PROMINENT hinterland residents have been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday honours list.
The late Dr Michael Simpson received the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division for his service to the community of Montville.
Dr Simpson was a GP at Ochre Medical Centre Montville from 1995 and also worked at Banksia House, Maleny and in Mapleton.
Dr Simpson held many roles in the region including life member of the Blackall Range Horseless Carriage Club, organ player at the Montville Uniting Church, Maleny Garden Club member and a host to many charity garden open days at his and wife Kyleigh’s property.
He published a number of books including co-authoring A Garden Forever, Dreams, Stories, Heritage & History, with Kyleigh.
He was awarded the Montville Lifetime Citizens Award in 2022, was Montville Citizen of the Year in 2007 and won 1st Prize, Gardens in the Sun, Maroochy and Caloundra Council, 2003.
Mrs Linda Tamazin Vann received the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service to the community of Maleny. Mrs Vann was the commanding officer of T.S. Centaur from 2014 to 2021, a member of the Rotary Club of Maleny and co-founder of the Hinterland Aussie Day Expo. She was also former Treasurer of the Maleny Community Centre and former delegate of the Maleny Show Grounds Committee.
Dr Barry Traill received the Member (AM) In the General Division for significant service to conservation and the environment in a range of roles.
He was the founding Australian Director of Pew Charitable Trusts and founder and president of the Invasive Species Council.
He also authored a number of books including The Modern Outback: Nature, people and the future of remote Australia, 2014.
Mrs Rhonda Mary Clayton of Elimbah received the Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to squash as a competitor and administrator.
Mrs Clayton was a world number 1 squash player from 1981 to 1983 and a Top 10 player from 1979 to 1984.
She was inducted into the Squash Australia Hall of Fame in 2006 and received the Sports Australia Award for Most Successful Australian Women’s Sport Team, 1982 and 1984.
Dr William Anthony Lord from Woombye received the Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to paramedicine, particularly research and education. He has been the Australasian College of Paramedicine director, since 2020. Member for Glasshouse, Andrew Powell, said: “It’s always exciting to see Glass House legends acknowledged for their service through the King’s Honour Lists.”
“Knowing Linda and Barry personally, it’s wonderful to see their contributions to the community and environment respectively rewarded.
“And if you’ve ever followed the sport of squash, you know Rhonda continues to go down in history as one of our greatest.
“But, poignantly, to see Dr Michael Simpson of Montville awarded posthumously is just so fitting for a man who gave so much to the Blackall Range.”
Federal MP, Andrew Wallace, gave his congratulations to “all the Fisher residents who have been granted honours in this historic first list by His Majesty the King”.
“Dr Michael Simpson is truly missed by the Montville community but his legacy of care and service to the community lives on,” Mr Wallace said
