The Deputy Chancellor of the Sydney Diocese, Robert Tong has been named in the Australia Day honours list but describes the honour as a symbolic recognition of all who work in similar roles to support gospel ministry.
Mr Tong, along with former State and Federal MP Bruce Baird, Family court judge Justice Lloyd Waddy and patron of Scripture Union, Dr Bill Anderson were appointed as Members of the order of Australia.
Mr Tong, a lawyer, has been active in lay ministry and in church government for more than 40 years. His work encompasses the Diocese of Sydney, General Synod and international church councils.
He was an Australian representative on the Anglican Consultative Council, and a Member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference. He acted as a consultant in the establishment of the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA).
Mr Tong is also Chairman of the Anglican Church Property Trust.
"Like many other Anglican Christians, my starting point is to encourage gospel ministry. Our ministry may not be at the front line. It involves working with people, programmes and policy and the question I ask is " will this help build God's kingdom? Thousands of people work tirelessly behind the scenes in our diocese and this honour is recognition of them as well."
Mr Tong was honoured directly for contribution to the Anglican Church of Australia but there were also several other Anglicans honoured both for their contribution to community and charitable groups and for their service through research and their careers.
Bruce Baird honoured
Well-know Sydney Anglican politician, Bruce Baird was made a member of the Order of Australia For service to the Parliament of Australia, and to the community of New South Wales including his chairmanship of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship.
As a member of the federal Liberal party during the Howard Government years, Mr Baird is well-known for his work advocating on behalf of refugees - such as Muslim converts to Christianity held in immigration detention - as well as seeking to reform the immigration detention centre policy.
He currently attends St Matthew’s, Manly.
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Sydney Anglican honourees or those with strong connections to Anglican institutions.
(Those appointed)
COMPANION (AC) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Mr James Oswald FAIRFAX AO, Bowral NSW 2576
For eminent service to the community through support and philanthropy for the visual arts, conservation organisations and building programs for medical research and educational facilities.
Mr Fairfax was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in The Queen's Birthday 1993 Honours List. for his service to the arts and to the community.
Has continued as a sponsor and donor to a wide range of organisations and institutions in the arts, nature and the environment, medicine and education. They include:
Geelong Grammar School Foundation: support for the establishment and building of the Michael Collins Persse Archives Centre.
Women’s College, University of Sydney: contribution towards the restoration of the Miss Mary Fairfax Rooms.
Cranbrook School: donations to the school building fund and, specifically, in the new Science and Technology facility.
(Those appointed)
OFFICERS (AO) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Mr Stephen Russell LAWRENCE, Ashfield NSW 2131
For service to the community through leadership roles in the development and implementation of not-for-profit ventures to create social change, particularly for youth and the long-term unemployed.
Founder, Social Entrepreneur and Chief Executive, WorkVentures Ltd (formerly known as Peninsula Community Services), 1979-2008, a not-for-profit organisation providing employment, training and job placement services to the unemployed.
Founding Chief Executive Officer, Australian Social Innovation Exchange, 2007; part of a global network around social innovation.
Co-Founder and Board Member, Social Ventures Australia, 2002-2008; one of Australia's first venture philanthropy agencies.
Played a major role in creating the Sydney Business Enterprise Centre, in 1986; Uniting Way Sydney, in 1987; and Jobs Australia, in 1989.
Australian delegate, UN Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, New York USA, 2000.
Parish Councillor and Warden, Darlinghurst and Malabar Anglican parishes.
Mr Robert Lee MAPLE-BROWN, Randwick NSW 2031
For service to the community through leadership and executive roles with a range of charitable organisations in the areas of the arts, health, welfare, medical research and education, and through philanthropy.
Mr Maple-Brown has served in a range of executive roles with a variety of charitable organisations encompassing the arts, health, medical research and education; he has also provided monetary donations and financial expertise and services to numerous causes.
