Ambassadors 2011

ROBINA BEARD OAM is responsible for introducing “you’re soaking in it” into the country’s vernacular thanks to her role as Madge the manicurist in the long running series of Palmolive dish washing detergent commercials in the seventies. Her long and diverse career includes performing on stage and in roles on the small screen. Her career also boasts an extensive list of credits behind the scenes as a director and choreographer.

PROFESSOR MICHAEL BESSER AM is someone who leads by example in his belief that the key to a good long life is keeping both mind and body in peak condition. The consultant neurosurgeon at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney exercises his mind by volunteering within his field and immersing himself in his master’s degree studies. As for his body; it is put through its paces training and taking part in triathlons and ironman events across the country at competition level.

MURRAY COX is equally at home on land as he is in the water. Twelve years ago the landscape gardener found the best antidote to life’s stresses was to jump in the ocean and swim. His love affair with open water swimming has inspired a personal challenge; to swim the length of Sydney’s coast. He is tackling the 50km distance in 36 swims over seven months and is on track to complete his goal in May.

ELIZABETH DONALDSON is a retired teacher and active volunteer. After a rewarding career as a teacher Elizabeth and her husband moved to Wangi Wangi on the shores of Lake Macquarie. Living just six houses down from Dobell House, the residence of enigmatic artist William Dobell, it sparked a fascination with his life and art. She became a volunteer at the house in 1999 and held various positions including vice president, publicity officer and funding co-ordinator. Her knowledge and research on the life of this important artist has culminated in her first book, William Dobell - An Artist's Life which was published in 2010.

BRUCE ELDER is a journalist, author and passionate seniors advocate. His prolific career has seen him work in radio and print media in both London and Sydney. While he calls the south coast of NSW home it is hard to keep up with him thanks to his travel writing for the Sydney Morning Herald and the internet travel guide Walkabout. He was the Australian editor of Trivial Pursuit for over twenty years. Bruce has worked as a print and radio journalist in London and Sydney and is a weekly guest on ABC Radio’s Tony Delroy’s Nightlife program.

MILLIE INGRAM is a highly respected Elder born on an Aboriginal reserve in Wiradjuri country in central NSW. She has spent most of her life working life in Redfern fighting for Aboriginal rights at community level, in childcare, employment and education. Millie is a foundation member of Murawina Aboriginal Pre-school and Wyanga Aboriginal Elders program and the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. She is Chief Executive Officer for the Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care Program, which cares for Aboriginal Elders in their own homes. Millie is a strong supporter of the process of reconciliation.

JENNY KEE is a pioneer of Australian style. An acclaimed artist and designer Jenny’s distinctive use of colour and national iconography reflects her passion for the Australian environment as well as her multicultural Chinese and Italian/Australian background. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in Australia and abroad. Jenny’s designs have also featured in international magazines including Italian Vogue to New York’s Women’s Wear Daily. In 2006 Jenny had her autobiography A Big Life published. Jenny worked with retailer Target to release their first designer home wares range nationally in 2008.

TONI LAMOND AM is a prolific singer, actor, dancer and comedienne. With a local and international career spanning over 60 years, Toni has starred in countless productions and iconic TV shows such as Number 96 and Graham Kennedy’s In Melbourne Tonight. Recently, she has featured in Australian film Razzle Dazzle and an autobiographical one-woman show, Times of My Life (co-written with her son Tony Sheldon). She has also written several best-selling autobiographical books.

BRIAN MCGUIGAN AM is a name synonymous with Australian wine making and more specifically with the Hunter Valley region of NSW. Walking in the footsteps of his father Percy and Grandfather Owen, Brian made his own mark on the industry founding the Wyndham Estate in the 1970s. As the former Managing Director and a current Director of McGuigan Simeon Wines Limited he has forged a reputation as one of Australia’s most knowledgeable and skilled viticulturist and wine marketers.

MARY SCHNEIDER is a bona fide living national treasure of Australian country music with an enviable international recording career. Mary is a multi award-winning artist and appears regularly on television and radio. Thanks to the popularity of Yodelling The Classics — Volumes 1 and 2 she has become a cult figure and was chosen as one of the great Australian icons alongside Kylie, Lifesavers and kangaroo’s in a UK documentary.

GRAHAM ROSS is a walking encyclopedia of gardening. Presenter of The Garden Clinic on 2GB and gardening specialist on Channel Seven’s weekly lifestyle program Better Homes and Gardens, Graham offers useful tips, shares his knowledge and passion for plants and gardens to an ever-increasing audience. Graham and his family enjoy educating and entertaining garden enthusiasts right across the country having escorted over 400 world tours taking groups to look at gardens since 1980.

TOM UREN AO is a great Aussie battler having led an eventful life resulting in an enduring sense of justice and fairness.  The trained boxer, prisoner of war and Minister in the Whitlam government also played an important role in establishing the heritage and conservation movement in Australia. In 1941, Tom joined the Australian Army and was a prisoner of war between 1942 and 1945, working on the Burma-Siam railway. His wartime experience instilled in him an unwavering belief in peaceful co-existence.

BERYL VAN-OPLOO is a descendent of the Gamillaroi nation of Walgett, NSW. Four years ago Beryl started Yaama Dhiyaan Hospitality Training, a catering service, function centre and hospitality training school for Aboriginal youth. Drawing on her 50 year career in hospitality including 20 years as a TAFE teacher, she joined forces with chef Mathew Cribb to establish the program. The initiative has developed a cuisine that fuses Indigenous methods and ingredients with international flavours and provides employment opportunities for its students.

PROFESSOR JOHN YEO AO is a leading spinal expert. A senior consultant to the Spinal Injuries Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital he specialises in the care of patients who have paraplegia or quadriplegia and their long term rehabilitation. As Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Sydney he is involved in educating the next generation of doctors and specialists. He speaks regularly to various sporting, professional, community and educational groups to promote the prevention of spinal injuries and how to treat patients with spinal cord injuries.