FROM a female vice-president to community leaders, Australian salute went out to 3 Indian community members among hundreds of Queen’s Birthday honours recipients.

Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens and Ros Packer, the wife of the late Kerry Packer were among the high-profile recipients, of 565 recipients in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

More in the armed forces and emergency services were also recognised in a separate category.

“To all recipients, I offer my deepest congratulations, admiration and respect for your contribution to our nation,” Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove said

Included in The Queen’s Birthday honours list 2016 are

Mr Darshak Hasmukh MEHTA of NSW who was awarded for service to the community through charitable organisations.

Darshak Mehta BTHis service includes:

  • Co-Founder, The LBW Trust (Learning for a Better World), since 2006.
  • President, since 2015.
  • Chairman, 2006-2015
  • Member, Advisory Board, Sydney Thunder, since 2013.
  • Supporter, ‘Batting for Change’, since 2013 (in support of The LBW Trust).
  • Patron, Pratham Aus, since 2015.
  • Member, Advisory Committee, Charter Pacific Corp Ltd, since 2013.
  • Director, Link Intime India Pvt Ltd, since 2012.
  • Director, Sohini Holdings Pty Ltd, since 1999.
  • Managing Director, Sanalco Pacific Pty Ltd, 1988-1994.
  • Director, National Wire and Metal Industries, India, 1978-1988.
  • Member, Executive Committee, Australian Fabian Society (NSW Branch), 2005-2008.

 

Mrs Mallika PRASAD-CHOWTA, of SA was awarded for service to the multicultural community in South Australia.

Mallika Chowta BTHer service includes:

  • Member, Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship Committee, (an advisory committee to the Minister for Education on granting research scholarships to women), since 2010.
  • Vice President, Asia Pacific Business Council for Women, 2003-2005.
  • Board Member, Community Arts Network of SA, 2000-2003.
  • Indian Australian Association of SA:
  • President, 2003-2005.
  • Manager, Mela (Adelaide’s annual Indian food and cultural festival), 2004 and 2005.
  • Committee Member, 1977-1981.
  • Cultural Secretary, 1976-1977.
  • Coordinator, Forum presentations (for showcasing the contributions of migrants from the Indian subcontinent including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka), South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, May 2000.
  • Member, Multicultural Education Committee, 1995-2001 (an advisory committee to the SA Minister for Education, Children’s Services and Training) and Project Convenor, ‘Countering racism through developing cultural understanding’, involved 34 schools and 78 teachers, 1998.
  • Chairperson, Executive Committee, South Australian Multicultural Library and Information Association, 1994-2001.
  • Secretary, Hindu Society of South Australia, 1996-1998.
  • President, Rasik Ranjani Indian Music Lovers Association of South Australia, 1993-1995 and Member, since 1982.
  • Board Member, Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre, 1988-1994 and Publicist, Adelaide Fringe Festivals, 1988-1994.
  • Program Coordinator, Indian Community Radio, 5 EBI FM, 1985-1992 and Program Producer and Presenter, 1985-1992.
  • Committee Member, Aboriginal Education Foundation of South Australia Inc, 1986-1992.
  • Awards and recognition includes:
  • Recipient, Pride of Australia Award, Fair Go, News Corporation Australia, 2014.

 

Professor Prasad Kanaka YARLAGADDA, of Qld was honoured for service to the Indian community in Queensland, and to engineering.

Prasad YarlagaddaHis Service includes:

  • President, Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland, 2013-2015 and Vice-President, 2010-2013.
  • Deputy Chair, International Science and Technology Science, Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin, Queensland, 2013-2015 and Life Member.
  • Vice-President, Brisbane Chapter, Vedanta Centre of Sydney, 2005-2016.
  • President, India Australia Society of Queensland, 2007-2010.
  • Member, Interim Multicultural Community Reference Group, Queensland Government, since 2015.
  • Involved in the establishment of the Tri Sister City Relationship between Brisbane, Hyderabad and Ipswich, 2010.
  • Queensland University of Technology Professor in Smart Systems and Project Director: Airports of the Future, Science and Engineering Faculty, since 2005.
  • Founding Chairperson, Cultural Diversity Committee and Equity Committee, 2000-2005.
  • Associate Director, Centre for Built Environment Engineering and Research, 2004-2005.
  • Associate Professor, 2003-2005.
  • Director, Manufacturing Systems Engineering Research Concentration, 1999-2003.
  • Lecturer, 1996-1998.
  • Fellow, Engineers Australia, since 2002 and Member, National Committee of Mechatronics Engineering, 2005-2011.
  • President, Global Congress of Manufacturing and Management Board Australia, 2004-2008.
  • President, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Queensland Chapter, 2000-2001 and Chairman, 1999 and Secretary, 1997-1998.
  • Founding Member, Manufacturing Society of Australia, 1998.
  • Executive Member, Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, 2000-2002.
  • Fellow, Institution of Engineers, India, since 2002.
  • Fellow, World Academy of Manufacturing Materials Engineering, since 2007.
  • Awards and recognition include:
  • Recipient, Brisbane Times Multicultural Community Award, 2008.
  • Recipient, Global Research Award, Global Congress of Manufacturing and Management Board Australia, 2004.
  • Recipient, Outstanding Academic Contribution Award in Research and Scholarship, and Equity Award, Queensland University of Technology, 2001.
  • Recipient, The Great Honorary Award, World Academy of Manufacturing and Material Engineering, 2012.

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