Chair of the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board Peta Jamieson, OAM, has been honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia for her outstanding service to community health and business.
The award acknowledges Ms Jamieson’s commitment to enhancing health services and infrastructure, along with highlighting the positive difference she has made in the local community.
Ms Jamieson said she was very surprised and humbled to have been awarded such an honour.
“I accept this honour as recognition of collaboration with hard working community members in the health, economic development, local government and environment fields that I have been lucky enough to champion over a lifetime,” Ms Jamieson said.
“I started championing health policy when I commenced with the Local Government Association of Queensland in the mid-nineties.
“This continued in my work with Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Local Government Department at a senior executive level.
“Since returning to the Wide Bay Burnett to be closer to both sides of our families, I always wanted to give back to the community.”
One of the times Ms Jamieson felt she was truly using her skills in a practical way was following the devastating 2013 floods.
She was able to work with a variety of organisations in helping them recover and she was part of the amazing work achieved by Bundaberg Region Rising.
This not-for-profit organisation supported the recovery of the Bundaberg Region’s economy through fundraising for investment back into the business community.
The opportunity to be a Director then Chair of the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board provided the perfect opportunity for Ms Jamieson to use her core leadership skills and champion visionary teams.
“The staff across the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service are amazing and it is because of their drive and continued dedication that as Chair I am always seeking to do more,” Ms Jamieson said.
“When I took on the role as Chair, I had three aims based on the research I had done in the community.
“To work with the education sector to provide an education pathway for our young people to stay in our community.
“To see more investment in capital works across the Wide Bay and to deliver a site for the new Bundaberg Hospital and to ensure that the amazing work of the health service is recognised and valued.
“When I was appointed as Chair of the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board, a senior member of the community said that I would not be able to get the site for a new hospital.
“There was no way that I was going to let the vision of our local health service, doctors, nurses and community members not be realised.
“I am really proud of the leadership role I was able to take to bring their vision to life and have the Premier announce the site.
“It's a real credit to those community members and what we have achieved.”
Being the Bundaberg-based Director on the Gladstone Ports Corporation has also provided Ms Jamieson the opportunity to continually advocate to ensure the Bundaberg Port progressively becomes fully utilised.
Ms Jamieson said it was an amazing feeling to realise growth opportunities positively contributed to the region’s gross regional product.
“Like other areas across Queensland, I am very sure Bundaberg will experience considerable growth,” Ms Jamieson said.
“The continued growth at the Port and the catalytic development of the new Bundaberg Hospital will deliver direct and indirect opportunities not only in terms of employment but linking to these other “values-based” opportunities.
“At the heart of any growing community are our people and I would like to think as Bundaberg grows our community will continue to live and breathe the values of respect, humility and being willing to get involved – because what the Bundaberg region becomes depends on the choices we all make, each and every day.
“I would like to thank my amazing husband, children, family and friends for their ongoing support.
“My late parents Harry and Dell Jamieson always instilled in us the values of hard work, integrity and giving back so I would like to recognise their contribution to the community through various agriculture, business, environmental and heritage community programs.”
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