Seven remarkable individuals and the state's 160-year-old museum network have joined the illustrious ranks of Queensland Greats, honoured for their social, scientific, health, environmental and cultural contributions to Queensland.
Presenting the 22nd Queensland Greats Awards at Brisbane City Hall, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk paid tribute to their achievements, advocacy, creativity, and community spirit.
The 2022 Queensland Greats are:
- Queensland Elder Uncle Albert Holt
- Cricketer and youth and multicultural advocate Usman Khawaja
- Burns treatment pioneer Emeritus Professor Dr Stuart Pegg AM
- Trailblazing engineer Else Shepherd AM
- First Nations health and human rights advocate Professor Gracelyn Smallwood AM
- Koala conservationist Professor Peter Timms
- Queensland artist, the late Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori
- Natural and cultural history institution Queensland Museum Network
"I'm proud to acknowledge the inspiring lives of these great Queenslanders," the Premier said.
"They have improved indigenous education and justice, used sporting prominence to assist young migrants, pioneered burns management, and had extraordinarily productive technical careers.
"They've advocated for better health for our First Nations Queenslanders, made landmark scientific contributions to wildlife protection, impressed the world with local indigenous art and curated our state's scientific and cultural history.
"Their contributions to health and research, science and technologies, the arts and education have provided pathways for disadvantaged communities, and pioneered life-changing developments."
123 individuals and 18 institutions have now been honoured as Queensland Greats since the awards began in 2001 and are honoured with a commemorative plaque at Roma Street Parkland.
"I thank all of our 2022 Queensland Greats for their outstanding commitment to a better Queensland," the Premier said.
"I also encourage people to think about other individuals and organisations to nominate for next year."
For more about the 2022 Queensland Greats Awards recipients and to submit a nomination for the 2023 Awards visit www.qld.gov.au/qldgreats
Nominations close Monday 31 January 2023, with recipients announced as part of next year's Queensland Day celebrations.