His service and philanthropic activities include:
- Board Member, St Paul’s College Foundation.
- Treasurer, St Jude’s Anglican Church, for 8 years; Member of Council, for many years.
- Treasurer, Council, Ascham, for many years; a Sydney Girls’ School.
- Member, Futter Park Board, The Kings School, for over 30 years; Futter Park is a large grazing
property that provides scholarships to boys.
- Anglicare, for over 17 years.
- The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.
- The Children’s Hospital at Westmead; and specifically the Institute of Neuromuscular Research.
- St Andrew's Cathedral Restoration Appeal.
(Those appointed)
MEMBER (AM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Dr William Edward (Bill) ANDERSEN, Killara NSW 2071
For service to religious education through a range of academic and professional roles, and to the Scripture Union movement.
Patron, Scripture Union of NSW, 2003-2008.
Chairman, Scripture Union International Council, 1987-1992; Regional Chairman, East
Asia-Pacific, 1981-1987.
Chairman, Scripture Union Australia Council, 1970-1978.
Chairman, NSW Schools and Camps Committee, 1958-1963.
Lecturer, Morling College, Baptist Theological and Bible College of NSW and ACT,
1971-2006: Vice-Chairman, 1981-1987; Warden/Interim Principal, 1988-1989.
Lecturer in Psychology, Moore Anglican Theological College, Sydney, 1970-1999.
President, Baptist Union of NSW, 1991-1992.
Associate Editor, Journal of Christian Education, 1958-1992; Guest Editor, 2004 and 2007.
Author of numerous articles on education, philosophy and Christianity published in a variety of journals.
The Honourable Bruce George BAIRD,
Queenscliff NSW 2096
For service to the Parliament of Australia, and to the community of New South Wales through a range of business, tourism and welfare organisations.
Service to the Parliament of Australia includes:
- Chairman, Parliamentary Amnesty International.
- Chairman, Parliamentary Christian Fellowship.
- Parliamentary Host, Australian Christian Heritage Foundation, 2006-2007.
- MHR for Cook, 1998-2007.
Member, Board, Wesley Mission, 1995-1997.
Mr Baird attends St Matthews Anglican Church, Manly NSW.
Mr Mark Raymond COMPTON, Mosman NSW 2088
For service to the community, particularly through St John Ambulance Australia and through executive and volunteer roles with a range of hospital, health care and medical research organisations.
Chief Executive Officer, St Luke’s Care, since 2009.
Member, Foundation Appeal Board, SCECGS Redlands, since 2002.
Chairman, Board of Governors, The Killarney School, Mosman, 1993-1994; Member,
1992-1994.
The Reverend Dr Geoffrey Thomas GLASSOCK,
Five Dock NSW 2046
For service to the community through the development of programs and services to assist people experiencing grief and bereavement, and to the Anglican Church of Australia.
Dr Glassock has played an instrumental role in the development of grief and bereavement services and programs throughout Australia and internationally for more than 30 years.
Convenor, Australasian Critical Incident Stress Association, ACISA Conference, 1997; Foundation Member, ACISA, 1991; and Treasurer, ACISA Conference, 1992.
Assisted in the establishment of the National Association for Loss and Grief, New Zealand, 1992.
Worked with psychologists in connection with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, South Africa, 1995.
Invited Member, International Workshop on Grief and Bereavement, 1989; the first Australian to be invited to join this international research group; Board Member.
Organiser, International Christian AIDS Network Conference, Bangkok, 1984.
Chaplain, various health and palliative care organisations, since 1970s.
Ordained, 1958; Minister, Anglican Church of Australia, Diocese of Sydney, since 2000.
Dr Peter Douglas JONES, Mosman NSW 2088
For service to the information technology industry, to the promotion of internet-based communications networks, and to science education.
Dr Jones first worked on a computer in 1956 at Sydney University, and was part of a team that developed one of the earliest supercomputers at Manchester University, UK, in the early 1960s; then joined Cray Inc, USA.
