2019-20 Annual Report Final - Flipbook - Page 84
2019 New Fellows Welcome Dinner
2019 Medallion Presentation (from left to right) Paul Biggin, Kelvin Slade,
Ken Horrigan, Damian Sammon, Robyn Grote and Sharon Gilchrist
QLD CFA President’s Report
2019-20 was busy and productive
for the Churchill Fellows Association
of Queensland.
I would like to start by
acknowledging Dr Brian Wilson
OAM, who passed away on 6
March 2020. Brian and his late wife
Dorothy were great supporters
of the CFAQ and the Trust, and I
extend my deepest sympathies to
his family and friends.
It was my second year as President,
and second year serving on the
Queensland Regional Selection
Committee - I feel like part of
the furniture now. Dr Richard
Roylance, a former CFAQ President,
succeeded Dr Damien Thomson as
Chair of the Selection Committee
– congratulations Richard. Serving
on the Selection Committee is one
benefit of holding the President’s
position, and I was again impressed
by the passion and expertise of
Selection Committee members. We
had a very strong field of applicants
in 2019-20, and I am sure this year
will be no different.
During interviews, the CFAQ
provided the ‘whisperers’ to
help the applicants through the
somewhat daunting interview
process. Thanks to Kelvin Slade and
his wife Mandy for organising this
greatly appreciated service, and
excellent catering.
On 28 September, we
congratulated 15 medallion
recipients.
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2019-20 Annual Report
The night coincided with Riverfire,
as it has previously, and under MC
Damian Sammon’s watchful brief,
we completed the formal formalities
before the Riverfire fireworks
began.
On 8 November, we welcomed
20 new Fellows, covering a broad
range of fields from conducting the
first census of type materials for all
526 Australian fern and lycophyte
species, to researching holistic
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
prevention in urban Indigenous
communities, and from researching
the performance practice of
medieval and baroque music, to
supporting young people develop
healthy and safe strategies when
engaging in sexual relationships.
The award ceremony at
Government House was a great
success, as was the dinner.
Highlights from the dinner included
presenting Dr Margaret Steinberg
and Dr Richard Roylance with their
CFAQ Life Member badges in
recognition of their outstanding
contribution to, and support of, the
CFAQ and the Trust.
Leigh Park, administrator of the
Park Family Churchill Fellowship,
was also presented with a special
membership category badge to
honour her extraordinary support of
the CFAQ and the Trust.
The day following the Government
House ceremony a few members of
the committee, under the watchful
eye of Kelvin Slade, attended the
orientation for the new Fellows on
how to maximise their Fellowships.
Dr Richard Roylance again kindly
hosted the CFAQ Christmas Party
on 15 December. This much-loved
event was again very popular,
and always provides a wonderful
opportunity for new and old Fellows
to socialise, network and share
experiences, and I hope that it
continues into the future.
All of this would not be possible
without a hard-working committee.
I thank them for their contribution to
the success of the CFAQ events this
past year.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my
second year as President and
was again elected President for
the 2020-21 year at the AGM on
20 March. I would like to thank
those who attended, but am glad
that most people heeded the
COVID-19 warnings and stayed
away or phoned in. Those that did
attend observed social distancing,
refrained from handshaking
and personal contact, but were
rewarded by delicious catering
organised by Kelvin and Many
Slade.
The 2020-21 CFAQ committee is:
Ken Horrigan President, Paul Biggin
Vice President; Damian Sammon
Secretary; Kelvin Slade Treasurer;
General Members: Maura Solley,
Melanie White and Sharon Gilchrist.
Unfortunately, Tania Porter, Robyn
Grote and Will Feeney left the
Committee in March. I thank them
for their contributions.
Ken Horrigan CF
President CFAQ