2015 HFA Awards

Photo right: Ann Roberts receiving her Life Governorship
from Jenny Ross and Gavin Finkelstein

SHARON CARIS
Sharon Caris is Executive Director, Haemophilia Foundation Australia

It was a great pleasure to welcome Jennifer Ross AO to the 2015 Conference dinner to present some awards that carry her name.

Jenny was the founding Executive Director of Haemophilia Foundation Australia (HFA), and is well known the work she did to establish HFA and more importantly for her work to improve treatment and care for people with haemophilia. She lead and supported the community through the terrible pain and sadness after the shock that HIV had impacted the bleeding disorders community so greatly, and worked hard to establish HFA as a strong organisation that could advocate for its needs and educate the community and other stakeholders.

JENNIFER ROSS AWARDS

The Jennifer Ross Awards are given by the HFA Council in recognition of outstanding or significant contribution towards the work of Haemophilia Foundations and/or Haemophilia Centres which is beyond the normal expectation of the person's professional role or for special service to people with bleeding disorders and their families.

It was fitting that The Jennifer Ross Award could be presented by Jenny and the HFA President, Gavin Finkelstein at the Conference Dinner to the following counsellors for their service:

Maureen Spilsbury, counsellor at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital and Queensland Haemophilia Centre for service to the bleeding disorders community in Queensland and leadership as chair of the Australia/New Zealand Haemophilia Social Workers’ and Counsellors’ Group and contribution to HFA services and education programs over many years.

Leonie Mudge, counsellor at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, for her service as a counsellor to the bleeding disorders community in Victoria and NSW, leadership of the Australia/New Zealand Haemophilia Counsellors Group and contribution to HFA services and education programs.

Clare Reeves, counsellor at HFACT, for service to the bleeding disorders community in ACT.

Sharon Hawkins, who left her position earlier in the year, was also given a Jennifer Ross Award for service as a counsellor to the bleeding disorders community in Western Australia, leadership of the Australia/New Zealand Haemophilia Social Workers Counsellors Group, contribution to HFA services and education programs over many years as well as representing HFA as co- chair of the WFH 2014 World Congress Psychosocial Program Committee. Sharon’s award will be presented to her in Perth soon.

HFA VOLUNTEER AWARD

Ron Lees from the ACT was presented with the HFA Volunteer Award for his tireless service to the ACT bleeding disorders community over many years.

LIFE GOVERNORSHIP

Gavin Finkelstein and Jenny Ross presented HFA Life Governorship to Ann Roberts for her dedicated leadership to the HFA Council as President, Vice President or Treasurer over many years and her long term commitment to HFA’s goals and objectives.

Ann’s HFA Council colleagues acknowledged her enormous contribution when she completed her final term as the Delegate for Haemophilia Foundation Victoria (HFV) after the 2015 HFA Annual General Meeting. Ann handed her role as HFV Delegate over to Leonie Demos, President of HFV.