Parishioner and volunteer, St Clement's Anglican Church, Mosman.
Mr Robert TONG, Pymble NSW 2073
For service to the Anglican Church of Australia through a range of diocesan and national executive and administrative roles, and to the law as a practitioner and as an academic.
Current Deputy Chancellor, Diocese of Sydney, Anglican Church of Australia; Acting Chancellor, 2008; current Chairman, Anglican Church Property Trust; Member, Nomination Board, since 1995; current Member, Diocesan and Discipline Tribunal; current Member, General Synod Canons Committee; Diocesan Reader, since 1978; Member, General Synod, since 1979; Member, Canon Law Commission, since 1994; Member, General Synod Standing Committee, 1985-2004; current Deputy Chairman of Committees, Provincial Synod, Province of New South Wales;,current Member, Provincial Synod Standing Committee.
Deputy Chairman of Committees, Synod of the Diocese of Sydney; Member, since 1966; Member, Standing Committee, since 1979.
Secretary, Governing Board, Moore Theological College, since 1982.
Current Chairman, Anglican Church League.
Churchwarden, St Matthias'Church Centennial Park, 1976-2002; Chair, Parish Council.
Australian Representative, Anglican Consultative Council, Anglican Communion, 1995-2002; involved in various conferences including: Hong Kong, 2002; Scotland, 1999; Lambeth, 1998; and Panama, 1996.
Member, Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference, since 2005.
Consultant, Anglican Church in North America, Government Task Force, 2008-2009.
The Honourable Justice Lloyd Stacy WADDY RFD,
Neutral Bay NSW 2089
For service to the law, the constitutional debate, and to the community through a range of educational and arts organisations.
Judge, Family Court of Australia, since 1998. Appointed Queen's Counsel, 1988.
Settlor and Founding Councillor, Constitutional Education Fund of Australia, since 2004.
Foundation Chairman, Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy, 1992-1998.
Chairman, St Paul's College, University of Sydney, since 2006.
Foundation Vice-Chairman, St Paul’s College Foundation, since 1977; Fellow 1971.
Chairman, Kings School Council, 1996-1999; Governor since 1975.
(Those awarded)
MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Mr Bruce Edward BUNN, Camden NSW 2570
For service to the community of Camden through a range of service and church organisations.
President, Combined Probus Club of Camden; Foundation Member, since 2002.
President, Ingleburn Probus Club, 1997-1998.
President, Camden Senior Citizens Club, since 2000; Treasurer, 1993-2000.
Coordinator, Camden Bush Rangers walking group, for 16 years.
Treasurer, St Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, 1994-2000.
Parish Treasurer, St Barnabas, Ingleburn and Holy Innocents, Rossmore.
Mrs Jenny CROSS, Wahroonga NSW 2076
For service to the community as a foster carer of babies and children with special needs.
Mrs Cross and her husband, Robert, fostered between 80 and 100 babies during the 1970s through Anglicare. They became specialised in caring for babies with spina bifida, and adopted 5 children with the condition.
Awards/recognition include; Selected as "Mother of the Year' by a panel from Woman’s Day magazine, 1983.
Mr Robert Melville CROSS, Wahroonga NSW 2076
For service to the community as a foster carer of babies and children with special needs.
Mr Cross and his wife, Jenny, fostered between 80 and 100 babies during the 1970s through Anglicare. They became specialised in caring for babies with spina bifida, and adopted 5 children with the condition.
Mr Bruce Kirkpatrick, Darling Point, Sydney
For service to the community, particularly through the Meniere’s Research Fund.
Mr and Mrs Bryan and Kathryn Massey, Queensland (CMS)
For service to the Indigenous community of Groote Eylandt.
Mrs Susan Scarcella, Sydney
For service to overseas humanitarian aid projects, particularly through the Protestant Christian Church, Bali.
