Grit and determination characterises women honoured
Grit, determination and a lot of teamwork are credited by several women as the secrets to their success.
Notable women in business, banking, the law and tertiary education, have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for their leadership contributions and gender-equality advocacy.
Jennifer Westacott served as chief executive of the Business Council of Australia for 12 years before becoming chancellor of Western Sydney University in 2023.
Having grown up in public housing and as the first person in her family to attend university, Sunday's appointment came as a full-circle moment.
"Getting the opportunity to study at university changed my life," she told AAP.
"(Universities) have that responsibility to produce the most skilled people in the world … so people have fulfilling and thriving lives."
Ms Westacott's career has included time as a public servant, a variety of director roles and as patron of Mental Health Australia and Pride in Diversity.
But a career highlight has been changing the stigma around public housing.
During her time at the housing department she met with public-housing residents who told her they could not let their kids play in the gardens because there were no fences to keep them safe from traffic.
"After we put the fences up I would often drive past and seeing the kids all playing there was a highlight for me," she said.
"What I've tried to do is turn my difficult childhood into a life-long mission to see better lives for people and fight for equality, and to turn around the stigma of people living in public housing and in poverty."
Ms Westacott is appointed a Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia, along with Kathryn Fagg, former CSIRO chair, Reserve Bank board member and non-executive director of NAB.
Early in her career, Ms Fagg was often questioned on whether she got her role because of her gender.
"We have come such a long way but that doesn't mean there aren't still challenges for women in the workplace," she said.
Gender-equality advocate Helen Fisher said her time as a discrimination and human rights lawyer opened new ways of thinking.
But it's her work undertaking gender impact analysis for federal government policy that she is most proud of.
It means every government policy and expenditure is looked at in terms of how it will affect Australian women and girls.
"It was really important to get the government to think actively about women," she said.
"We've gone from developing an idea of gender impact analysis to formalising it in the budget process and now using the budget to improve gender equality."
While Australia had made real progress, Ms Fisher - who has been appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia - said there were still challenges for women.
"We need more men to be working on gender equality," she said.
"The next frontier of feminism is to move beyond the idea of a binary opposition between 'us' and 'them' towards investigating how we overcome patriarchy to the benefit of all."
Former Bendigo and Adelaide Bank chief executive Marnie Baker has always been a keen advocate for regional Australia and the opportunities it provides.
She is being recognised as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for significant service to the financial and banking sectors.
"I grew up on a dairy farm in northern Victoria and because kids in regional and rural areas didn't really have the same infrastructure and opportunity as kids in the city, you had to have a bit of grit and determination," she said.
"I've grown up thinking if you needed something done, you do it yourself."
Her work at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank is her proudest achievement as she stayed true to her purpose and saw firsthand how finance could be a force for good.
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The Advertiser
13 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Vague food labelling is well past its use-by date
This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to Stuffed with lemon and herbs and roasted slowly, the chicken was melt-in-the-mouth perfect. As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. They should start by being honest with those use-by and best-before dates they stamp on their prepackaged foods. The use-by dates are mandatory and food - mainly meat and dairy - shouldn't be eaten and cannot be sold after them. The best-before dates are where the confusion arises. Food can be eaten after them. Yet, too often, products that have exceeded their best-by date but are still absolutely edible are binned with every pantry cull. A 2019 food waste report found that only 51 per cent of household "food managers" understood the difference between the two labels. Which means half of Australia's households are probably throwing out perfectly good canned food, sauces, biscuits and chocolate. And that's contributing to an annual food waste bill per household of around $2700. OzHarvest estimates about 70 per cent of the food we bin each year is perfectly edible. That's bad enough with families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. It's even harder to stomach when every day we're assailed with images of what real hunger looks like in Gaza, in Sudan. A lat- arriving comment from Echidna reader Olivia, in response to last week's story about the demise of the corner store and deli, resonates with today's topic. She wrote about life as a single girl in 1980, of coming home to Paddington via the corner store to grab supplies: "Two spuds, a lamb chop, and some greens, that'll do. One day at a time, one meal at a time." Rereading it, thoughts turn to tonight's meal. Leftover chicken shredded and tossed through steaming farfalle with onion, garlic and baby spinach the packet tells me was best before last Thursday but I know will do just fine. