The parents of murdered Gold Coast teenager Jack Beasley have been nominated for a Queensland Australian of the Year award.
Brett and Belinda Beasley have been nominated in the “Queensland Local Hero” category for their work with the Jack Beasley Foundation, advocating for youth crime and violence protection.
The Beasley’s launched the foundation following the death of their son, who was just 17-years-old when he was fatally stabbed by a group of youths while on a night out with friends in Surfers Paradise in 2019.
They’re among 19 Queenslanders who are in the running for an award, with Queensland Australian of the Year, Queensland Senior Australian of the Year and Queensland Young Australian of the Year among the other categories.
Fellow Gold Coaster Claude Harvey is up for Queensland Senior Australian of the year.
The 77-year-old former gardener has spent his retirement trekking around Australia to increase awareness of child protection and raise funds for Bravehearts, a not-for-profit dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse and assisting survivors.
Over the past 17 years, Claude has pushed his trusty lawnmower ‘Moyra’ tens of thousands of kilometres around Australia, raising more than $1.5 million for Bravehearts with the aim of hitting $2 million by the end of 2024.
Claude Harvey nominated for Queensland Senior Australian of the Year. PHOTO: Supplied
The Queensland nominees are among 130 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The four award recipients from Queensland will be announced on Tuesday 15 November in a ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane.
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2023 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand congratulated the Queensland nominees on their recognition.
“The 2023 Queensland nominees are making extraordinary contributions to their state and to people’s lives,” Ms Brand said.
“From medical advances to community development, they are all inspiring.”
Full list of 2023 Queensland award nominees:
Queensland Australian of the Year
Daniel Allen and Edward Ross – Social entrepreneurs, carpenters, founders TradeMutt and TIACS (Morningside & South Toowoomba)
William Barton – Multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist, producer
Dr Daniel Timms – Inventor of the BiVACOR titanium heart (Brisbane)
Dr Barbara Woodhouse – Oral and maxillofacial surgeon, medical pioneer (Redcliffe)
Queensland Senior Australian of the Year
Claude Lyle Harvey OAM – Child protection campaigner and Bravehearts fundraiser (Gold Coast)
Jay Larkins – Disability advocate and founder, Brisbane Paralympic Football Program (Keperra)
Father Michael Lowcock OAM – Indigenous advocate and founder, North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services (Mount Isa)
Betty Taylor – Campaigner and founder, Domestic Violence Prevention Centre and Red Rose Foundation (Ormiston)
Queensland Young Australian of the Year
Madelyn Jones and Gali Blacher – Co-founders, The Good Box (Kedron)
Talei Elu – Community organiser (Seisia)
Sam Hughes – Mental health fundraiser (Maleny)
Jeremy Hunt – Co-founder, The VacSeen Project (Toowoomba)
Queensland Local Hero
Brett and Belinda Beasley – Founders, Jack Beasley Foundation (Parkwood)
Peter Davis – Founder, Blood Bikes Australia (Springfield Lakes)
Melissa Redsell – Founder, A Brave Life (Warner)
Michael Sanford – Mental health advocate and founder, Bunyarra Wellbeing Co. (Maidenwell)
