Awards
Senior Australian of the Year 2005 - Results
2005 winners of the Senior Australian of the Year Award
Details about the 2005 Senior Australian of the Year Recipient
The 2005 Senior Australian of the Year is a Portuguese-born Darwin businessman whose outstanding generosity over many years has made a significant difference to the Australian community.Mr Milhinhos has contributed to many community causes, including Autism NT, St John Ambulance, Dragons Abreast (dragon boating for breast cancer), Variety, Somerville Community Services, the Guide Dogs Association, and disaster relief campaigns like the Farmhand Drought Relief Appeal and the CARE Australia tsunami appeal.
Mr Milhinhos said he was "very honoured to be the recipient of the award, particularly as a person not born in Australia and who arrived here from Portugal by myself in my mid-20s, with only four years of primary education and unable to speak any English."
Since arriving in Australia, Mr Milhinhos, has employed thousands of Australians in his supermarket, hardware, wholesaling, property, cold-storage and ice-manufacturing businesses – and has contributed generously to many worthy causes.
Separate from these donations he has always been willing to assist local schools, sporting associations and charities with prizes and donations, as well as providing assistance in various ways for individuals needing help. He is also an honorary member of the Guide Dogs Association of SA & NT (Inc) and each year matches dollar for dollar the donations made in his shopping centre for Guide Dogs.
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Details about the 2005 Senior Australian of the Year State and Territory Recipients
New South Wales – Recipient
Dr Richard Gill OAMRichard Gill is one of Australia's pre-eminent and most admired music educators and conductors. Richard is the current Artistic Director of OzOpera for Opera Australia, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the Education Program for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He specialises in opera, musical theatre, and vocal and choral training. Richard's work in developing young musicians and creating opportunities for them is recognised world-wide. During a career spanning more than 40 years, Richard has received many accolades including an Order of Australia Medal, the Bernard Heinze Award for Services to Music in Australia and, in 2001, he received the Australian Music Centre's Award for Most Distinguished Contribution to the Presentation of Australian Compositions by an Individual. Richard's passion for music and music education drives him to continue his important and unique work during his senior years.
Victoria – Recipient
Alex AuldistAlex Auldist has dedicated his adult life to the advancement of the Royal Children's Hospital and the Paediatric Surgical profession. Alex is a practitioner, researcher, educator and mentor for young doctors. He is highly respected throughout the national and international fraternity for his clinical surgical research and leadership in paediatric training. Over several decades, Alex has had a leading role in educating and training registrars at the Royal Children's Hospital and the Royal Australian College of Surgeons. He has also been a major force in bringing health professionals to rural Victoria and Southern New South Wales. Alex's love for his job and for helping children motivates him to continue his work in his senior years. He is a great senior Australian.
Queensland – Recipient
Prof John Pearn AMJohn Pearn is the Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health and a senior consultant paediatrician at the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane. He is a former National Director of Training for St John Ambulance Australia, Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force and Physician to the Australian and New Zealand forces in the Vietnam campaign. John was awarded his higher Doctorate of Medicine and has published more than 100 papers in international medical literature. He was the founder and later President of the Australian Society of the History of Medicine. On top of his professional achievements, John gives his time and expertise freely to charity and volunteer work. He is an amazing person and continues to work to make Australia a better place for all.
South Australia – Recipient
John Dowie AMJohn Dowie is a painter, sculptor and writer. He has significantly contributed to visual arts in South Australia and Australia for the past eight decades. In 1925, aged 10, John began his lifelong affiliation with art when he commenced modelling classes at the South Australian School of Art in Adelaide. His artistic career to date includes over 50 public sculpture commissions including the Three Rivers fountain in Victoria Square, Alice in Rymill Park, the Victor Richardson gates at Adelaide Oval and the Sir Ross Smith Memorial at Adelaide Airport. John's successful career can be attributed to his remarkable talent, coupled with a great sense of humour and a charming manner. His longstanding contribution to the Australian visual arts has been truly outstanding.
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Western Australia – Recipient
John ChristmassWith a lifelong passion for choral work, John Christmass is an inspiration to thousands of Western Australians. John has had a career spanning 60 years, in which he has organised, directed and conducted concerts, developed choral work in schools, and formed and directed children and adult choirs. Following his retirement in 1985, a request from former students saw John create the choir New I Voci Singers – now one of Western Australia's finest choral groups. He also continues to mentor young people on a range of music management skills including administration, production, programming and publicity. John says the value of arts in Australian society drives his voluntary work. His leadership unites Australians of all ages and makes him a truly exceptional role model.
Tasmania – Recipient
Peter CundallPeter Cundall has been gardening since he was a small child. Born in England, Peter moved to Tasmania in 1950. Peter is trained as a landscape architect and began broadcasting on ABC radio and television on a weekly basis in 1969. From 1990 he has been the main presenter with the ABC's national Gardening Australia program. He has also been writing gardening columns since the mid sixties. Peter has long been actively involved with the environmental protection and peace movements. He is deeply interested in any form of child protection and in 1994 he was appointed official Envoy for the Save the Children Fund. Peter is a very active senior Australian and his passion for sharing his abundant knowledge about gardening is truly inspiring for Australians.
Australian Capital Territory – Recipient
Barry Williams BEMFor more than 30 years Barry Williams has been a committed advocate for lone fathers in the community. As the sole parent to four children, Barry became very aware of the lack of support and understanding within the community for men. As a result, Barry established the ACT branch of The Lone Fathers Association in 1972 and since then he has helped thousands of men who require emotional, moral and practical support. Barry is now a key figure and leader on this important issue. In 1999, Barry set up the first men's shelter in Canberra and this shelter is now a model which is being replicated in other parts of Australia. Barry is dedicated to improving the lives of others and continues to volunteer his time in his senior years.
Congratulations to all of the 2005 State and Territory Senior Australians of the year.
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