Uniting Church members honoured

Pictured: Heather Bieman OAM, member of Camden Uniting Church. Photo by Camden Uniting Church on Facebook.

We celebrate and congratulate the almost 30 Uniting Church members, staff and volunteers honoured for their service to various disciplines and to the community in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours!

The 2023 list of recipients is a testament to the power of people seeking to quietly make a difference locally, with many awarded for service to their communities. Also, notably, for the first time since the Order of Australia was established in 1975 the majority of recipients in the General Division are women.

Julie Bertram has been recognised with an OAM for service to early childhood education. She has also made a huge contribution to Revesby Uniting Church in Sydney across a number of roles since 1997.

Julie was the founder and has been the facilitator and coordinator of 'Kidsplay@Revesby', a Preschool Playgroup, since 2009. From 2009 to 2013 she was the coordinator of a Support Group for Children and Parents with Disabilities from 2009-2013 and was a children’s ministry liaison with the Georges River Presbytery in NSW between 2002 and 2007.

She also chaired the congregation’s Child Care Centre Management Committee for six years, from 2006-2012. In 1997 she began coordinating Christmas Workshops for children in the congregation and community which she faithfully continued to oversee until 2012.

Julie was a teacher with the Department of Education in New South Wales for almost 30 years, working across a number of public schools between 1981 and 2009 including Newbridge Heights Public School, Panania Public School and Hammondville Public School.

Janelle Dodd received an OAM for service to the community through a range of organisations. Janelle has been a member of Eastwood Uniting Church in Sydney since 1985. Across that time she has served as Treasurer for an incredible 34 years, as former Chair of the Congregation and a former coordinator of various programs and activities.

She has also served on the Tertiary Chaplaincy Reference Committee for the Sydney Central Coast Presbytery and is the former Treasurer for the Macquarie University Chaplaincy Committee.

Janelle has an active involvement with Days for Girls Australia, the Australian chapter of a global non-profit working to eliminate the stigma and limitations associated with menstruation. Janelle also volunteers her time with Sydney’s Presbyterian Ladies' College and a local Rotary District. In 2022 she received Rotary International’s President's Award for Excellence in Service to Humanity.

Bruce Ind has been recognised with an OAM for service to the community through a range of roles. As part of a significant and varied contribution to the Synod of South Australia, Bruce has served on the Synod Standing Committee, as a member of the Wimala Presbytery Standing Committee. He has been the Chair of the Church Council at Morialta Uniting Church for 23 years, and has attended an impressive six National Assemblies!

Bruce has been a member of the Rostrevor / Campbelltown chapter of international service Kiwanis Club since 2001, and has served in a variety of roles including Director, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and President. He was recognised as Volunteer of the Year by the Electorate of Sturt in 2011 and was honoured in the 2023 Morialta Community Awards.

A number of volunteers and staff of Uniting Church agencies were also recognised in the honours for their tireless service to support those in need.

Anthea Pavy was awarded an AM for significant service to the community through a range of roles including Uniting Country SA, which provides a range of services in regional, rural and remote areas of South Australia.

Anthea has worked for Uniting Country SA for 31 years, first as a social worker, then, after graduating from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, as its Chief Executive. She served as the CEO of Uniting Country SA for 18 years from 2003-2021. In 2020 she was honoured for 30 years of service to the organisation.

Uniting Country SA congratulated Anthea in a post online.

“Anthea's hard work, commitment and leadership within the regional community over the last 30 years has been recognised through her dedicated service at Uniting Country SA, as well as her roles on boards, committees, think tanks and volunteering.”

“This is a well-deserved award for Anthea and we congratulate her for her outstanding contributions to the community.”

Anthea is also a member of UnitingCare Australia’s National Advisory Committee on Children, Youth and Families and is a life member of the South Australian Council of Social Service.

Robyn Batten was awarded an AM for significant service to the not-for-profit, health and aged care sectors.

Robyn was a Co-founder of Leap in!, Australia’s leading NDIS plan manager supporting thousands of people across the country and a joint venture between UnitingCare Queensland and Uniting NSW.ACT. She has been the Executive Chair since 2018.

Between 2007 and 2016 she served as both an Executive and non-Executive Director of Uniting Aged Care in the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania (now Uniting AgeWell). She was the Executive Director of Australian Regional and Remote Community Services and BlueCare (both part of UnitingCare Queensland) from 2010-2016.

Her far-reaching contributions to other organisations include Prahran Community Health Centre, Adelaide City Council and Ballarat City Council.

