The inaugural John Curtin Medals presentation was in 1998 and was established by Curtin
University, to recognise members of the community who shared John Curtin's attributes of vision,
leadership and community service.
Over the last 20 years the winners have been: 1998,
Priya Cooper.
Priya is an Australian paralympian swimmer who has won numerous gold, silver
and bronze medals.
She has been an Australia Day Ambassador and Ambassador for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
She has been an inspiring leader to those with mobility difficulties and many others in the
broader community.
May O’Brien.
May is a former school teacher who taught for many years, before establishing
the Aboriginal Committees on Education in WA. She was instrumental in setting-up Curtin’s
Aboriginal bridging course, giving young Aboriginal people access to tertiary education.
Dr George O’Neil.
George is best known for his life-saving work in the treatment of drug addiction.
His tireless work for others has included designing a better pain management system
and process to ease diarrhoea in sick children in developing countries.
Dr Eric Tan.
Eric was the first overseas student to graduate at the top of his class, at any medical school
in Australia. Dr Tan pioneered endoscopic ‘key hole’ surgery in Australia and taught
the technique overseas.
1999: Margaret Culbong.
Margaret has improved the health and well-being of Aboriginal people by setting
up Aboriginal-controlled health services and raising the profile of Aboriginal health
issues in Western Australia.
Professor Tommy Koh.
Tommy is an international lawyer who has worked to promote environmental responsibility
and reducing international conflict.
He has also championed the arts and greater creative freedom in Singapore.
Monique Lim.
Monique demonstrated extraordinary leadership qualities in helping forge links between China
and Western Australia, becoming one of China’s 20 best-known women business leaders.
Peter Moyes.
Peter had a vision for creating a progressive education system focused on
community attitudes towards education.
He provided intellectual and motivational leadership to promote change within the education
system in Western Australia.
2000: Chris Lewis.
Chris is a former footballer who has used his sporting profile to serve the community,
working with youth groups, schools and in particular young Aboriginal people.
Granny Smith Gold Mines.
Working with Native Title claimants, Granny Smith Gold Mines established an industry benchmark
for working with Indigenous communities and for sustainable practices in mine site rehabilitation.
Dame Rachel Clelland.
Dame Rachel Clelland was an active environmentalist whose work focused on saving
old-growth forests in South West WA.
She also dedicated much of her life to developing associations for the women of Papua New Guinea.
2001: Vanessa Elliot.
Vanessa has for many years initiated and implemented youth programs in Indigenous
communities within the remote north-west community of Halls Creek.
John Embling and Heather Pilcher.
John and Heather have devoted many years to helping young people who were
victims of homelessness, drugs abuse, racism and violence, offering shelter, refuge and
hope.
Mary Roskams.
Mary provided extensive assistance to international students arriving in Australia,
which made a significant impact on Australian diplomatic trade and cultural relationships.
Dr Barry Jones.
Barry has been a teacher, lawyer and Member of Parliament, and in each role
has demonstrated a strong commitment to scientific research and development in Australia.
2002: Brother Olly Picket.
Brother Olly has devoted his life to serving others, with his work ranging from
helping at-risk youth, to manufacturing low cost wheel chairs for children from around
the world who are landmine and polio victims.
2003: John Fawcett.
John dedicated many years of his life to helping the Balinese community.
The John Fawcett Foundation, established in 2000, has provided free medical aid to thousands
of economically disadvantaged Indonesians by treating health problems, such as blindness,
cataracts and cleft palates.
Doug Paling.
Doug established Foodbank, the major community organisation that has
grown over the years to become one of the largest hunger relief organisations in Australia.
2004: Ajahn Brahmavamso.
Ajahn Brahm is a Buddhist monk, who conducted daily counselling at prisons, hospitals and
schools, bringing inner peace and happiness to many people in Western Australia.
2005: Dr David Joske.
David is a senior Western Australian haematologist who has dedicated much of his
career to alleviating cancer-related illness and suffering through complementary and alternative
therapies that bring comfort to many cancer sufferers.
Lynne Evans.
