Queen's Birthday: Fruit-growing dentist, late paediatrician, naval officer among NT honourees
Updated
A late paediatrician, a naval officer and a fruit-growing dentist are among 20 Territorians being recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for their service to the Northern Territory.
Dr Kerry Eupene
Dr Kerry Eupene has two passions, fixing teeth and growing fruit. He has now been made a Member of the Order of Australia for both.
The 69-year-old first came to Darwin in 1970 and spent decades travelling through the Territory helping Indigenous Australians with their oral health.
"It was an exciting time and you felt like you were making a bit of a difference, so I look back at those times fairly fondly," Dr Eupene said.
"It's been a great privilege to be a dentist; to be able to solve some people's problems is rewarding, so I regard it as being a great privilege."
Dr Eupene also has a large operation cultivating Rambutan and Lychees, which are among some of the world's sweetest fruit.
The irony has not been lost on him, and he often jokes about it with friends.
"Well, fresh fruit is always better on your teeth than refined sugary foods so that's how I justify it" he said.
Associate Professor Susan Baddeley
The late Susan Baddeley spent a life dedicating herself to helping children.
A pioneer of paediatrics, she authored several books, co-founded the Aboriginal Birth Cohort study and the HealthLAB project — both initiatives of the Menzies School of Research which focused on improving the health of some of Australia's poorest children.
"I'm always proud of her, when she was alive and also now," her husband, Steve Baddeley, said.
Ms Baddeley died two years ago, but her husband said she left an enormous legacy pioneering research and children's medicine in ways that are commonly used today.
"She was always a woman who had amazing energy and drive and an inability to stop," he said.
"Her contribution has been immeasurable, especially for all societies that have very similar problems that Australia has with its indigenous population, so Canada recognised what she was doing as appropriate to them and several other countries."
Associate Professor Baddeley has today been recognised posthumously for her work, and has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia in this year's Queen's Birthday honours.
"She was never particularly interested in awards for herself but I think she would've seen it as a recognition," Mr Baddeley said.
Romola Sebastian Pillai
Romola Sebastian Pillai migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka 40 years ago and has spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours volunteering at charities in Darwin.
Mrs Pillai said she felt a duty to give back to the country that "took her in".
"From the word 'go', I started volunteering because that's what I like to do and in a two-pronged way I could give my services to a country that has given me a wonderful home," she said.
Being awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia inspired Mrs Pillai to do more work for the community, she said.
"I didn't expect it, but now that I've got it I'm honoured and I will do everything in my power for the country that I belong — which is Australia."
Chief Petty Officer John O'Donnell
In May last year, Navy officer John Michael O'Donnell faced a potentially life-threatening situation.
While out at sea, HMAS Maryborough's engine caught fire and as the acting Damage Control Officer it was his job to secure the ship and ensure his crew was safe.
"It was late in the evening, I was actually out on the upper bridge deck enjoying the night when I heard the alarms go off so I came back inside and found out the situation had got quite dire," Chief Petty Officer O'Donnell said.
"We did have a large engine room fire which out at sea is a fairly difficult situation to manage so it was a very intense situation to manage."
CPO O'Donnell was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal but said it was all in the line of duty.
"I think at the end of the day I just did my job, but to win this award is quite humbling," he said.
Topics: community-and-society, human-interest, awards-and-prizes, darwin-0800, nt
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