Text Size:

Recognition Awards

The Fight Parkinson’s Recognition Awards recognise the significant contribution of volunteers in the support of people living with Parkinson's and their families.

The Parkinson's community has been built on the invaluable contributions of volunteers, who have offered their time, insight, and experience to inspire and support others. The awards recognise the significant contribution of volunteer individuals and groups in the support of people living with Parkinson's and their families in both years of service and outstanding contribution.

Award categories

Sir Zelman Cowen Award

Fight Parkinson’s highest honour, the Sir Zelman Cowen Award, is presented to an individual in recognition of their invaluable voluntary contribution to the Parkinson’s community. In 2006, Sir Zelman Cowen generously gave permission for an award to be presented in his name, allowing Fight Parkinson’s the honour of recognising his outstanding community service and support for people living with Parkinson’s.

Harold Waldron Carer’s Award

This award honours a family member or friend who has been touched by Parkinson’s and has made a significant difference to the Parkinson’s community, through their voluntary leadership or support of a leader, through their consistency, length of service and dedication to the community.

Community Recognition Award

Recognises the significant contribution of an individual or an organisation to events or activities.

Five, 10 and 15 Year Service Awards

Acknowledges the continuous service of volunteers in an administrative, project or service capacity, particularly those coordinating a Peer Support Group.

Honorary Life Membership

This award recognises outstanding services for a period of at least 15 years.

2024 Recognition Award recipients 

Sir Zelman Cowen Award: John Eren

Sir Harold Waldron Carer's Award: Betty Suggett

Community Recognition Awards: 

Andrew Lindsay; Ass/Prof. Michele Callisaya; Jenny Stevenson; Russell Joyce; Andrew James; Peter Brown; Jeannette Branch; Sean Anderson; Ron Keilar; Vicki Thomas; Russell Wardle; Julie Wardle; Mimi Morgan; Georgy Hicks; Andrew Hicks; Libby Hicks; David Smith; Amy Smith; Stephen Lake; Mick de Graaf; Libby Young; Patty Mayne; Lorena Bazzano; Trevor Prasad; Jackie Unwin; Matthew Pettman; Leon & Marlena Argent; Rina Sawaya; Jem Research Foundation Trust; Pam Drake-Noden

10 year Service Award: Alan Collins, Barbara Phoenix, Fred Taylor, Helen Brunt, Damian Rann, Geoff Wilkinson

5 year Service Award: Jenni Mitchell, Kate Marshall, Robyn Phillips, David Rendell

2023 Recognition Award recipients 

Sir Zelman Cowen Award: Isa Adams

Sir Harold Waldron Carer's Award: Jill Price

Community Recognition Awards: 

Mary Danoudis - Physiotherapist and Researcher

Dr Kelly Bertram - Neurologist 

Dr Sanjay Raghav - Neurologist 

A/Prof Grant Dewson - Researcher 

The Hicks Family

Alan Adams; Belinda Zipper; Bill Mackintosh; Damian Rann; Dennis Williams; Florence Morrow; Ian McFarlane; Janette Cannizzaro; Jennie Wood; John Young; Kate McCormack; Lorena Bazzano; Mandy Baker; Marlene Hamilton; Matt Pettifer; Michelle Mendes; Mimi Morgan; Patty Mayne; Pauline Wiltshire; Peter Wylie; Russell Joyce; Shona Cross; Stephen Dunn; Sue Normington; Suzy Quinn; Tom Jambrich

15 year Service Award: Christine Gladwell (Berwick), Mick Dee Prose (Berwick) 

10 year Service Award: Franz and Sue Schnellman (Essendon), Jenny and John Wilson (Bentleigh/Bayside), Lynne Blake (Mildura)

5 year Service Award: Geoff Serpell (Essendon), Geoff Constable

Certificates of Appreciation: 

Retiring Board members - Orlando Viola, Mark McAuley

Support of Bequest Program - Ian Phelan 

Peer Support Group - Kate McCormack (Lancefield); Gateway Community Services (Essendon) 

27forParkinson's and A Walk in the Park Fundraisers - John McBride, Jeannette Branch, Anne Paterson, Mick De Graaf, Anne Cox, Libby Young, George Doucas, Delia McPherson, Amy Chung, Eng Lee, Steph Mulcahy, Tessa Botheras, David Smith, Sean Anderson, Samantha Layton, Ian Temme, Julie Wardle, Michael Tomasoni, Shane Buzza, David Rosenberg, Mirella Yoho, Lottie Peters, Ron Keilar, Marcos Amado, Rose Doolan, Paul Kreutzer, Nadine Cripps, Vicki Thomas, Elyse Cripps and Garry Manning 

Community Fundraisers - Leon and Marlena Argent, Stephen Lake, Suzanne Conway, David Ball, Tony Forster, Judith Greenwood, Jacqueline Rose, Menaka Friend, Katheesh Kandasamy, Josephine Hale, Jackie Unwin, Hugh Creamer, Melissa Ferabend, Teagan Parker, Paul Reeves, Kelly Bogunovic, Brett Frenkiel, Paul Coniglio, Renee Lancaster, Matthew Pettman, Parker Tilley, Tamara Burba, Luke Gundry, Matt Perkins, Ian Pratt, Hugh Creamer, Avi Koth and Nikky Gandel 

2022 Recognition Award recipients

Sir Zelman Cowen Award: Pam West (ParKanDo)

Sir Harold Waldron Carer's Award: Mike Jobling

Read more here.