Lynne, who began her career in community nursing, provided much-needed support and
advocacy for the homeless during her tenure as CEO of St Bartholomew’s House, where
she brought solace to many members of the local community.
2006: Pieta O’Shaughnessy.
Pieta has spent more than 30 years in community radio, where she worked
to break down barriers in the community around racism and other issues and supported the
under-privileged.
She also helped establish 6NR, now Curtin FM.
Gerard Neesham.
Gerard Neesham is a former footballer who established the Clontarf Foundation Football
Academy, teaching young Indigenous men healthy lifestyle practices, and helping students
find employment or further education.
Boronia Pre-Release Centre for Women.
Boronia has been a leader in corrective services, establishing a unique model of imprisonment,
recognising the diverse needs of its women inmates and preparing them for re-entry into
the community, by offering meaningful rehabilitation.
2007: Dennis Eggington.
Dennis has served Indigenous community passionately for most of his life and is an
esteemed leader who is very often the voice of the Nyungar people in Western Australia.
David Goldstone.
David devoted most of his life to charity work, motivated by a strong
desire to make a difference to those less fortunate.
One of his significant projects was the 1999 ‘Pennies for Polio Campaign’, which raised
$84,000 towards Rotary’s worldwide Polio Eradication Program.
2008: Joan Winch.
Joan founded the Marr Mooditj Foundation to deliver appropriate and effective health
worker training for Indigenous people and communities across Western Australia.
Hellen Dullard.
Described as a "social entrepreneur", Helen has used her considerable skills to
improve communities and the lives of individuals within them, particularly in areas of the
environment, community health, and disability and seniors’ issues.
2009: Patrick Dodson.
Pat is a high-profile figure in Indigenous affairs, warmly regarded as the "father of
Australian reconciliation". Having served on the Council for Australian Reconciliation
and the Apology to Indigenous Australia’s Stolen Generations.
2010: Beverley and John Lowe.
Beverley and John created Manna Industries, a charity helping to feed the homeless people
of inner-city Perth and support children from disadvantaged backgrounds
across the metropolitan area.
2011: Tanya Pinto.
Tanya founded Baal Dan, a charity that provides street children, slum children and
orphans in India with food, education, medical treatment and essential supplies.
2012: Emeritus Professor Jo Barker.
Jo’s leadership in occupational therapy, and coaching, mentoring and developing leadership
skills in people in her community have been a hallmark of her life and career.
2013: Helena Murphy.
Helena was an activist who founded the Coolbaroo Club in 1946. The club was a
political movement and an Indigenous social club that aimed to gain
equal rights for Aboriginal people.
Dr Graham Forward.
Graham is an orthopaedic surgeon who established Australian Doctors for Africa (ADFA),
to help vulnerable African communities with severe medical and health difficulties,
by training local doctors, performing thousands of surgical procedures and distributing supplies
and equipment.
2014: Clinton Heal.
Clinton established melanomaWA to provide immediate access to information and support
to those affected by melanoma and their family, carers and friends.
2015: Dr Kaye Brand.
Kaye founded the Western Australian Fibromyalgia Network in 2007, bringing together,
and providing support for thousands of individuals affected by the disorder.
Sian White.
Sian is a lifelong humanitarian, who has organised many international fund raising
activities to assist with housing, education and employment for the under-privileged.
Ezzard Flowers and the late Angus Wallam.
Aboriginal elders Ezzard and Angus were central to consultations
with the Nyungar community related to the repatriation of the Herbert Mayer Collection
of Carrolup artworks to Australia in May 2013.
2016: Dr Ann O’Neill.
Ann is the founder of Angel Hands Incorporated, an organisation dedicated to supporting
the recovery of people affected by homicide and serious interpersonal violence.
2017: Jim Morrison.
Jim has worked at the frontline of Aboriginal affairs for more than four decades
and is known nationally for his advocacy of Aboriginal human rights and support for members
of the Stolen Generations and their families.
Angela Ryder.
A member of the Stolen Generations, Angela has established innovative initiatives
to build independence in Aboriginal people and empower Aboriginal women.
Her works includes grief and loss counselling, and supporting women affected by family violence
and sexual assault.