Some of Maitland’s most successful academics, politicians, artists and sportspeople have become the inaugural inductees into the Maitland City Hall of Fame.
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A total of 25 individuals local heroes, including Athel D’Ombrain, Ruth Cracknell, Cheryl Kernot, Garry Barton and Ken Tubman, are being inducted, 15 posthumously.
The inductees, their families and friends and civic leaders took part in the historical event which was held on Thursday at Maitland Regional Art Gallery.
After the ceremony the Hall of Fame went live on council’s website and includes a short biography and photo of each inductee.
The hall of fame is the brain child of Maitland councillor Brian Burke, himself a renowned rugby league halfback who helped lead the Maitland Pumpkin Pickers to four premierships between 1965 and 1973. In 1972 he was named Country Rugby League Player of the Year.
It was a plan he instigated during his first term on council in 1999 and one he has now helped bring to fruition.
He said he wanted to develop the hall of fame to honour our grassroots heroes across many fields from the arts to barefoot water skiing.
Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore said it is important to recognise those who have made a significant contribution in their fields and to our community.
“Maitland has been able to produce many people with extraordinary talent that have benefited from living in the area,” he said.
“The town has an ability to bring the best out of its residents and this event is proof of that.”
Cr Burke, who officiated at the induction ceremony said the Hall of Fame is a celebration of Maitland and the region, and all it can provide.
“‘I feel unbelievably proud and grateful that I have the opportunity to induct these truly amazing people but I have to mention that it would never have been possible without the hard work of council staff, the hall of fame committee members and other councillors,” Cr Burke said.
The Maitland City Hall of Fame will continue to grow over time with nominations for the 2017 induction already open.
Once live, the Hall of Fame will be available at maitland.nsw.gov.au/hall-offame
The inductees are:
ACADEMIC
Athel D’Ombrain: A successful photographer, optician, naturalist, author and pioneer fisherman who lived here for 66 years
Vanessa Murphy: A widely published research scientist who has a focus on asthma and has lived in Maitland for 20 years.
Mark Joseph Rowe: Attended Maitland Marist Brothers before getting 110 research papers published and securing 45 research grants in the field of neuroscience.
ARTS
John Bell: Born and educated in Maitland, he founded well known theatre companies, won acting awards across the country and was a National Trust Living Treasure in 1997.
Ruth Cracknell: Spent the first four years of her life in Maitland and became a renowned TV actress, won four Logie Awards and was a National Trust Living Treasure in 1998.
David Harris: Left Maitland at age 21 and has become an accomplished stage actor who has starred in musicals like the Boy from Oz, Miss Saigon and Wicked.
BUSINESS
William Arnott: The man behind Arnott’s biscuits, worked in Morpeth as a baker for 15 years, he established bakeries in Newcastle, Sydney and Homebush.
James Dixon Brunker: Was a Maitland resident for 54 years and worked as a businessman, politician and important legislative figure towards the end of the 19th Century.
Doc Evatt: Born in Maitland and was a respected academic, judge and politician in the mid 20th Century and was leader of the Labor Party from 1951 to 1960.
John Gillies: Spent 60 years in Maitland and worked as a newspaperman and politician. He was part owner of the Maitland Mercury and was Mayor from 1888 to 1890.
Sir Samuel Griffith: Spent four years in Maitland, was twice premier of Queensland, the principle author of the Constitution of Australia and was Australia’s first Chief Justice.
Ken Guy: Is a successful accountant and local government figure who has lived in Maitland for more than 80 years. He was an Alderman at Maitland City Council for 10 years and Mayor for two years
Eleanor Hinder: Left Maitland at 17 and became a prominent welfare officer and public servant who held a number of important leadership positions locally and internationally.
Cheryl Kernot: A writer, event speaker and lecturer who was leader of the Democrats in the 1990s and a Labor Shadow Minister from 1998 to 2001.
Milton Morris: Has lived in Maitland for 60 years, was Member for Maitland for 25 years and worked as a NSW Minister for Transport. He also headed up the Hunter Valley Training Company.
John Wiltshire Pender: Lived in the area for 56 years and was an accomplished sketcher, architect and builder who worked in West Maitland and developed buildings across the Hunter region.
SPORT
Garry Barton: Has lived in Maitland his whole life and for a long time was one of the world’s most elite barefoot water skiers and 4 x Australian Mens Open Champion.
Dennis Blunden Is an award winning sportsman who has enjoyed impressive success in the sport of cycling. He lived here for 39 years.
Les Darcy: Leaving a legacy in the sport of boxing, Les Darcy lived in Maitland for 21 years. He was a champion in the middleweight and heavyweight divisions and he is a household name in Australia.
Kelly Driffield: Is one of the best open water and long distance swimmers this country has produced and she has a number of national and international titles to her name.
William Johnson Is an expert in martial arts and has been based in Maitland for the last 23 years and operates the popular Kombat Academy.
Tom Maguire: As a boxing trainer and coach, Tom Maguire spent a lot of time in this area and trained the likes of Fonce Mexon, Billy Yates and a number of other successful boxers.
Fonce Mexon: Was born in Miller’s Forrest and at one time he was the Australian Heavyweight Champion.
Gai Taylor: Was born and still resides here in Maitland and she has enjoyed immense success in the sports of touch football and BMX.
Ken Tubman: Spent his whole life in Maitland and was influential in developing the sport of rally driving. He also kept locals in good health thanks to his pharmacy on High Street.