16/06/2026
BANKER TURNED TREE PLANTER RECOGNISED IN QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS
North Coast conservationist Tony Parkes has received top honours in the Queen's Birthday list.
Dr Parkes becomes an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his work in bush regeneration, specifically restoring sub tropical rainforest in northern New South Wales.
After retiring to a property near Bangalow from Sydney and a career in investment banking, Dr Parkes helped set up the Big Scrub Landcare group in 1993. It has since become one of Australia's largest Landcare organisations.
Dr Parkes says the Big Scrub group has collectively planted more than two million sub-tropical rainforest trees.
"A little group of Aussie's have got together and we have led the whole community and the government. We have achieved a lot and we are going to achieve a hell of a lot of more, we are on the brink of ground breaking stuff here."
The 89 year old says seeing some of the early restoration planting work in rainforests in the 1990s was a turning point in his life.
"I fell in love with it and still am."
"This really was a light bulb moment, I thought we can't lose this, we have to do something about it, and that's what we have done."
Dr Parkes has also helped establish a ground breaking genetically diverse rainforest seed program with the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney.
This program, which involves taking cuttings from sub-tropical rainforest species from Sydney to southern Queensland, will help ensure there is the widest genetic population of trees for future regeneration work.
WOODBURN WOMAN AWARDED AM FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
Dr Christine (Tein) McDonald from Woodburn receives an AM for her work conserving bushland.
Dr McDonald trained with the National Trust as a bush regenerator and says she is blown away by the honour.
"There are thousands of people like me bevering away trying to help restore ecosystems around the country and you just don't ever think your work will ever be recognised and to have it recognised is so gratifying."
Dr McDonald says she is most proud of her work protecting Dirawong Reserve near Evans Head.
"The highlight has been working with group of people to protect Goanna Head, now known as Dirawong Reserve, to save it from housing and golf course development, so wonderful to see it conserved for everyone to enjoy and it's a very important Aboriginal site. It feels very good to make a contribution in that way."
Dr McDonald also developed Australia's first national standards on ecological restoration.
OAM RECIPIENTS:
* Lismore eye surgeon, Dr William Nardi receives an OAM for his service to medicine in the field of opthalmology. He is recognised for introducing a rural teaching scheme to get more early-career eye surgeons working outside metropolitan areas.
Other North Coast recipients of an Order of Australia medal include:
*Phillip Chapman, Ballina for service to the community of Ballina, including 26 years as president of the Ballina RSL
*Keith Hamilton, Goonellabah, for service to the community of Lismore, especially his work with the Lions Club
*John Paisley, Tucki Tucki, for service to emergency response organisations and to the community of Wyrallah
*Allan Parker, Tweed Heads South, for service to business, particularly to dispute resolution
*Warren Polglase, Banora Point, for service to local government and to the community of Tweed River
*John Shirley (deceased), for service to the community of Kyogle, particularly through the Lions Club
*Mrs Robyn Spruce, Casino, for service to veterans and their families
