QUEENSLAND Catholics on the Queen’s Birthday honours list this year included a rugby identity, an Italian businessman and community leader, and a tireless community volunteer.
Terence Neil Betts, 83, of Tarragindi in Brisbane, received a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for his service to rugby union as a player, administrator and coach; Luigi Casagrande, of Hamilton in Brisbane, received the same medal for his service to the Italian community, and to the development and management of transport infrastructure; and Lois Shinners, of Albany Creek, near Brisbane, received the same honour for service to the community as a volunteer.
Mr Betts, who played rugby for Australia and Queensland between 1948 and 1956, has been a life member of Queensland Rugby Union since 1969 and of Southern Districts Rugby Union Football Club since 1960.
A foundation member of Southern Districts in 1948, his loyal service to the club has included more than 10 years as a player from 1948-59, first-grade coach in 1960, and then president from 1971-82 and treasurer from 1960-70.
Mr Casagrande, Queensland president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia since 2001, has been the promoter and leader of several trade missions to Italy for the Queensland Government.
He was made a Grand Officer of the Republic of Italy for his contribution to the Italian community abroad.
He has been a director of Queensland Motorways since 1995 and was a founding member of the Scalabrini Retirement Village Association in 2004.
Mr Casagrande said the award was a great honour.
Mrs Shinners, actively involved as a parishioner at All Saints’, Albany Creek, was also honoured for her volunteer work with several organizations, including the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation since 1998, childhood cancer support for many years, and the Albany Creek Soccer Club and Brisbane City Football Club.
She was a founding member and continues to be a member of the Albany Creek branch of the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland, and has been a tuckshop volunteer at Albany Creek High School for 20 years.
