Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
10 Jun 2013
Twenty-two outstanding Catholics from across NSW were recognised in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours announced by the Governor General Quentin Bryce in Canberra this morning.
Among those honoured is John Berryman, former Chief Executive of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDB) and for the past two years a volunteer with St Vincent de Paul Society's SPARKS program for refugee children, Redemptorist Brother Dan Stafford, tireless worker and fundraiser for Vinnies' Matthew Talbot Homeless Services and Catholic Chaplain to the Australian Turf Club and Honorary Chaplain to the NSW Racing Industry; numbers man Patrick Bugden who for many years has given financial, accounting and investment advice to a range of Catholic organisations; and Megan Etheridge, a long-time Vinnies volunteer and the irrepressible live-wire behind Dress for Success which dresses and styles women, most of whom are battlers and living on the margins, for job interviews and their first week at work.
An expert in IT and computer whiz, Mr Berryman first joined the RIBD in 1978 when he was given a project to computerise Braille. By 1985 he was CEO and it was only two years ago, he retired and began working as a volunteer with Vinnies and refugee and migrant children as part of the agency's award winning SPARKS program.
"My years with the RIDB were among the most fulfilling of my life," he says explaining how technology has advanced in leaps and bounds and made a huge difference to the lives of children who are profoundly deaf or blind.
"Today there is much better prevention as a result of the rubella campaign several years ago and also because of the introduction of Universal Newborn Screening. This means hearing problems are detected and very effective intervention programs instigated and Cochlear implants have also made a big difference."
Almost all children who are born deaf grow up able to speak and communicate.
For the blind the technology has also brought independence, particularly with advances in screen reading software which enables students to study and obtain information without having to rely on someone else taking notes or helping with assignments. Instead via the software whatever information they seek is given to them by voice in a clear easy audio system.
Being awarded an AM and becoming a Member of the Order of Australia, Mr Berryman admits was a total surprise and he is both proud and humbled by the honour.
"I understand the award is presented by the Governor General later in the year," he says and adds that he is hoping the presentation occurs while the present Governor General is still in office.
"I am a great admirer of Governor Quentin Bryce. She has been a wonderful patron of many, many charities during her time as Governor General and I have had the pleasure of meeting her in this capacity a dozen or so times. I think she is doing a terrific job, and for me it would be very nice to receive the award from her," he says.
For Patrick Bugden, being awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) not only took him completely by surprise but is the second award he has received this year in recognition of his unstinting work giving financial, accounting and investment advice to the Dioceses of Parramatta and Broken Bay as well as his long tenure as Chair of the Archdiocese of Sydney's Finance Committee and his unstinting and dedication to the wider Catholic community.
In February this year, Mr Bugden was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory as a tribute to his contribution to Catholic community and his work with Catholic Missions, Catholic health Australia, as Director of Brown Nurses and long association with the Little Company of Mary.
"Honours of any kind are not something you seek and they are never the reason you do your work or offer people a hand. I am still not sure why I've been singled out and I know there are many, many others who deserve this more than me," he says.
Megan Etheridge also reacted with stunned surprise when told she had been awarded an OAM in recognition of her "service to the community, particularly women."
Typically, however she doesn't see this as an award to her personally but rather an award for Dress for Success and the team of more than 200 volunteers who help give women on the margins or in difficult circumstances confidence, renewed self esteem and top to toe styling and clothes so they are at their best when they go for a job interview or spend a first day or week at work. Others may need to be dressed well and feel confident for a court appearance or a return to life on the outside after spending time in prison.
"Last year we dressed 2000 women and our volunteers put in 15,000 hours of time to make this possible," she says.
The women Megan and her team dress are referred to Dress for Success by Vinnies, Youth of the Streets, Disability Employment Services, job support agencies and women's refugee centres.
Everything from clothes, handbags, shoes, jewellery and scarves are donated and the women who are dressed and styled, keep whatever they are given to wear.
"Occasionally if we need very large sizes or very small sizes we use the grant given to us by the Sisters of Charity," Megan says. "But mostly the clothes are donated and at our showroom in Marrickville at 132 Marrickville Road, we also hold dressing programs daily as well as workshops on job interviews, how to write resumes, basic computer skills as well as workshops on grooming and presentation.
Br Dan Stafford who turns 75 next month is another outstanding Catholic who has been awarded an OAM in today's honours. For more than 20 years, the Redemptorist brother co-ordinated 450 St Vincent de Paul volunteers and over the past 10 years not only took over coordinating fundraising for Vinnnies' Matthew Talbot Homeless Services but in each of those years managed to raise more than $2 million for the city's homeless men, women and children.
In addition, since 2002 when Cardinal George Pell appointed him official Catholic Chaplain to the Australian Turf Club and Honorary Chaplain to the Sydney Racing Industry, he has been offering pastoral care and support to owners, trainers, jockeys, strappers and all those involved in Sydney with the Sport of Kings.
For Br Dan there are moments of great joy but also at times great sadness, such as arranging the funeral after the tragic death of well known jockey, Jason Oliver who was killed just over 10 years ago after a fall at Belmont Park.
