Jenan Taylor
29 January 2024
A renowned scientist, a medical missionary, and a long serving Williamstown church member are Melbourne Anglicans who have been recognised in the 2024 Australia Day Honours.
Research scientist Associate Professor Ngaire Elwood was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to medicine, particularly through stem cell research.
Medical Mission Aid past president and volunteer Ruth Judd was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the international community through medical aid programs.
Longtime Holy Trinity Williamstown parishioner Wilma Robarts also received an OAM for her service to the community of Williamstown.
Associate Professor Elwood has been Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Bone Marrow Donor Institute Cord Blood Bank director since 2007.
An Anglican Parish of Gisborne member and councillor, she has also headed Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Cord Blood Stem Cell research program.
Read more: Doctor’s efforts honoured on Australia Day
Associate Professor Elwood said one of her most satisfying achievements was the number of patients she’d been able to help through the Cord Blood Bank.
There umbilical cord and placenta blood is collected, processed, stored and put on an international directory for the treatment of leukaemia and other blood disorders.
Associate Professor Elwood said her science research journey started from her own diagnosis and experience of bone cancer and resulting leg amputation as a teenager.
She spent 18 months in the children’s hospital and during that time became interested in learning about ways of curing cancer that were less toxic than chemotherapy.
Brought up with a strong faith background, Associate Professor Elwood said it was that, and the support of family and friends that sustained her, particularly during her illness as a youth.
Read more: ‘Exemplary’ Anglican recognised in King’s Birthday Honours List
Gisborne parish warden Heidi Dixon said Associate Professor Elwood exemplified resilience in the face of adversity, and her faith was an expression of that resilience.
Ms Dixon said Associate Professor Elwood, like many others whose efforts were finally recognised in 2024, was quietly making a difference.
Miss Judd’s humanitarian contributions as a Church Missionary Society medical missionary for almost 30 years, and to a hospital in Kathmandu, were highlighted on her awards citation.
Medical Mission Aid chair Barry Kelly said in a communique that Miss Judd’s outstanding service was a Christ-like example of caring for the marginalised and vulnerable.
Her belief that every human was created in God’s image and therefore equal value and worth led to her work as the first Australian nurse in Nepal.
Mr Kelly said Miss Judd finally retired when she was 85 years old, but remained ever humble as she learned of her Australia Day honour.
Holy Trinity Williamstown parishioner Ms Robarts was the second church member there to receive an OAM in the 2024 Honours list.
Her awards citation mentioned her service on the parish council, and her warden role spanning 20 years.
It also highlighted her leadership of the Ada Cambridge Book Group at the church, and her decades contributing to education.
Read more: Busy Red Hill couple’s years of service celebrated
Vicar the Reverend Elizabeth Murray said Ms Robarts was a vital member of the church with a heart for showing God’s love for service.
Ms Robarts’ response to her achievement encapsulated her team effort approach to everything, Ms Murray said.
She said even when a contribution was just Ms Robarts’ doing, she acknowledged others.
Ms Murray said Holy Trinity was very proud of Ms Robarts and fellow parishioner and OAM recipient Carol Willis.
“They humbly serve God and care for people without fanfare, so it is wonderful to have this public recognition of their faithfulness,” she said.
Earlier
A prominent theologian and a tireless women’s rights advocate are among at least five Anglicans from the Diocese of Melbourne recognised in the 2024 Australia Day Honours List.
Academic the Reverend Canon Professor Dorothy Lee was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to the Anglican Church of Australia.
Holy Trinity Williamstown member Carol Willis was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through a range of roles.
Other OAM recipients included Vermont South parishioner Roslyn Bryant, St Peter’s Brighton Beach member Christine Fitzherbert, and Holy Trinity Lara member Ian Thomson.
Professor Lee’s citation highlighted her roles as a member of the Doctrine Commission at the Australian Church and her position as Stewart Research Professor of New Testament at Trinity College Theological School.
Read more: ‘Quiet’ parishioner, Supreme Court justice recognised in Australia Day Honours List
An ordained minister in the Uniting Church from 1984 to 2008, Professor Lee said she went there because she couldn’t get ordained into the Anglican Church.
Professor Lee said she felt her calling was to be a teacher, of the New Testament in particular, a vocation that was very important to her as a priest.
Professor Lee said she grew up in the Free Church of Scotland, which inspired her and gave her a sense of spirituality and God.
But, it was also a church with a very conservative, disapproving stance towards women, which she needed to break free from.
Mrs Willis’s citation mentioned her decades-long volunteer work with Anglicare Emergency Relief Williamstown, and the Newport Food Pantry.
Read more: ‘The Rev’ recognised in Australia Day lists
It also highlighted the Inspirational Women award she received in 2013 for her contributions to women’s rights.
Mrs Willis said she counted supporting the needs of women from 1974 onwards, through her membership with the Sunshine International Women’s Committee, as her greatest role.
Much of that revolved around advocating for women, particularly those from disadvantaged communities in the western suburbs.
She said for 30 years the group organised seminars featuring prominent speakers including former Victorian premier, the late Joan Kirner, to help encourage the women.
Mrs Willis said receiving the OAM made her feel that people perceived her contributions with confidence.
Outside the Melbourne diocese, former Wonthaggi Anglican board member George Bird received an OAM for services to the community of Wonthaggi.
Do you know of any other Melbourne Anglicans who have received Australia Day Honours? Email us at editor@melbourneanglican.org.au.
This article was updated on 26 January to reflect that Professor Dorothy Lee was an ordained priest in the Uniting Church from 1984 to 2008.
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