THE outstanding achievements of two Maleny women have been recognised in this year’s prestigious Australia Day Honours List.
Dr Theresa Craig AM and Mrs Florence Woods OAM have both been recognised among the 1,047 outstanding and inspirational Australians announced by the Governor-General today.
Dr Craig received a Member of the Order for her significant service to politics and to the agriculture industry. Dr Craig is a co-owner of Aserlay Farm, a purebred Charolais Stud herd located in the hills west of Maleny and is managing director of Technical Assistance and Research Analysis (TARA) of which she founded in 1997.
Mrs Woods received the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the local hinterland community.
Dr Craig said it was a “phenomenal privilege” to be recognised following an extensive career in the agricultural sector and in politics where she is currently treasurer of the Nationals federal management committee.
She has been a member/vice chair of the Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee for seven years and the author of several publications including Best Practices Dairy Beef 2007. Her dedication to rural and regional Australia extends to her current role as director at Page Research Centre (since 2019); She was the former director come president of the Agribusiness Association of Australia from 2011-2014 and the former vice-president of the Queensland Committee of the Charolais Society of Australia.
A former lecturer at the University of New England, Dr Craig’s contribution to education and research extends to her current role of Adjunct Professor at the Centre for International Developments, Social Entrepreneurship ad Leadership at the University of the Sunshine Coast, since 2020. Speaking to GC&M News, Dr Craig said it was a “wow” moment to receive the honour.
“We don’t do it for the recognition or award, but for the reward in the area in which we work and what we are hoping to achieve,” she said.
“I like helping… and to be recognised by my peers is very humbling.”
“Australia is such a wonderful country, with so much potential and we should be proud to be Australia. Regardless of where you were born, what religion or race you may be, we are privileged to live here.”
Dr Craig has contributed significantly to politics and is the current treasurer of The Nationals federal management Committee, a position she has held since 2021.
Prior to this, Dr Craig was the president of the Federal Nationals Women’s Council President from 2017-2021 and regional chair of the Liberal National Party of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Region from 2017-2020. From 2014-2017 she was president of the LNP Women and prior to this was a senate candidate for the Queensland Liberal National Party from 2012-2013.
Speaking with GC&M News, Florence Woods’ son, Francis, acknowledged his mother’s contributions to the community over many years and said that it was a great honour she has been given.
“It was a big surprise for her last week when the acknowledgement came through,” he said. “She’s a very humble person and is quite taken to be recognised.”
Among her many contributions to the community, Mrs Woods actively volunteered with the Maleny Show Society from 1978-2017 within the Dairy Cattle Section and Food preparation and sales, becoming a Life Member in 2020. At the time Mrs Woods shared her love of being involved with the Show Society, which last year celebrated its 100th anniversary.
“I would love to watch the grand parade, which was always spectacular, as well as the horses in ring jumping events. I also used to particularly enjoy watching the dogs on the utes,” Florence said.
She said at the time while it was wonderful to be recognised for her work over the years, she certainly hadn’t looked for recognition.
In 2011, Mrs Woods was awarded Citizen of the Year at the Fisher Community Australia Day Awards. As co-owner of One Tree Hill Estate, for decades Mrs Woods donated property entrance fees to charitable organisations and individuals. A member of the Maleny Uniting Church Women’s Guild since 1965 and she was a former lead with the Church’s youth fellowship. Her long list of community participation includes co-founder of Busy Needles Group, life member of Senior Citizen Club and member of Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Mrs Woods remains a Patron to both the Maleny Historical Society and the Ben Bryce Park Retirement Village Auxiliary. She is also a member of the Liberal National Party.
Governor-General David Hurley expressed his congratulations to the outstanding Australians recognised, noting the significant impact they’ve played at the local, national and international level, sharing they are “quite simply, inspiring”.
“They go above and beyond, are from all over the country, and contribute every day in every way imaginable. These are the people who see us through good times and bad. They’re the first to show up and the last to leave,” the Governor-General said.
“They’re almost always humble to a fault but I urge recipients, for today, to put aside that humility – it’s important they know how much they are valued.”