Researcher and graduate finalists for 'Queenslanders of the Year'
Published on 27 May, 2009
Domestic and family violence researcher and campaigner Heather Nancarrow and MA in History graduate Vanessa Seekee OAM, who runs a museum on Horn Island, have been announced as finalists for the 2009 Suncorp Queenslanders of the Year awards...
Ms Seekee and her husband Liberty won last year's Premier's Reconciliation Award for their efforts to preserve and highlight the World War II history of Indigenous people from the Torres Strait.
Vanessa was supervised by Dr Steve Mullins and Dr Karl Neuenfeldt for her Masters research on World War II in the Torres Strait. Around the time of gaining her Masters degree in 2005, Vanessa was also awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the World War II veterans of Torres Strait. More background on Vanessa at this LINK
"I hope that through this nomination, the awareness level for Torres Strait, and the Indigenous and non-Indigenous servicemen who served here and abroad during WWII is raised to a new level, and that positive steps are made forward in the areas of WWII Site Conservation and granting the Service Pension for Torres Strait veterans," Vanessa said.
Ms Nancarrow is Deputy Chair of the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children, as well as being Director of the Queensland Centre for Family and Domestic Violence Research, based at CQUniversity Mackay.
"Just being nominated is wonderful recognition of the value of work to end domestic and family violence in our state and will help to highlight the issue," she said. More background on Heather at this LINK
The 2009 Suncorp Queenslanders of the Year will be announced by Premier Bligh on Tuesday June 9, as part of Queensland Week celebrations.
Visit http://www.queenslandweek.qld.gov.au/ for further details.