Macklin Congratulates Australia Day Award Recipients

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, today congratulated Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who were awarded Australia Day honours.

“Australia Day is a time to celebrate and recognise the achievements of Australians who have given so much back to the community,” Ms Macklin said.

“Today I give those people my heartfelt thanks. Australia would not be the same without you.

“From supporting rural women and homeless people, to promoting health and development in Indigenous communities – these are the quiet achievers who have applied themselves to making our country a better place, without asking for thanks.”

Ms Macklin congratulated all finalists for Australian of the Year, in particular Indigenous artists Stephen Page and Mark Bin Barker, social advocate Lin Hatfield Dodds and paediatrician Professor Jonathan Carapetis.

“These people have worked tirelessly in their chosen field for the good of so many Australians,” Ms Macklin said.

In addition to congratulating all recipients of Australia Day Awards, Ms Macklin said she would like to pay particularly tribute to Queensland opthamologist Dr Bill Glasson for his work in remote areas and Indigenous eye health, Joseph Elu for his contribution to the field of economic development in Indigenous communities, Tony Vinson for championing the cause of social justice and Trevor Christian for service to the Indigenous community through the Sydney Aboriginal Corporation for Legal Services.

“Australia Day is a time to acknowledge the thousands of individuals who volunteer their time and energies for the good of their communities to help create a more inclusive society,” Ms Macklin said.