Jane Bell was awarded an AM for significant service to governance in the medical research, healthcare, and not for-profit sectors. Jane has made a significant contribution to U Ethical (formerly UCA Funds Management) in the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania as a Director, member of its Audit, Risk and Finance Committee, member of its People, Culture and Remuneration Committee and member of its Investment Committee – all between 2014 and 2021!

She has also been the Deputy Chair of Monash Health since 2018, and has held two senior leadership roles with Melbourne Health (Royal Melbourne Hospital) as Chair from 2017-2018 and Director from 2009-2018. In 2017 her significant contribution to these sectors was recognised when she received a Volunteer Award from the Minister for Health in the Victorian Government.

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A number of other Uniting Church members have been recognised for their service to the wider community including to the Uniting Church.

Mrs Heather Bieman OAM, for service to music through teaching. Heather is a long-time member of Camden Uniting Church in NSW.

Mr Kevin Bye OAM, for service to lawn bowls, and to the community. Kevin has been a member and Steward of Nhill Uniting Church for 35 years, and was the Chair of its Maintenance and Works Committee for two years.

Mr Alan Carter OAM, for service to the community through a range of organisations including at Cunderdin/Meckering Uniting Church where he has been a preacher and funeral celebrant. Alan also participated in the Uniting Church Order of St Stephens.

Emeritus Professor Colleen Cartwright AM, for significant service to aged care planning, policy and research. Colleen was a Board Member of North Coast UnitingCare Ageing from 2009-2012.

Ms Juanita Davies OAM, for service to aged welfare. Juanita is a former Director of the Ageing Board for the Northern Sydney Region, Uniting NSW.ACT.

Mr Ian Hamilton OAM, for service to the community of Mackay. Ian has been a member of St Paul’s Uniting Church in Mackay for over 70 years, a Chair and member of its Finance and Property Committee for over 50 years and its chairperson of appeals since 1998.

Mrs Susanne Harris, OAM, for service to youth, particularly young women. Susanne is the Director of Days for Girls Australia in the SA and NT District, is a chapter leader, state co-ordinator and established Days for Girls in SA. She is a member of Seeds Uniting Church in SA. 

Mrs Janice Irvine OAM, for service to the community of Forster-Tuncurry including as a current member of Forster Uniting Church.

Ms Kate Jenkins AO, for distinguished service to human rights governance, to advancing gender equity, to the promotion of inclusivity, and to the law. Kate is a member of the Uniting Church in Victoria and was Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner between 2016 and April this year and Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner from 2013-16.

Mr John Knight OAM, for service to the community through a range of organisations including as a member of St Martins Uniting Church in Beaumaris.

Dr Mi Kyung Lee OAM, for service to education, to public health, and to the Korean-Australian community. Mi Kyung is the current Chair of Uniting Church in the City, Perth.

Mrs Diana Moehead OAM, for service to youth through Girl Guides, and to the community. Diana has held a number of roles at Normanhurst Uniting Church including former President and member of the Social Committee and member of the Women’s Fellowship for 45 years.

Mr Jeffrey Howard Newman OAM, for service to philately, including as an Advisor to the Stamp Committee in the Uniting Church Synod of NSW/ACT.

Mrs Judith Oyston OAM, for services to horticulture. Judith is a member of the Wollongong Wesley Congregation and leader and member of the Uniting Church Adult Fellowship in the Illawarra.

Dr Cyril Payne OAM, for service to the community through a range of roles including as a volunteer at Newborough Uniting Church, Yallourn Parish.

Ms Kris Peach AM, for significant service to the accountancy profession, and to the community.

Mrs Heidi Prowse OAM, for service to community health including as a Board Member for UnitingCare Kippax from 2014-2018.

Mr John Rogerson OAM, for service to the community through alcohol and drug awareness groups including as a Board Member for Uniting Care ReGen from 2014-2016.

Mr Michael Ryan OAM, for service to the community through a range of organisations including as a former Auditor for Wimmera UnitingCare.

The late Dr Michael Simpson OAM, for service to the community of Montville. Michael played the organ at Montville Uniting Church.

Mr David Smallman OAM, for service to the community of the Central Coast, and to cricket. David was the Coordinator of the Sunday Lunch program at Gosford Uniting Church from 1997 to 2020.

Dr David Smyth OAM, for service to the community through social welfare organisations. David was a member of the John Knox Uniting Church Property Committee, 1970-1986.

Mr Kenneth Leslie Wells OAM, for service to the community of Murray Bridge. A member of Murray Bridge Uniting Church, Kenneth was a Lay Preacher from 1971-2021 and is a current Pastoral Carer.

Is this list missing someone? Let us know of other UCA recipients by emailing us here.