Public Service staff from all States and Territories have been recognised by her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth again this year in her Australia Day Honours List, rewarding many for their selflessness and commitment to duty and service for the Australian community.
Her Majesty’s awards for members of the South Australian Public Service were decided under the Order of Australia and announced on the Queen’s behalf by his Excellency the Governor-General, General David Hurley.
Congratulating the recipients of the honours, General Hurley described the recent years as ‘challenging’ and said the presentation of the Australia Day awards provided a reminder of the ‘richness of spirit, selflessness and good’ in the Australian community.
South Australian PS employees honoured by the Queen this year, including those receiving Public Service Medals (PSM), were:
MEMBER IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)
Helen Siobhan MARSHALL AM
SA Health
For significant service to medicine in the field of vaccinology and public health, to research, and to education.
Professor Marshall has been Senior Medical Practitioner in SA Health’s Division of Paediatric Medicine since 2000.
MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (OAM)
Gary Bruce FLEETWOOD OAM
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
For service to law enforcement agencies.
Mr Fleetwood has been an Expert Firearms Specialist with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission since 2004.
Elizabeth D’arcy WILSON OAM
Department of Families and Communities
For service to public administration in South Australia.
Ms Wilson was Director of Strategy and Research in the Department of Families and Communities from 2004 to 2008 and Manager of the Child Protection Unit from 1991 to 1995.
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM)
Mark Joseph CONNELLY PSM
Department for Education
For outstanding public service to achieving outcomes for the Anangu communities.
Mr Connelly is the inaugural Principal Manager who single-handedly established the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Trade Training Centre in 2012.
Through his personal commitment and energy Mr Connelly established the site to provide significant VET for secondary students and community members and a highly valued conference facility for the Department for Education.
His work has resulted in 1,385 of the 2,500 people on the APY Lands participating in and attending programs since its inception.
Mr Connelly’s connection and engagement has been broader than his role with the Department for Education.
Mr Connelly has worked in the APY Lands TAFE program for TAFE SA and secured funding for Pipalyatjatjara/Kalka Community’s first ever Learning Centre.
He looked after the construction of Community Learning Centres at Indulkana and Fregon. He was fortunate to coordinate the training of the first group of Anangu, to deliver Cultural Awareness workshops to non-Indigenous people.
Mr Connelly has established and worked with up to five generations of families, as well as the APY Executive, the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Education Committee (PYEC), local community and school councils.
The Trade Training Centre now has connections with agencies and organisations including Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, Empowered Communities, JAWUN, Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid, and Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation (RASAC).
Mark has worked hard to achieve outstanding outcomes for students, families and the broader community through 30 years of dedicated service to the Anangu.
Sara Elizabeth FLEMING PSM
Women’s & Children’s Hospital
For outstanding public service to the development and provision of Paediatric Palliative Care Services.
Mrs Fleming has been the Clinical Service Director of the Paediatric Palliative Care Service (PPCS) at the Women’s & Children’s Hospital in South Australia for over 20 years.
The PPCS provides care to approximately 30 children per year, ranging from antenatal (during pregnancy) to 18 years of age who are living with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, their families and the wider community.
Mrs Fleming identified the need for a specialised paediatric palliative care service and pioneered the PPCS in South Australia.
She has led and contributed to initiatives to improve the care of children with palliative care needs and secured funding to support expansion of services including holistic interdisciplinary roles such as doctors, nurses, an educator, a social worker, art therapist, grief and loss support, and administrative and business support.
Mrs Fleming has been a support for local and national clinicians and has been instrumental in developing State-wide and hospital specific policies and procedures to guide best practice and to ensure that children and families receive the highest level of evidence based care.
Mrs Fleming regularly presents as an expert at national and international conferences and is a clinical tutor at Flinders University writing and developing the paediatric palliative care course topic.
Recently she initiated and developed the Paediatric Palliative Care Australia and New Zealand (PAPCANZ) Association and was integral in securing a $3m grant and is overseeing a project focused on raising awareness about paediatric palliative care in Australia and improving family-centred care.
Mrs Fleming builds relationships with many families with a child in palliative care, making plans with them and empowering them with support to care for their child and give them the best quality of life possible.
Kirk RICHARDSON PSM
City of Onkaparinga
For outstanding public service in developing and implementing key projects for the City of Onkaparinga.
Mr Richardson has worked for the City of Onkaparinga for 32 years in a range of operational and leadership roles. He is currently serving as the Director of City Operations.
