2009 Suncorp Queenslander of the Year Award Recipients
The 2009 Suncorp Queenslanders of the Year were announced by Premier Bligh on Tuesday
9 June 2009, as part of Queensland Week celebrations.
This is the 20th year that Suncorp has been involved in the Queenslander of the
Year Awards. Suncorp is proud to support this awards program, as it recognises and
celebrates those Queenslanders who make a significant and worthwhile contribution
to the State.
Suncorp believes strongly in the importance of recognising those in our community
who make a special contribution. Suncorp is very proud of its Queensland heritage.
We are committed to the continued prosperity of this State and supporting those
people, young and old, that help to make it great.
Suncorp congratulates the award recipients for 2009:
- Suncorp Queenslander of the Year: Sergeant Dimitrios (Jim) Bellos
- Suncorp Young Queenslander of the Year: Mr Chiu-Hing Chan
- Suncorp Community Spirit Award: Ms Heather Nancarrow
Suncorp Queenslander of the Year Award Recipient
Sergeant Dimitrios (Jim) Bellos
Regional Cross Cultural Liaison Officer, Metropolitan South Region, Queensland Police
Service
The Metropolitan South Region in Brisbane has experienced a rapid increase in the
number of new residents speaking over 150 different languages and practising over
130 different faiths. In response to the issues associated with this change, Sergeant
Bellos formalised links between the communities and the police to instil trust,
understanding and harmony. Sergeant Bellos formulated community consultative groups,
multi faith dinners, information sessions and, most notably, the award winning youth
sporting program ‘For the Love of the Game’, to encourage interaction and improved
understanding of more than 6000 youths from diverse backgrounds. Since the formulation
of this program there has been a noted decrease in youth crime in the region. Sergeant
Bellos has gained the respect and trust of local community leaders and residents
and has received three national and State awards for ‘For the Love of the Game’
and six national and State awards for his own outstanding contributions.
Suncorp Young Queenslander of the Year Award Recipient
Mr Chiu-Hing Chan - 25 years old
Vice Chairman, Australian Chinese General Chamber of Business
Chiu-Hing is a dedicated Chinese community spokesperson acting in many influential
roles that began with the Gold Coast Chinese Club, Chair of the Cultural Advisory
Committee for the Fortitude Valley Chamber of Commerce and later, at age 23, the
youngest appointed President and Chair of the Queensland Chinese Forum and the Queensland
Police Chinese Community Crime Prevention and Consultative Committee. He was an
Executive of the Beijing Olympic Committee for the Queensland Olympic Council and
was recently appointed Executive of the Gold Coast Committee of the Australian Institute
of Company Directors. In 2008, he became Vice Chairman of the Visa 457 Joint Task
Force committee. Chiu-Hing promotes Chinese cultural understanding, community engagement
and has most notably contributed to making a significant difference in crime prevention
and national youth opportunities through various projects.
Suncorp Community Spirit Award Recipient
Ms Heather Nancarrow
Director, Queensland Centre for Domestic Violence and Family Violence Research,
Central Queensland University
Heather oversees a research centre that provided advice and support to more than
1000 agencies, policy development bodies and individuals in the last year alone.
Heather has been appointed to many national and State advisory groups; she is Chair
of the Queensland Ministerial Advisory Council on Domestic and Family Violence and
Deputy-Chair of the ‘National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and their
Children’. Heather has more than 27 years experience in the domestic and family
violence prevention field, including direct service, policy development, research
and professional development. She is particularly dedicated to working with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people to address family violence and instigated the
annual Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum, commencing in 2004.
