Inspire Awards 2016

The awards are an initiative of Miranda Bain on behalf of Funds in Court, a division of the Supreme Court. The Inspire Awards  are peer based and recognise a Victorian person who identifies with a disability, 18 years of age or older, who is well respected in their field of work or interest and in their community.

Nominees are acknowledged not only for their professional contribution to their work but for their outstanding leadership qualities, role modelling and mentoring.  In her speech, Chief Justice of Victoria, Marilyn Warren, commented that the award nominees “have shown qualities of great richness, joy, and generosity”.

The awards provide an important opportunity to raise awareness about disability issues more broadly across the community and, ultimately, to support the development of an inclusive Australian society.

When presenting the human rights award, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, spoke to the 200 people in attendance about what inspiration really means to her.

“It’s about encouraging leadership in the community – leadership can be exercised quietly at one end of the spectrum or, at the other, in a blaze of media publicity.

“I am particularly pleased with the award category today for speaking out because in my current job I have come to believe that, one way or another, we must speak up and speak out about the injustices we see in society.”

Professor Triggs said we owe a great debt to people who have identified particular needs in their professional community and have set out to rectify them.

The 2016 awards were held on 21 April 2016 at Price Waterhouse Coopers in Southbank.

Room with a view: The view from the 19^th floor at Price Waterhouse Coopers, Southbank

The awards recognised the major contributions of people across many fields including:

• Law & Law (Honours Year): Presented by Chief Justice of Victoria Marilyn Warren
  • Winning nominations – Fiona Smith and Peter Ward, Highly Commended – Pauline Bernard
• Human Rights: Presented by President of the Australian Human Rights Commission Professor Gillian Triggs
  • Winning nomination – Colleen Furlanetto, Highly Commended – Lynette Rowe and Christopher Varney
• Architecture: Presented by Ms. Vanessa Bird – Victorian Chapter President Australian Institute of Architects
  • Winning nomination – Francesca Davenport
• Community Volunteering: Presented by Ms. Julie Mason – District Governor Rotary International
  • Winning nomination – Rob Crestani, Highly Commended – Dr Kevin Murfitt and Simone Stevens
• Disability Advocacy: Presented by Ms. Colleen Pearce – Public Advocate
  • Winning nomination – Susan Arthur, Highly Commended – Christopher Varney and Tully Zygier
• Innovation in Access and Mobility: Presented by Mr. Rob Anderson – Chair, Disability Sport and Recreation
  • Winning nomination – Mark Soyer
• Medicine & Research: Presented by Dr. Tony Bartone – President Australian Medical Association Victoria Medicine (Speciality):
  • Winning nomination – Dr Harry Eeman (St. Vincent’s Hospital) Medicine(Advocacy): Winning nomination – Dr Heather Belcher (Monash Medical  Centre) Allied Health Research:
  • Winning nomination–Savant Thakur (PhD–RMIT)
• Performing Arts: Presented by Professor Su Baker – Director, Victoria College of the Arts
  • Winning nomination – Jodie Nicks (Harris), Highly Commended – Francis Bush and Olivia Sayers
• Policing and Community Engagement:  Presented by Det. Inspector Ken Ashworth APM – Victorian Police
  • Winning nomination – Mick Cummins (Retired Police Association), Highly Commended – Christopher Rigg APM (who is also a Funds in Court beneficiary)
• Speaking Up: Presented by Mr. Laurie Harkin AM – Disability Services Commissioner
  • Winning nomination – Adam James, Highly Commended – Paul Campbell
• Visual Arts: Presented by Ms. Sabina Reynolds – Chair, Arts Access
  • Winning nomination – Alan Constable, Highly Commended – Julian Martin and Cathy Staughton
• Writing including Journalism: Presented by Professor Matthew Ricketson – Australian National University
  • Winning nominations – Margaret Easterbrook and Ken Haley
• Funds in Court Individual Excellence and Achievement Awards: Presented by Associate Justice Efthim
• Winning nominations – Marea Breisch, Glenn Thomas, James Remedios, Christopher Rigg APM and Christopher Rotering

The nominations were all of an exceptionally high standard but the winning nominations stood out due to their outstanding contributions, not just to their professions but to their communities.

To read more about the winning nominations and their contributions, click here.

 The final award category, the Funds in Court Individual Excellence and Achievement Award, presented by the Senior Master, Associate Justice Efthim, was open only to Funds in Court beneficiaries. Many of our beneficiaries have developed exceptional skills including painting, singing and photography, and have had a significant impact on their communities.

Winning Nominations: The Senior Master, Associate Justice Efthim, and Funds in Court Individual Excellence and Achievement Winners: Christopher Rigg APM, Glenn Thomas, Marea Breisch and Chris Rotering (Not pictured: James Remedios).

The focus of these particular awards was to acknowledge the outstanding work our beneficiaries do and encourage them to continue. They promote the principles underpinning human rights and advocate for our beneficiaries and for all people with a disability.

Distinguished guests included Genevieve Timmons (Portland House Foundation), Keran Howe, Sharon Grenek and Marija Groen (Women with Disabilities Victoria) and Joe Calafiore, Kylie Gryzbek and Amanda Bavin (the Transport Accident Committee), Miranda Bruyniks (Deputy Disability Services Commissioner), Sherene Devanesen (CEO Yooralla), Mary-Jane Lerodiaconou and the Funds in Court Executive team.

These ongoing awards are very important as they recognise many exceptional people from a number of disciplines who have made a significant contribution to their professions.

For Enquiries:

Miranda Bain
Director Strategy, Government and Community Relations
Funds in Court
Supreme Court of Victoria
469 La Trobe Street Melbourne 3000
miranda.bain@supremecourt.vic.gov.au
cc Julia.Greacen@ supremecourt.vic.gov.au

Major Benefactors: