QJA PEOPLE SHINE Australia Day Awards Each year on Australia Day many people throughout the country are recognised by the Governor-General for their outstanding achievements. This year a number of QJA people have been awarded in the various Order of Australia categories for their service to the community. The QJA wishes to congratulate all the following for their success and contribution to society.
COMPANION (AC) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION In fact, this year our Patron, the Honourable Chief Justice Catherine Holmes, was awarded the highest honour, Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) which is awarded for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large. The QJA has sent a message of thanks to Her Honour on her achievement and thanking her for her continued patronage of our organisation.
MEMBER (AM) IN GENERAL DIVISION
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Two QJA members were awarded in this division - Mrs Trina Hockley AM, for significant service to the community and to business; and Mr Barry Kelly AM for significant service to the mining and minerals sectors, and to business.
Trina Hockley AM Trina’s volunteering has seen accolades as an Outstanding Volunteer to the Indigenous Community and has received a 20-year Leadership Award from the City of Gold Coast. She is an avid advocate for youth education and development and Gold Coast sport and business. Trina is a well-respected business owner of the L & M Group of Companies and an experienced, qualified non-executive director with a background in education training, sport, employment, retail and governance (BHMS, GMQ, FAICD JP (Qual)). Highly sought after for both her business and governance acumen, she is on the board of TAFE Qld, is the past Chair and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company 6
Serving Queensland’s Honorary Justices since 1918
Directors (AICD) Gold Coast committee. She is also Chair of Arcadia College, Ohana for Youth and the Spot Academy, Trina sits on the board of The Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame and Sports Gold Coast. Trina cofounded Women in Power to mentor other women and is a member of the Qld Government’s Mentoring for Growth. While Trina is a relatively new JP, she is keen to provide services where she can and support the community through yet another volunteering avenue.
Barry Kelly AM Barry Kelly AM, proudly lists JP(Qual) as one of his many educational qualifications. With a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years he is a high-profile leader in the minerals and resources sector in Australia, Asia, Europe and South America, and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School. From humble beginnings as a trainee accountant, Barry rose to the position of General Manager Coal Marketing, selling Queensland coal to more than 80 companies in 30 countries. Since then Barry has made an extremely successful transition from management into the boardroom and says the greatest challenge for many board members lies in their ability to understand the distinction between governance and management. He has distinguished himself in the boardroom and was awarded the Gold Medal 2011 by the Queensland Division, Australian Institute of Company Directors.
MEDAL (OAM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION Four of our members were awarded in this division; Mrs Julie Arthur OAM, for service to local government and to the community of the Fraser Coast; Peter Boyes for services to the community of Queensland; Mr Umesh Chandra, for service to the multicultural community of Queensland; and Mrs Valerie Rooney for service to war widows, and to the community of Logan.
Valerie Rooney OAM Val Rooney was in Adelaide on Australia Day 2020, busy with family, blissfully unaware that she had been named in the Australia Day Honours list. It wasn’t until 4pm that it was suggested she ‘google herself’ and might be happy with the result. “It was such a humbling experience to be recognised by her community for work she is so happy to do” said Val. Many of QJA’s Logan Branch members will be familiar with Val as she was one of the founding members of the Branch. A JP of 40
