MAYORAL MINUTE NO 1/2021
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA AWARDS 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Councillors,
Each Australia Day, honours are awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to their community. This year, 844 Australians were recognised in the Australia Day Honours list, and of those, five are from The Hills Shire.
One of those five is former Hills Shire Mayor, Yvonne Keane.
Yvonne has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for her significant service to women and children, and those who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Councillors who worked alongside Yvonne during her term will know that she is passionate, energetic and dedicated to her community and the causes she supports.
As Mayor, she immersed herself in the role. She called 2017 her ‘bonus year’ as she was elected Mayor after the regular four-year term of Council was extended to a fifth as part of the amalgamation process.
In a Mayoral message, Yvonne described the year as one of the most incredible experiences of her life, furnishing her with opportunities to create real change and add value to the community she loves.
She ensured families in new suburbs had access to services, fast-tracking projects including open space in North Kellyville and Balmoral Road, and was instrumental in establishing Livvi’s Place – our Shire’s only all-abilities playground.
Yvonne had a priority of improving community consultation, holding consultation sessions at Oxlade Reserve, Bernie Mullane Reserve and Heritage Park.
Yvonne has always been a strong advocate for the rights of those most vulnerable. She was the co-founder of The Sanctuary women’s shelter and worked tirelessly to support women and children escaping domestic violence.
She was also honoured with the awards of Hills Shire Council Citizen of the Year in 2012 and NSW Local Government Woman of the Year in 2016.
Perhaps some of her greatest achievements centre around her work to expand services for children with hearing impairments as the Deputy Chair of the Endeavour Foundation and as founder and President for Hear the Children Early Intervention Centre. She was also instrumental in the Centre’s transition to the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC). Both these organisations have benefitted greatly from her contribution.
Other residents who were honoured this Australia Day included the following people:
• Frank Deane from Castle Hill has been awarded the OAM for service to people with a disability and to the community.
• The late Rita Little of Kellyville has been honoured with a posthumous OAM for service to animal welfare and to canine breeding clubs.
• Perry Gilsenan from Baulkham Hills received the OAM for service to people with Down Syndrome, and
• David Rosenberg from Kenthurst has been awarded the OAM for service to publishing.
As the Governor-General said on Australia Day:
“The individuals we celebrate today come from all parts of our great nation and have served the community in almost every way conceivable. They’re diverse and unique but there are some common characteristics, including selflessness, commitment and dedication.”
It is an incredible honour to be acknowledged in this way and I’m so proud of the significant contributions that these residents have made to our community. I would like to congratulate Yvonne and all of our Hills recipients who were recognised on Australia Day as part of The Order of Australia awards.
Accordingly I move that:
MOTION:
This Mayoral Minute be received.
Dr Michelle Byrne MAYOR
