ASM
Mr Simmons has made an outstanding contribution to Ambulance Victoria through the development and implementation of innovative change during his 45 years of service, particularly as an Advanced Life Support paramedic.
He was instrumental in initiating the commencement of a welfare fund for paramedics, following the drowning death of a colleague in 1975 and after the 1984 Ash Wednesday Bushfires in Victoria, he advocated strongly for the need for peer support for emergency services personnel.
He made a significant contribution to the design and introduction of Ambulance Victoria’s Peer Support Program which recognises that paramedics can experience times of emotional distress, workplace or personal stress, and sometimes need the support of a peer. Peers can provide early intervention by taking away the stigma of seeking help and refer people on to other internal or external support processes.
Mr Simmons was pivotal in establishing this program which has proven to be of significant benefit to the mental health and well-being of Ambulance Victoria’s workforce.
Susan Jane WALSH ASM
Ms Walsh has demonstrated exceptional service in the provision of training, leadership and the encouragement and development of others during her 22 years of service at Ambulance Victoria.
Her service has also been filled with a desire to support her community through the provision of clinical care. Amidst ground-breaking challenges for women in ambulance services, she has continued to support, develop and mentor many others who have followed in her footsteps.
As clinical instructor and leader she has successfully managed the upgrade of volunteers to a paid and higher-skilled workforce in the community of Wedderburn. This has included the provision of training, mentoring and relationship management with local services in the health sector. Her encouragement of new and emerging paramedics has seen them go on to teach, mentor and influence education amongst Ambulance Victoria’s workforce.
Ms Walsh is a true professional with a genuine commitment and dedication to paramedic education and development in Ambulance Victoria.
Kenneth John WHITTLE ASM
Mr Whittle has demonstrated exceptional service in the provision of innovative change at Ambulance Victoria.
As part of the organisation’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2016-2019, he was the driving force behind the success of the first Peer Support Dog Pilot Program in an ambulance service in Australia.
Together with his dog, a six-year-old specially-trained Labrador, he has consistently gone above and beyond the requirements of the pilot program and he has also been pivotal in the promotion of the program within Ambulance Victoria and across the broader community.
He has also been instrumental in ensuring the integrated program has raised awareness of mental health support, and reduced the stigma attached to seeking help. He has encouraged paramedics to ‘open up’ and talk to their peers, and the program has now been incorporated into the organisation as a permanent feature.
Mr Whittle’s commitment and dedication to the Peer Support Dog Program and to colleagues in Ambulance Victoria, has been exemplary.
EMERGENCY SERVICES MEDAL (ESM)
John William HOOPER ESM
Mr Hooper has over 40 years experience in emergency management. He commenced as a volunteer with the Stawell Unit at the Victoria State Emergency Service in 1978. He quickly rose to be the Deputy Controller and trainer, specialising in road crash rescue, and search and rescue.
He became qualified in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) CAT 2 after an extensive training course with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, and has used those skills during disasters in Australia and overseas to help communities in their time of need.
He undertook searches for people following the 2009 Victorian bushfires, the Grampians National Park landslides in 2011, and the 2018 fires in Greece where he was the only volunteer in a 12 member team from Australia.
In his own time, he has travelled the world to bring the latest rescue techniques back to Victoria to improve the survivability of people needing rescue.
Mr Hooper is an exceptional example of distinguished service to the Victoria State Emergency Service and to the community.
AUSTRALIAN CORRECTIONS MEDAL (ACM)
Stephen CADMAN ACM
Mr Cadman commenced in the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) in 2004 and since that time he has put a unique stamp on the offender community work portfolio. In his case management and community work roles he has gained extensive experience in managing and working with high risk, complex-needs offenders. He has been responsible for the development of countless sustainable community work programs with a focus on offender upskilling.
His experience in offender management, working within the organisation’s frameworks on both small and large scale projects, and his ability to deliver outcomes for key stakeholders transfers into his current role of Manager, Community Work and Partnerships across the North West Metropolitan Area.
Mr Cadman continues to provide offenders with opportunities to make a change in their lives, which results in great benefit to the community of Victoria.
Steven Douglas COMTE ACM
Mr Comte has, throughout his career with Corrections Victoria, provided outstanding public service. Commencing in 1990 he has served in a range of positions at several prisons throughout the state and since 2014 has been instrumental in embedding the state wide Prison Industries self-sufficiency strategy by establishing HM Prison Middleton as the largest contributor site to this strategy.
He has further enhanced the prison’s community connection through a partnership with Kiwanis that involves building Book Boxes for local schools, community houses and other public places.
He continues to work with Corrections Victoria’s Education Training and Employment Branch to ensure that Middleton is viewed as different, innovative and a leader in education and training delivery.
Mr Comte makes things happen by working collaboratively with staff, prisoners and other stakeholders and ensures that any initiative results in tangible benefits for prisoners, Corrections Victoria, and the wider community.
Tina FILOPOULOS ACM
Ms Filopoulos commenced her career with Corrections Victoria in 1995 at HM Prison Fairlea, the first Victorian all-female prison. Fairlea presented numerous challenges, with each day providing a level of unpredictability. However Ms Filopoulos always rose to the challenge, upholding and maintaining professional standards in fulfilling her role and providing a service to the women in her care.
Upon Fairlea’s closure in 1996 she moved to the Metropolitan Women’s Correctional Centre, now the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC), the front end maximum security female prison, where she continues to work to this day. She has worked regularly within the protection unit at DPFC, a 31 bed unit for prisoners who cannot be housed in mainstream accommodation.
She has also worked in every area of DPFC and has excelled in her case management skills.
Ms Filopoulos is an excellent role model, and her commitment to Corrections Victoria for over 24 years has been exceptional.
Stephen Peter PAYNE ACM
Mr Payne’s career with Corrections Victoria commenced in 1995 as a trainee Prison Officer. Since that time he has held a number of roles including serving as an operational prison officer at Pentridge and Barwon Prisons, and at the Metropolitan Remand Centre and Melbourne Assessment Prison.
He has performed the role of Operations Manager at several prisons, across multiple portfolios, including at minimum security Dhurringile Prison right through to the maximum security Metropolitan Remand Centre, leading staff and engaging with prisoners in relation to case management and prison discipline.
He has also been at the forefront of riot management in Victoria and was the tactical commander in the management of a riot at Port Phillip Prison. In another instance, he was the tactical commander during Victoria’s largest prison riot at the Metropolitan Remand Centre, leading teams of staff over a period of some 18 hours, to ensure the effective resolution of the incident.
Mr Payne has provided diligent service, often in extreme circumstances, and his professionalism and experience has helped promote the professionalism of Corrections Victoria.