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you ever stop to think how much food is wasted? Should "use-by" and "best before" labelling on food be clearer? Do you save leftovers for meals later in the week? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. - Network 10's long-running panel show The Project has been axed due to declining ratings. - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia's highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. THEY SAID IT: "If you're going to America, bring your own food." - Fran Lebowitz YOU SAID IT: They want to talk trade but when world leaders get their audience with Donald Trump they're reduced to being extras in his trashy reality show. "I will have to borrow 'a loose arrangement with the plot'," writes Kerry. "Today's newsletter was just brilliant. Loved it. Thank you." Murray says two things were inevitable: "First, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were going to come to blows. Two hugely powerful narcissists were only going to stay best buddies for so long. Second, the left were going to be almost orgasmic with glee over it." Bill writes: "Albo is spot on: meet Trump anywhere but the farce that is an Oval Office presser, in front of all those simpering cabinet acolytes who depend on Trump for their future. Imagine how our local idiot Dutton would have looked defending Australian meat farmers. On second thought, send Littleproud and watch him get eaten for breakfast." "I suggest all national leaders join my new MAGA movement: Make America Go Away," writes Rob. This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to Stuffed with lemon and herbs and roasted slowly, the chicken was melt-in-the-mouth perfect. As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. They should start by being honest with those use-by and best-before dates they stamp on their prepackaged foods. The use-by dates are mandatory and food - mainly meat and dairy - shouldn't be eaten and cannot be sold after them. The best-before dates are where the confusion arises. Food can be eaten after them. Yet, too often, products that have exceeded their best-by date but are still absolutely edible are binned with every pantry cull. A 2019 food waste report found that only 51 per cent of household "food managers" understood the difference between the two labels. Which means half of Australia's households are probably throwing out perfectly good canned food, sauces, biscuits and chocolate. And that's contributing to an annual food waste bill per household of around $2700. OzHarvest estimates about 70 per cent of the food we bin each year is perfectly edible. That's bad enough with families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. It's even harder to stomach when every day we're assailed with images of what real hunger looks like in Gaza, in Sudan. A lat- arriving comment from Echidna reader Olivia, in response to last week's story about the demise of the corner store and deli, resonates with today's topic. She wrote about life as a single girl in 1980, of coming home to Paddington via the corner store to grab supplies: "Two spuds, a lamb chop, and some greens, that'll do. One day at a time, one meal at a time." Rereading it, thoughts turn to tonight's meal. Leftover chicken shredded and tossed through steaming farfalle with onion, garlic and baby spinach the packet tells me was best before last Thursday but I know will do just fine. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you ever stop to think how much food is wasted? Should "use-by" and "best before" labelling on food be clearer? Do you save leftovers for meals later in the week? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. - Network 10's long-running panel show The Project has been axed due to declining ratings. - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia's highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. THEY SAID IT: "If you're going to America, bring your own food." - Fran Lebowitz YOU SAID IT: They want to talk trade but when world leaders get their audience with Donald Trump they're reduced to being extras in his trashy reality show. "I will have to borrow 'a loose arrangement with the plot'," writes Kerry. "Today's newsletter was just brilliant. Loved it. Thank you." Murray says two things were inevitable: "First, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were going to come to blows. Two hugely powerful narcissists were only going to stay best buddies for so long. Second, the left were going to be almost orgasmic with glee over it." Bill writes: "Albo is spot on: meet Trump anywhere but the farce that is an Oval Office presser, in front of all those simpering cabinet acolytes who depend on Trump for their future. Imagine how our local idiot Dutton would have looked defending Australian meat farmers. On second thought, send Littleproud and watch him get eaten for breakfast." "I suggest all national leaders join my new MAGA movement: Make America Go Away," writes Rob. This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to Stuffed with lemon and herbs and roasted slowly, the chicken was melt-in-the-mouth perfect. As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. They should start by being honest with those use-by and best-before dates they stamp on their prepackaged foods. The use-by dates are mandatory and food - mainly meat and dairy - shouldn't be eaten and cannot be sold after them. The best-before dates are where the confusion arises. Food can be eaten after them. Yet, too often, products that have exceeded their best-by date but are still absolutely edible are binned with every pantry cull. A 2019 food waste report found that only 51 per cent of household "food managers" understood the difference between the two labels. Which means half of Australia's households are probably throwing out perfectly good canned food, sauces, biscuits and chocolate. And that's contributing to an annual food waste bill