Community Recognition Awards: 

Natalie Delac - generously sharing her knowledge as a senior occupational therapists to Fight Parkinson’s forums and contributing to the design and delivery of seminars, conferences and workshops.

Dr Andrew Evans - leading neurologist and regular guest speaker for patient and professional forums, including as the 2022 AGM guest speaker. Consultant on the ParkinsonNet project.

Jill Price - long-standing member and contributor to Ashwood ParkinSong. Jill also worked in the Fight Parkinson's office as a volunteer from 2016 to 2019.

Kate Jesaulenko - 2022 A Walk in the Park ambassador and fundraiser, she helped raise the profile of Fight Parkinson’s through participating in numerous media opportunities.    

Geoff Constable - raised more than $15,000 for Fight Parkinson’s through participation in the Moomba Birdman Rally at Moomba

Ken Eastwood - Aberfeldie church minister who has offered unwavering support to the Essendon PSG for more than 10 years, including pastoral care.

Gordon Townsend - for his support and services as a volunteer art tutor for Essendon Painting with Parkinson’s group

Honorary Life Member: Deb Smith, John Seymour

10 year Service Award: Lauren Arkinstall (Geelong)

5 year Service Award: Cathy Crerar (ParkinSong Langwarrin), Kate Walker (ParkinSong Ashwood), Gillian Whitaker (ParkinSong Ashwood), Frank Pearce** (Essendon), Judy McKenzie (Bayside ParkinSong)

Certificates of Appreciation: 

Retiring Board members - Celia Robinson, Faye Spiteri, Steve Watts, Orlando Viola

Geelong A Walk in the Park working group - Kerry Mills, Martin Moore, Marilyn Brown

PSG Leaders - Jenny Phillips, David Rendell

Researcher - Libby Proud

Fundraisers - Peter Gladstone, Bev Gladstone**, Damian Rann, Julie Trimble, David & Amy Smith, Samantha Layton, Jeanette Branch, Luke Loppolo, Marita Brown, Em Tantau, John McBride, Corey Tessier

Health Professionals - Dr Jim Howe, Louise Cooper

Faces of Fight Parkinson's appeals - Karyn Spilberg, Ian McFarlane.

**Awarded posthumously

2021 Recognition Award recipients

Sir Zelman Cowen Award: Christine Anderson

Sir Harold Waldron Carer's Award: Keith Anderson

Read more here.

2020 Recognition Award recipients

Sir Zelman Cowen Award: Judy Phelan

Sir Harold Waldron Carer's Award: Elaine Maberly

Community Recognition Award: Keith Anderson (Manningham); Kirsten George (A Walk in the Park Geelong); Darryl Roberts (Swan Hill); Bev Boag (Grampians); Noala Flynn (Werribee - awarded posthumously); Kirsten George; Isa Adams.

Honorary Life Member: Mike Jobling (ParkinSong Williamstown); Betty Suggett, (Warrnambool); Prof. Meg Morris.

5 year Service Award: Diane Whitelaw (Mildura).

Certificate of Appreciation: Sue Harper; Karyn Spilberg; Dominic Hare; Russell Joyce; Sheenagh Bottrell; John Young; Col Berry; Cathy Crerar; Firefighters Charity Fund.

2019 Recognition Award recipients

Sir Zelman Cowen Award: Heather Jobling 

Community Recognition Award: Judy Russell; Richard Grimmett; Mike Atkinson; Christine Anderson.

Honorary Life Member: Trevor & Pearl White; Judy Phelan

10 Year Service Award: Louise and Paul Zajac (Geelong Young@Park)

5 year Service Award: Darryl Keeble (Mildura); Cynthia Parker (Mildura); Christine Anderson (Kyabram); Joy Shortis (Kyabram); Kathy Kukuljan (Kyabram)

Certificate of Appreciation: Kirsten George; Peter Walsh; Dr John Locke; Fred Van Ross; Shane Murphy

2018 Award recipients

Sir Zelman Cowen Award:  Andrew Suggett 

Community Recognition Award: Geoff Constable; Kim Goodridge; Shane Jacobson.

15 Year Service Award: Elaine Maberly, Ray McClusky and Margot Adams (Ballarat); Edith Weaver (Essendon)

10 Year Service Award: Gordon Townsend (Essendon); Ingrid Camille (Eltham)

5 year Service Award: Anne Simpson (Eltham); Clarrie & Hwa O’Brien, Nu & Vien Lieu, Sue & Franz Schnellman, Robert & Sharyn Mains (Essendon); Jenny & John Wilson (Bentleigh); Mike Atkinson

Certificate of Appreciation: Kirsten George; Adam Conrad.

Previous Sir Zelman Cowen Award recipients:

2017 – Cheryl Barnes

2016 – Peter Raymond

2015 – Anne Mooney

2014 – Fred van Ross

2013 – Karyn Spilberg

Top