Outstanding service

By Jennifer Kent

TWO Maleny women have been recognised for their outstanding achievements in this year’s Australia Day 2023 Honours List.

Dr Theresa Craig AM and Mrs Florence Woods OAM have been recognised among the 1,047 outstanding and inspirational Australians announced by the Governor-General, David Hurley.

Mrs Woods received the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the local hinterland community. Dr Craig received a Member of the Order for her service to the agriculture industry, education and research and politics.

Dr Craig (pictured above) 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. Her dedication to rural and regional Australia extends to her roles as a member and vice-chair of the Queensland

Schools Animal Ethics Committee for seven years and is currently director of Page Research Centre. She is also the managing director and founder of Technical Assistance and Research Analysis.

Her former roles include the director come resident of the Agribusiness Association of Australia (2011-2014) and a former vice-presidency of the Queensland Committee of the Charolais Society of Australia.

A former lecturer at the University of New England and having authored several academic publications, Dr Craig’s contribution to education and research extends to her current role as Adjunct Professor at the Centre for International Developments, Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Speaking to GC&M News, Dr Craig said it was a “wow” moment.

“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, holding prior positions such as president of the Federal Nationals Women’s Council (2017-2021), regional chair of the Liberal National Party of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Region (2017-2020). She was also president of the LNP Women and was a senate candidate for the LNP (2012-2013).

“They go above and beyond, are from all over the country, and contribute every day in every way imaginable,” Governor General David Hurley said.

“These are the people who see us through good times and bad. They’re the first to show up and the last to leave.”

Mrs Woods 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, a life member of the Senior Citizen Club and of the Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Mrs Woods remains a Patron to the Maleny Historical Society and the Ben Bryce Park Retirement Village Auxiliary. She is also a member of the LNP. Governor-General, David Hurley, expressed his congratulations to the awardees, noting their significant impact, sharing they are “quite simply, inspiring”.

“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.”