Each year during the Autumn Carnival there is a Racing Mass celebrated by Fr Adrian Meaney with Br Dan assisting.
The Mass is held at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Kensington where it is standing room only and filled with owners, race callers, grooms, handlers, bookmakers, jockeys and department heads from all areas of the industry.
Br Dan says the industry is like a huge family with many of those involved in Sydney racing some of the most generous donors when he has been fundraising for Matthew Talbot Homeless Services.
"There is nothing like seeing a horse come home first when you know the owner, trainer, the jockey and all the work that has gone into preparing the animal," he says and admits one of the highlights in recent times was seeing Black Caviar race.
"I saw her race twice and she was something," he says and instantly recalls another legendary winner in a race he saw as a young man and still vividly remembers. "Tulloch was one of the great horses of the world."
Other Catholic NSW men and women recognised in today's Birthday honours are:
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Judge Matthew Myers, for significant service to community, particularly in the field of family law and welfare and as a member of the Advisory Council, Catholic Church, Broken Bay Diocese.
Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia
Noel Causer, Corrimal, NSW, for service to the community, particularly through the provision of humanitarian aid in Papua New Guinea.
Mrs Lorraine Eckersley, Tamworth, for Services to the community of Tamworth
.
Mrs Roseanna Gallo, Marsfield, NSW for service to the community, particularly through singing and entertainment.
Mrs Dorothy Gillespie, Balgowlah Heights, for service to the community through leadership roles in school and community groups.
Lt Colonel Vincent Hallinan FRD ED (Ret'd) Narwee NSW, for service to veterans and their families, and to the community.
Mrs Myra Hill, Cessnock NSW for service to the community of Cessnock, particularly through music.
Mrs Mary Horder, Pendle Hill, for service to the community of western Sydney.
James (Jim) Marsden, Campbelltown NSW for service to the community of Campbelltown.
John Moriarty, Narara, NSW, for service to cricket, and to the community of the Central Coast.
Dr Julie Chio Nua Ez, Woodcroft NSW for service to the Filipino community of Blacktown.
Mrs Nessie Osten, Broken Hill, NSW for service to music, and to the community of Broken Hill.
Phillip O'Sullivan, Hillsdale, NSW for service to the Waverley region through a range of sporting and community organisations.
William Raper, Umina Beach NSW for service to the community of Woy Woy.
Mrs Judith Richards, Nyngan NSW for service to horse racing and to the community of Nyngan.
Ms Anna (Hanya) Stefaniuk, Summer Hill NSW 2130 for service to education through multicultural initiatives, and to the Ukrainian community.
Patrick Sullivan, Gundagai NSW 2722 for service to journalism, and to the community of Gundagai.
William Thompson, Coolamon NSW 2701 for service to the community of the Riverina.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
10 Jun 2013
John Berryman AM with Dale at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
Among those honoured is John Berryman, former Chief Executive of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDB) and for the past two years a volunteer with St Vincent de Paul Society's SPARKS program for refugee children, Redemptorist Brother Dan Stafford, tireless worker and fundraiser for Vinnies' Matthew Talbot Homeless Services and Catholic Chaplain to the Australian Turf Club and Honorary Chaplain to the NSW Racing Industry; numbers man Patrick Bugden who for many years has given financial, accounting and investment advice to a range of Catholic organisations; and Megan Etheridge, a long-time Vinnies volunteer and the irrepressible live-wire behind Dress for Success which dresses and styles women, most of whom are battlers and living on the margins, for job interviews and their first week at work.
An expert in IT and computer whiz, Mr Berryman first joined the RIBD in 1978 when he was given a project to computerise Braille. By 1985 he was CEO and it was only two years ago, he retired and began working as a volunteer with Vinnies and refugee and migrant children as part of the agency's award winning SPARKS program.
"My years with the RIDB were among the most fulfilling of my life," he says explaining how technology has advanced in leaps and bounds and made a huge difference to the lives of children who are profoundly deaf or blind.
Megan Etheridge founder of Dress for Success
Almost all children who are born deaf grow up able to speak and communicate.
For the blind the technology has also brought independence, particularly with advances in screen reading software which enables students to study and obtain information without having to rely on someone else taking notes or helping with assignments. Instead via the software whatever information they seek is given to them by voice in a clear easy audio system.
Being awarded an AM and becoming a Member of the Order of Australia, Mr Berryman admits was a total surprise and he is both proud and humbled by the honour.
"I understand the award is presented by the Governor General later in the year," he says and adds that he is hoping the presentation occurs while the present Governor General is still in office.
"I am a great admirer of Governor Quentin Bryce. She has been a wonderful patron of many, many charities during her time as Governor General and I have had the pleasure of meeting her in this capacity a dozen or so times. I think she is doing a terrific job, and for me it would be very nice to receive the award from her," he says.
For Patrick Bugden, being awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) not only took him completely by surprise but is the second award he has received this year in recognition of his unstinting work giving financial, accounting and investment advice to the Dioceses of Parramatta and Broken Bay as well as his long tenure as Chair of the Archdiocese of Sydney's Finance Committee and his unstinting and dedication to the wider Catholic community.