per household of around $2700. OzHarvest estimates about 70 per cent of the food we bin each year is perfectly edible. That's bad enough with families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. It's even harder to stomach when every day we're assailed with images of what real hunger looks like in Gaza, in Sudan. A lat- arriving comment from Echidna reader Olivia, in response to last week's story about the demise of the corner store and deli, resonates with today's topic. She wrote about life as a single girl in 1980, of coming home to Paddington via the corner store to grab supplies: "Two spuds, a lamb chop, and some greens, that'll do. One day at a time, one meal at a time." Rereading it, thoughts turn to tonight's meal. Leftover chicken shredded and tossed through steaming farfalle with onion, garlic and baby spinach the packet tells me was best before last Thursday but I know will do just fine. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you ever stop to think how much food is wasted? Should "use-by" and "best before" labelling on food be clearer? Do you save leftovers for meals later in the week? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. - Network 10's long-running panel show The Project has been axed due to declining ratings. - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia's highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. THEY SAID IT: "If you're going to America, bring your own food." - Fran Lebowitz YOU SAID IT: They want to talk trade but when world leaders get their audience with Donald Trump they're reduced to being extras in his trashy reality show. "I will have to borrow 'a loose arrangement with the plot'," writes Kerry. "Today's newsletter was just brilliant. Loved it. Thank you." Murray says two things were inevitable: "First, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were going to come to blows. Two hugely powerful narcissists were only going to stay best buddies for so long. Second, the left were going to be almost orgasmic with glee over it." Bill writes: "Albo is spot on: meet Trump anywhere but the farce that is an Oval Office presser, in front of all those simpering cabinet acolytes who depend on Trump for their future. Imagine how our local idiot Dutton would have looked defending Australian meat farmers. On second thought, send Littleproud and watch him get eaten for breakfast." "I suggest all national leaders join my new MAGA movement: Make America Go Away," writes Rob. This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to Stuffed with lemon and herbs and roasted slowly, the chicken was melt-in-the-mouth perfect. As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. They should start by being honest with those use-by and best-before dates they stamp on their prepackaged foods. The use-by dates are mandatory and food - mainly meat and dairy - shouldn't be eaten and cannot be sold after them. The best-before dates are where the confusion arises. Food can be eaten after them. Yet, too often, products that have exceeded their best-by date but are still absolutely edible are binned with every pantry cull. A 2019 food waste report found that only 51 per cent of household "food managers" understood the difference between the two labels. Which means half of Australia's households are probably throwing out perfectly good canned food, sauces, biscuits and chocolate. And that's contributing to an annual food waste bill per household of around $2700. OzHarvest estimates about 70 per cent of the food we bin each year is perfectly edible. That's bad enough with families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. It's even harder to stomach when every day we're assailed with images of what real hunger looks like in Gaza, in Sudan. A lat- arriving comment from Echidna reader Olivia, in response to last week's story about the demise of the corner store and deli, resonates with today's topic. She wrote about life as a single girl in 1980, of coming home to Paddington via the corner store to grab supplies: "Two spuds, a lamb chop, and some greens, that'll do. One day at a time, one meal at a time." Rereading it, thoughts turn to tonight's meal. Leftover chicken shredded and tossed through steaming farfalle with onion, garlic and baby spinach the packet tells me was best before last Thursday but I know will do just fine. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you ever stop to think how much food is wasted? Should "use-by" and "best before" labelling on food be clearer? Do you save leftovers for meals later in the week? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. - Network 10's long-running panel show The Project has been axed due to declining ratings. - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia's highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. THEY SAID IT: "If you're going to America, bring your own food." - Fran Lebowitz YOU SAID IT: They want to talk trade but when world leaders get their audience with Donald Trump they're reduced to being extras in his trashy reality show. "I will have to borrow 'a loose arrangement with the plot'," writes Kerry. "Today's newsletter was just brilliant. Loved it. Thank you." Murray says two things were inevitable: "First, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were going to come to blows. Two hugely powerful narcissists were only going to stay best buddies for so long. Second, the left were going to be almost orgasmic with glee over it." Bill writes: "Albo is spot on: meet Trump anywhere but the farce that is an Oval Office presser, in front of all those simpering cabinet acolytes who depend on Trump for their future. Imagine how our local idiot Dutton would have looked defending Australian meat farmers. On second thought, send Littleproud and watch him get eaten for breakfast." "I suggest all national leaders join my new MAGA movement: Make America Go Away," writes Rob.