His outstanding contributions are demonstrated through his ability to create solutions to long term community issues, many of which impact residents beyond the borders of the city.
Notably Mr Richardson has been responsible for leading the planning and delivery of numerous important Infrastructure, social and environmental projects and programs from Library and Community buildings, redevelopment of public spaces and the foreshore, road management, Coastal management solutions, stormwater management and harvesting through the Water Proofing the South project and Landfill site closure and post closure management in a cost effective, efficient manner for the benefit of the community.
Mr Richardson is a key member of the Board of Southern Region Waste Resource Authority (SRWRA).
Council waste is routed to the local resource recovery centre and either processed as landfill or recycled. Up until 2019, most of the recycling was sent overseas, and through the disruption to the recycling industry.
Mr Richardson recognised the increasing difficulties associated with offshore processing recyclables and in conjunction with SRWRA developed a strategic plan to build a state-of-the art recycling plant within the council’s existing waste landfill site, planning and developing a thriving carbon neutral waste management precinct.
The delivery of these projects has been instrumental in meeting the current and future needs of communities, with significant positive environmental impacts.
Mr Richardson is highly valued for his commitment to community, camaraderie, selfless service, hands on approach, and perseverance to achieve the best practical outcomes. Many projects would not have been achieved without Mr Richardson’s long-term perspective and valuable contributions.
AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL (APM)
Chief Superintendent John De Candia APM
South Australia Police
For playing an integral role in a comprehensive change management and communication plan for the District Policing Model (DPM).
Chief Superintendent De Candia joined SAPOL in 1989, initially working in General Duties before joining Criminal Investigations as a Detective. In 2005, he was appointed as a Commissioned Officer progressing to the rank of Chief Superintendent in 2020. From 2014 to 2017 he was Officer in Charge of Eastern Adelaide Local Service Area before becoming Program Manager for the implementation of the District Policing Model (DPM), SAPOL’s most significant organisational restructure in almost 20 years.
Chief Superintendent De Candia played an integral role in a comprehensive change management and communication plan for the DPM, personally communicating face-to-face with around 3,000 employees at information sessions held throughout Metropolitan Operations Service (MOS).
He played an integral hands-on role in every aspect of the project and the associated implementation processes, earning widespread respect for his ability to encourage employees to embrace the change process. In 2020, he was appointed Service Coordinator for MOS. His outstanding work ethic, dedication and knowledge have continued to drive the DPM forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Denise Gray APM
South Australia Police
For displaying a high degree of professionalism and motivation with a strong ability to seamlessly oversee complex criminal investigations and intricate staffing issues.
Detective Chief Inspector Gray joined SAPOL in 1987 and has held leadership positions across a range of areas including Licensing Enforcement Branch, Major Crime, and currently Serious and Organised Crime Branch, where her positive influence and determination has consistently delivered enhanced morale, direction and productivity.
Detective Chief Inspector Gray consistently displays a high degree of professionalism and motivation and has a strong ability to seamlessly oversee complex criminal investigations and intricate staffing issues.
She regularly performs a mentoring role to others and creates a positive learning environment for all staff.
Her significant contribution to teaching others has created a lasting legacy which immensely benefits SAPOL. She truly leads by example and continually strives to positively impact on all those around her. Her enduring personal and professional commitment as an experienced manager within Crime Service and SAPOL more broadly has made a substantial contribution to community safety.
Senior Sergeant First Class Craig Wolfe APM
South Australia Police (SAPOL)
For displaying initiative, leadership and dedication to the prosecutorial discipline.
Senior Sergeant First Class (SS1C) Wolfe joined SAPOL in 1986 and has served Prosecution Services Branch for 33 years.
He continually displays initiative, leadership and dedication to the prosecutorial discipline. His sustained and selfless service has seen him work in all six metropolitan prosecutorial offices and several country locations. Respected by his peers and the judiciary, SS1C Wolfe has become a role model to many within the profession, including solicitors within private practice.
SS1C Wolfe is focused on creating opportunities and breaking down barriers for employees and promotes inclusive pathways for staff development.
Tenacious in his beliefs, SS1C Wolfe has taken on challenges at the highest levels, appealing matters to the High Court of Australia, where he has been successful on appeals which have changed the course of law in South Australia. He has also been integral to developing a new structure for Adelaide Prosecution and driving cultural change.