Patrick Bugden AOM
"Honours of any kind are not something you seek and they are never the reason you do your work or offer people a hand. I am still not sure why I've been singled out and I know there are many, many others who deserve this more than me," he says.
Megan Etheridge also reacted with stunned surprise when told she had been awarded an OAM in recognition of her "service to the community, particularly women."
Typically, however she doesn't see this as an award to her personally but rather an award for Dress for Success and the team of more than 200 volunteers who help give women on the margins or in difficult circumstances confidence, renewed self esteem and top to toe styling and clothes so they are at their best when they go for a job interview or spend a first day or week at work. Others may need to be dressed well and feel confident for a court appearance or a return to life on the outside after spending time in prison.
"Last year we dressed 2000 women and our volunteers put in 15,000 hours of time to make this possible," she says.
The women Megan and her team dress are referred to Dress for Success by Vinnies, Youth of the Streets, Disability Employment Services, job support agencies and women's refugee centres.
Br Dan Stafford AOM
"Occasionally if we need very large sizes or very small sizes we use the grant given to us by the Sisters of Charity," Megan says. "But mostly the clothes are donated and at our showroom in Marrickville at 132 Marrickville Road, we also hold dressing programs daily as well as workshops on job interviews, how to write resumes, basic computer skills as well as workshops on grooming and presentation.
Br Dan Stafford who turns 75 next month is another outstanding Catholic who has been awarded an OAM in today's honours. For more than 20 years, the Redemptorist brother co-ordinated 450 St Vincent de Paul volunteers and over the past 10 years not only took over coordinating fundraising for Vinnnies' Matthew Talbot Homeless Services but in each of those years managed to raise more than $2 million for the city's homeless men, women and children.
In addition, since 2002 when Cardinal George Pell appointed him official Catholic Chaplain to the Australian Turf Club and Honorary Chaplain to the Sydney Racing Industry, he has been offering pastoral care and support to owners, trainers, jockeys, strappers and all those involved in Sydney with the Sport of Kings.
For Br Dan there are moments of great joy but also at times great sadness, such as arranging the funeral after the tragic death of well known jockey, Jason Oliver who was killed just over 10 years ago after a fall at Belmont Park.
Each year during the Autumn Carnival there is a Racing Mass celebrated by Fr Adrian Meaney with Br Dan assisting.
Br Dan Stafford with John Messara Chair of Racing NSW and Father Adrian Meaney at last ueat's Racing Mass.
Br Dan says the industry is like a huge family with many of those involved in Sydney racing some of the most generous donors when he has been fundraising for Matthew Talbot Homeless Services.
"There is nothing like seeing a horse come home first when you know the owner, trainer, the jockey and all the work that has gone into preparing the animal," he says and admits one of the highlights in recent times was seeing Black Caviar race.
"I saw her race twice and she was something," he says and instantly recalls another legendary winner in a race he saw as a young man and still vividly remembers. "Tulloch was one of the great horses of the world."
Other Catholic NSW men and women recognised in today's Birthday honours are:
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Judge Matthew Myers, for significant service to community, particularly in the field of family law and welfare and as a member of the Advisory Council, Catholic Church, Broken Bay Diocese.
Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia
Noel Causer, Corrimal, NSW, for service to the community, particularly through the provision of humanitarian aid in Papua New Guinea.
Mrs Lorraine Eckersley, Tamworth, for Services to the community of Tamworth
.
Mrs Roseanna Gallo, Marsfield, NSW for service to the community, particularly through singing and entertainment.
Mrs Dorothy Gillespie, Balgowlah Heights, for service to the community through leadership roles in school and community groups.
Lt Colonel Vincent Hallinan FRD ED (Ret'd) Narwee NSW, for service to veterans and their families, and to the community.
Mrs Myra Hill, Cessnock NSW for service to the community of Cessnock, particularly through music.
Mrs Mary Horder, Pendle Hill, for service to the community of western Sydney.
James (Jim) Marsden, Campbelltown NSW for service to the community of Campbelltown.
John Moriarty, Narara, NSW, for service to cricket, and to the community of the Central Coast.
Dr Julie Chio Nua Ez, Woodcroft NSW for service to the Filipino community of Blacktown.
Mrs Nessie Osten, Broken Hill, NSW for service to music, and to the community of Broken Hill.
Phillip O'Sullivan, Hillsdale, NSW for service to the Waverley region through a range of sporting and community organisations.
William Raper, Umina Beach NSW for service to the community of Woy Woy.
Mrs Judith Richards, Nyngan NSW for service to horse racing and to the community of Nyngan.
Ms Anna (Hanya) Stefaniuk, Summer Hill NSW 2130 for service to education through multicultural initiatives, and to the Ukrainian community.
Patrick Sullivan, Gundagai NSW 2722 for service to journalism, and to the community of Gundagai.
William Thompson, Coolamon NSW 2701 for service to the community of the Riverina.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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