Sydney
3 February 2002

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Catholics honoured in Australia Day awards

Former State Premier and Federal MP John Fahey, Lord Mayor Frank Sartor, former NSW Attorney-General Terry Sheahan, now a judge, and Wallaby legend David Campese are among Catholics recognised in the Australia Day Honours for their contributions to the community. Kathleen Carmody and Marilyn Kerjean report

A reas as diverse as sport, politics, community service and music have been recognised in the honours list.

John Fahey, former NSW Premier and former Federal Minister for Finance, has been made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for service to the Australian and NSW Parliaments.

Mr Fahey, who retired from parliament for health reasons last year, said the award was a great honour which, he said, belonged as much to his family, who recognise the time and sacrifices politicians make.

"I was privileged to have had had the opportunity to have been in government for so many years and to have had the opportunity to use the brain that God gave me," Mr Fahey said.

The award also recognised his role in raising Australia's international profile as chairman of the bid for the Sydney Olympic Games.

Not many Australians could forget Mr Fahey's leap of joy on hearing the announcement that Sydney had won.

He agrees that the moment was a highlight.

"I'll never experience a more exhilarating moment than the announcement of the Olympics," he said.

Mr Fahey, who has had a lung removed due to cancer, says his great faith has sustained him through the tough times.

"What I've been though health wise in the past 23 months I could not have survived except for my enormous faith and the belief that He doesn't want me yet," he said.

"There's something else that He wants me to do - probably more penance!"

Legendary rugby union player David Campese said that being made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to rugby union as a player and promoter of the sport was a great honour but "a bit surprising".

"I retired from rugby for Australia in 1996 and club rugby in 1999, so you just put that part of life aside, so it was a bit of a surprise," he said.

Campese was first capped for Australia against the New Zealand All Blacks in 1982.

Over the ensuing 14 years he added another 100 Test caps, both as a wing three-quarter and as a fullback, which put him second in the list of the world's most capped players.

He holds the world record of 64 International tries.

His 101st and last test was against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on December 1, 1996.

He also starred in Rugby Sevens.

Campese, whose antecedents are Irish-Italian, says he doesn't know who nominated him for the award but hopes it was because he brought a sense of adventure to the game.

"You'd play by the rules, but try to bring something of your own personality to it as well," he said.

Justice Terry Sheahan, Land and Environment Court judge and former NSW Attorney-General, was created an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to the law and to the community.

Justice Sheahan, the father of eight children, was a founding member of St Vincent's College Potts Point.

He is also a member of the Edmund Rice Ethics Initiative Management Committee and the Matthew Talbot Special Appeal Committee.

Justice Sheahan said he was stunned and a bit embarrassed to receive the award.

"I haven't fought any fires!" he said. But he added that it was nice to know that other people believed in his efforts.

"That recognition means it's a message worth delivering," he said.

"My attitude for life has been that politics gave me a lot of advantages and opportunities; if you have those opportunities you have to put something back into the community."

The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Cr Frank Sartor, was created an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to the community, particularly through the implementation of plans to improve facilities and infrastructure in the City of Sydney and through support for the Olympic and Paralympic games.

Francesco Sartor - he later changed his name to Frank - was the fifth of eight children in his family, but the first to be born in Australia.

His parents migrated from Italy with their first four children after World War II, leased a vegetable garden and later bought a farm.

The Riverina-born Cr Sartor has been Lord Mayor since 1991, the city's longest serving mayor.

He said being honoured in this way was a great privilege. "It's a bonus because I'm passionate about Sydney and if you get an award for doing something you like it's like a bonus."

He credited other members of the Sydney City team for their contribution over the years. There had been many highlights, including the 2000 Olympics and the Millennium New Year's Eve celebrations, but the past 10 years had been a rough ride.

"It's (the award) caused me to reflect on how still the waters are now compared to the rough seas of the last decade," he said.

William Gillooly was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to public administration and to the community in relation to sport and recreation and to national park and wildlife management.

He is president of the NSW Sports Council for the Disabled and a board member for the NSW Institute of Sport.

"I was both embarrassed and honoured by it, because you don't achieve things just on your own," he said of his award.

"I like to think it reflects on all the people I've worked with over the years."

The St Anthony's Marsfield parishioner says he finds his inspiration in the Daughters of Charity - with whom he has worked for several years as a member and chairman of their provincial advisory board - as well as in athletes and sports people who have disabilities.

"To see the attitude of these people is just inspirational," he said. "Disabled sport in Australia is something really fantastic."

Mr Gillooly, celebrated Australia Day by watching the 10km wheelchair race around the Rocks in Sydney.

Paul Bateman of Mortdale and Robyn Ryan of Port Macquarie were both awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for their service to the community through music.

Ms Ryan said that receiving the award was striking a blow for music and the arts.

"I was a bit speechless at first," she recalled. "My first reaction was there must be so many people more worthy, but the feeling turned round to just being deeply honoured."

Ms Ryan, who is a singer, composer, teacher, choral director, conductor, pianist and organist, feels she's had a blessed career.

"Music reaches out and touches people in a special way even though you may be poor, or you've got troubles, or you're disabled, music gets to you and touches you and it changes you for the better," she said.

"And I feel really privileged that I've been in a position to help make that accessible to other people."

Paul Bateman, who was choirmaster and musical director of the Young Sydney Singers from 1976 until 1999, said it was a great honour and very exciting to receive an OAM.

"It's a great tribute to all the boys who've been through the choir, and the parents and the staff who've been involved; it's a tribute to them as well," he said.

The Young Sydney Singers was a boys' choir which began life as the Marist Singers; it was expanded to include boys from other Catholic schools in the diocese.

Mr Bateman says his great memories include performances in front of the Queen and Prince Philip, Dame Joan Sutherland and Prince Edward, and with singers Normie Rowe, Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen.

While he is sad that the choir is no longer active, Mr Bateman feels that the experience was worthwhile for the boys that passed through over the years.

"I'd like to think that I've given them a love of music and hopefully that will carry on through their life."

Other Catholic medal recipients include Mrs Cecily Yeo, of Port Macquarie, for service to the community through local government and support for a range of exservice, health, aged care, women's and charitable organisations; Mrs Clarice Dawson, of Uralla, for service through local government and a range of women's, health and aged care groups; and Mr Michael Coombes, of Booroowra, for service to the community through veterans, social welfare and cultural organisations.