The outstanding dedication to community and sport by students from The University of Notre Dame Australia has been recognised through the Queen’s Birthday honours and at the Western Australian of the Year Awards for 2013.
June Oscar, an alumni of the University’s Broome Campus, was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia for her “distinguished service to the Indigenous community of Western Australia, particularly through health and social welfare programs”.
Her recent efforts to break the cycle of alcohol abuse in the Fitzroy Valley were driven by the feelings of sadness and grief after resident families experienced 13 suicides in as many months from excessive alcohol consumption.
Ms Oscar has also expanded her research endeavours to focus on the effects of alcoholism, most notably in the area of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
“Much of that relies on children being able to receive knowledge and to pass on to the next generations, and if children are affected by alcohol exposure in the uterus, the main target is the brain,” Ms Oscar said.
Biomedical Science student at Notre Dame’s Fremantle Campus and World Champion gymnast, Lauren Mitchell, also received significant recognition this month when she won WA’s Sport Award for 2013.
She is Australia’s most successful female gymnast with notable achievements including four gold medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi; a gold medal in the floor exercise at the World Championships in 2010, and several gold, silver and bronze medals at World Cup meets since 2008.
After coming within 0.067 points of winning a medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Ms Mitchell continues to be a role model for young gymnasts in WA through the WAIS Community Development Program.
“It’s an honour to receive an award like this. To be classed as one of WA’s best is very humbling,” Ms Mitchell said.
Vice Chancellor, Professor Celia Hammond, congratulated both recipients on their achievements to date and encouraged them to seek further excellence in their field of interest.
“To be recognised for these awards is a remarkable achievement that both Lauren and June should be extremely proud of,” Prof Hammond said.