"Gob smacked' is how Professor George Cooney described himself when he discovered he was being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.
Professor Cooney is one of six Sydney Anglicans and 524 Australians receiving awards in the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday 2007 honours list.
Those appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia include Professor of Education at Macquarie University George Cooney for his service to secondary education and policy development in the areas of curriculum, educational testing, and standards based assessment.
Professor Cooney has developed policy for the Board of Studies and the many incarnations of the Higher School Certificate since 1975.
"I was gob smacked at receiving the honour and my wife can testify to that," Professor Cooney says.
"It wasn't something I was expecting. I knew nothing about it and was overwhelmed."
However, Professor Cooney says the award should bring attention to the nature of the work itself rather than any particular achievement of his. This work has included communicating to schools, careers advisors and parents the evolving work of the Board of Studies.
"It's not for me to claim credit. I've worked with many good people so the award comes in large part due to them," he says.
"It's also due in part to my wife, Helen, who allowed me to take the time to achieve at this work and balance competing family commitments."
Professor Cooney is currently a Parish Warden, Service Leader and Lay Preacher at the parish of Enfield and has served in these roles for approximately 40 years. He is also a former Synod representative.
There were two other notable Sydney Anglican AM recipients. One was Richard Grellman, a long-standing senior layman at St Stephen’s, Willoughby, who is also the President of Mission Australia.
The other was Dr Ruth Shatford who was previously Principal of Tara School and is on the Safe Ministry Board.
Grandma GFS honoured
Those awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia include Mrs Doreen Jones who was awarded for her service to the community through children’s ministry within the Anglican Church.
Mrs Jones has been involved in GFS ministry for over 50 years. She has been the historian for GFS Australia since 2004 and served in the parishes of St David's, Blaxland, 1965-1980; St Mark's, Granville, 1959-1965 and St Thomas’, Auburn, 1942-1951. She is currently a member of St Paul’s, Emu Plains.
"I was speechless when I found out. To have the work acknowledged is great. It's been great to bring God into the life of girls," she says.
Mrs Jones joined GFS as a young girl in 1939. In the year 2000 she was made a life member.
"I was a very active leader and had the most wonderful times going on camps. My late husband Ern and I were camp parents," she says.
Known as "Grandma GFS', Mrs Jones has had bad health and just came out of hospital last Friday. She has asked that people pray for her.
More honours for Sydney Anglicans
Other OAM recipients include Mrs Helen Channon for her service to the community through choral and musical activities within the Anglican Church.
Mrs Channon has been the organist and choir trainer at St Faith’s, Narrabeen for almost 50 years and involved with the music program at St Andrew’s Cathedral, the volunteer organist at the Chesalon Aged Care, Manly, for 7 years and participated in Pittwater Council's "Carols in the Park'.
Ms Jill Faddy of South Coogee was awarded for her service to psychology, particularly through the provision of mental health services in New South Wales, and as a contributor to a range of professional and community organisations.
Ms Faddy was Psychologist in Charge at Rozelle Hospital from 1980 to 1996 and is Synod representative.
Mrs Nancy Waters of Kiama was awarded for her service to the community of Kiama, particularly through the agricultural show movement.
She was the member of the church committee, Kiama Anglican Church from 1965 to 1980 and the Sunday school kindergarten supervisor for 25 years.
Mr Harold Francis West of Kiama Downs was awarded for his service to the community through a range of local government, ex-service, civic and youth organisations.
He was the auditor at St Paul’s, Carlingford from 1960 to 1981 and is treasurer of the Tara Anglican School Parents and Friends Association.
Former Primate of Australia from 2000 to 2005 Dr Peter Carnley was upgraded from an Officer (AO) of The Order Of Australia to a Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia for his service to the Anglican Church of Australia including his role as Archbishop of Perth from 1981 to 2005.
