Members Awards

Our union presents a range of member awards that recognise the outstanding efforts of individual activists, Chapters, Chapter Executives or networks.

John (Max) MacDermott Award

This award is presented to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution as unionists. 

John (Max) MacDermott was a respected teacher at Mercy College, Mackay, who had a deep interest in union activities. As a chapter representative he worked tirelessly to represent the interests of staff. This award honours his memory and outstanding contribution as a unionist and union activist.

Ruth George School Officer Award

This award is presented to school officers who have made an outstanding contribution as unionists. 

Ruth George played a key role in re-establishing the universal Award covering non-government assistant mistresses in 1937 following The Depression era cutbacks. This award honours her memory and outstanding contribution as an activist and union representative.

Elizabeth McCall Award

This award is presented to a female union activist who demonstrates a fundamental commitment to the principles of unionism and in particular gives expression to the pursuit of social justice issues.  This award may be given to more than one woman in the same year.

The award was established to honour inspirational union member Elizabeth McCall who died as a result of an accident outside her school in 2006. Elizabeth was a highly respected teacher at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School at Rochedale and an extraordinary woman who made a remarkable contribution in all aspects of her life; including her union community to which she was dedicated.

Judith Cooper Award

This award is presented to individual members of our union who work in the Northern Territory and have made a remarkable impact as an activist. 

Judith Cooper played an instrumental role in the establishment of a union in the non-government education sector in the Northern Territory. In 1983 Judith Cooper, a school assistant at St Mary’s Primary School, and some teacher colleagues at other predominately Catholic schools joined together to start working through the issues which were affecting independent school employees.

2012 Winners

Judith Cooper Award
NUALA CULLEN
YIRARA COLLEGE
Ruth George School Officer Award
KATHERINE ROBINSON
Elizabeth McCall Award
JO WINLAW
John (Max) MacDermott Award
DAMIAN LARKIN
MARIST COLLEGE EMERALD
Life Membership
SUZANNE BURDON
ROGER BOYD
Founders Award
CHRIS TOOLEY
DENNIS O’CONNOR
PAT ATKINSON
Bruce Maughan Award
MICHAEL MOY
TOM DENHAM
BERNADETTE MURRAY