At the recently held 2020 Australia Day Awards, almost half, the highest percentage so far, of the recipients were women, including two distinguished women from Bardon.
A total of 1,099 awards were announced on 26 January 2020 by the Governor-General and Chancellor of the Order of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd).
There were 837 recipients of awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia, 26 recipients in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, and 236 recipients of meritorious awards.
Almost 45 percent or 375 were awarded for outstanding service or achievement in the community. The oldest recipient is 97 years old whilst the youngest is 19.
A record 41.6 percent of the award recipients in the General Division of the Order of Australia were women — the highest ever. Included were Bardon’s very own Ms Sarah Bradley – for distinguished service to the law, and to the judiciary, to women in the legal profession, and to the community; and Ms Marita Louise Cowie – for significant service to community health in rural and remote areas.
Judge Sarah Bradley was honoured Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. She has served as a judge of the District Court of Queensland (Cairns, 1999-2009, Ipswich 2010-2016). She was also a Member (2000-2009) then Chair (2009-2012) of the District Court Judges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee.
Her awards and recognition include Woman in Excellence Award, Women Lawyers Association of Queensland, 2016; and Honorary Life Member, Queensland Law Society
Ms Marita Louise Cowie was appointed Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. She served at the Asthma Foundation of Queensland as Director (2013-2015) and Chairman (2014-2015).
She has been the Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, since 1998; Director and Deputy Chair of Asthma Foundation Queensland and New South Wales, since 2015; and Director and Deputy Chairman of Asthma Australia since 2014.
Her awards and recognition include Honorary Doctor of Medicine, James Cook University, 2018; Honorary Member, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, 2009; Distinguished Service Medal, Rural Doctors Association of Australia, 2007; and Honorary Member, Rural Doctors Association Queensland.
See for the full list of Australia Day 2020 Honours List.