West Australian
16 hours ago
- West Australian
Meet Countryman's new reporters Melissa Pedelty and Georgia Campion
There are two new reporters on the farming beat, with Melissa Pedelty and Georgia Campion joining the Countryman team recently. Both Pedelty and Campion come to their new roles as journalists with regional experience and a passion for agriculture. It boosts the number of journalists at the Countryman to four, with editor Cally Dupe returning from maternity leave to resume her post earlier this year and livestock stud reporter Bob Garnant continuing his two-and-a-half decade career at the paper. Born and raised in Wickepin, Pedelty started her journalism career at the Manjimup-Bridgetown Times in 2022, covering news, lifestyle and sports. She has a passion for regional reporting and quickly slotted into the wool round while working three days per week. Pedelty is always up for a chat and loves nothing more than learning the stories of others. Campion comes to the Countryman in a full-time capacity after two-and-a-half years at the Albany Advertiser, one of the Countryman's sister newspapers in regional WA. While working at the Advertiser, she quickly became one of the most senior staff members and specialised in court reporting — a skillset and experience that will be a significant boost to Countryman's editorial team. She is always planning some sort of travel adventure, and is rarely seen without one of her cameras always ready to snap everything she comes across. Countryman has been the voice of the bush since 1885, meaning we are committed to being a part of the WA rural and agricultural community through thick and thin — through bumper harvests, fires and droughts. Week in, week out, Countryman's reporters strive to break news that has an impact on farm businesses and communities in WA. We take a look over the fence to see what other farmers and businesses across the supply chain are doing, not only next door but around the globe. Our reporters live and breathe rural and regional news, and play a vital role in delivering the news in a balanced and fair way. We pride ourselves on our hard-hitting, independent stories about local, State and national issues of importance to farmers in WA. Countryman has gained a strong reputation over the years for its independent and informed editorial coverage. In recent years, our journalists have been recognised for their achievements, scooping accolades in the WA Media Awards including Best News Story, Best Photograph and the Rural Media Association of WA's highest honour — the Outstanding Commitment to Rural and Regional Journalism. Our reporters have also taken out the photographic and editorial categories of the Wagin Woolorama's Glenys Gmeiner Media Awards multiple times. In recent years, a story published in Countryman won the top honour in the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists Awards for Excellence in Rural Reporting — a true testament to the quality of journalism published in our newspaper. There has never been a more important time to be involved with agriculture as Australian farmers play a vital role doubling global food production by 2050. Thank you for supporting us. To contact Countryman's new reporters, email or
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Eucla community servant receives award in King's Birthday Honours
Eucla's long-serving volunteer fire brigade captain is among those recognised in this year's King's Birthday Honours. Simone Conklin has been awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal for distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service. The award citation said Mrs Conklin had been involved in emergency services since 1994 and been the captain of Eucla Volunteer Fire and Emergency Service since 2010. Located in one of the most remote areas of WA, on the border with South Australia, Eucla VFES covers 550km of the Eyre Highway, responding to a range of emergencies that include aircraft and road crashes, bushfires, hazardous material spills, and structural fires. Mrs Conklin has attended more than 98 per cent of incidents since 2014, with the isolation of the area meaning she often handled critical incidents with minimal support, frequently being the sole responder for hours until help arrives from distant brigades. 'She has shown outstanding leadership, decision-making and calmness under pressure in numerous emergency situations,' the citation said. 'One example (was) a truck fire at Border Village in 2021, which put the roadhouse at serious risk due to the proximity of the fire to the fuel bowsers, increasing the potential for explosion. 'Mrs Conklin's actions in isolating the area and ensuring that those present were kept at a safe distance, as well as leading her crew in extinguishing the blaze, saved the roadhouse and ensured everyone was unharmed.' The citation said she had also responded to serious road and aircraft crashes in both WA and South Australia which involved casualties with serious, life-threatening injuries who required airlifting. 'In addition to responding to incidents, Mrs Conklin was involved in securing funding for Eucla's airstrip upgrade, which plays a vital role for emergency services and the community,' the citation said. 'Mrs Conklin's dedication sees her constantly seeking ways to improve and increase public awareness. 'In 2023 she consulted with the Eucla community, Eucla police and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services on a suitable evacuation plan for the town. 'This has now led to discussions with the SA Country Fire Service for them to develop evacuation plans for Border Village as well.' Several people who served part of their careers or community service in the Goldfields-Esperance were also recognised in the King's Birthday Honours. Those who received a Medal of the Order of Australia included Esperance Museum co-founder and Esperance Bay Historical Society co-founder and life member Marjorie Barker, Kalgoorlie Golf Club life member and Inner Wheel Club member Lorraine Winchcomb, and Roy Dowsett, who served with the Kalgoorlie Scouts in 1962-64. Senior Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer Ian Tullock, who served at Kalgoorlie police station from 2018-22, received an Australian Police Medal for a career of nearly 50 years, as did Det-Sen. Sgt Gregory McDonald, who served in the Goldfields during a career that spanned more than 40 years. Anthony Dodd, who served as a volunteer firefighter in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Kambalda during his career of more than 40 years, received an Australian Fire Service Medal.
