26 January, 2011
Senator Mitch Fifield today welcomed the announcement of Professor Ron McCallum AO as Senior Australian of the Year 2011.
“Professor McCallum has made an outstanding contribution to the Australian disability sector over many years and is a worthy recipient of the Senior Australian of the Year award,” Senator Fifield, Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector said.
“He has broken down many barriers faced by people with disability, as the first totally blind person in Australia to be appointed to a university professorship.”
“Through his work with Vision Australia, Professor McCallum has helped hundreds of Australians with vision impairment reach their potential.”
“His commitment to improving the lives of people with disability has been recognised on the international stage, particularly in his unanimous election as the 2010 Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”
Professor McCallum will continue to serve on the Committee until December 2014.
“Australians with disability have benefited greatly from Professor McCallum’s commitment to equality, inclusion and opportunities for people with disability.”
“Professor McCallum is an inspiration and a stalwart of the disability community and I congratulate him on being named Senior Australian of the Year.”
Senator Fifield also congratulated recipients of Australia Day Honours cited for their contribution to the disability sector. In particular:
– Mr Lester Bostock AM
– Mrs Jennie Cameron AM
– Mr Jim Collins AM
– Mr John Boccanfuso OAM
– Mr David Clegg OAM (deceased)
– Mrs Patricia Cotton OAM
– Mr Lewis Cooper OAM
– Sister Myree Harris OAM
– Mr Malcolm Hughes OAM
– Dr Bernard Huxtable OAM
– Mrs Lorraine Landon OAM
– Mrs Patricia Lawson OAM
– Mr Peter Lynn OAM
– Mr Peter Maher OAM
– Mr Joe Mannix OAM
– Mr Ramdas Sankaran OAM
– Mrs Margaret Walsh OAM
– Mr Bryan Woodford OAM
– Ms Judith Worrall OAM