QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS Biro inks her special mark
THE shock of being awarded an Order of Australia still hasn't worn off for Whitfield recipient Helga Biro.
The retired social services worker spent 23 years trying to better lives in her community.
“I’m pretty happy, but it’s been a bit of a shock,” she said.
“I’ve always worked with amazing people. I think everyone who works in the social services deserves one.”
In a career spanning more than two decades the former Centacare executive director worked on a number of projects that changed the way the Far Northern community operates.
“The most important thing, to me, was getting migrant services running,” she said.
“It was really important to get funding and get it started.
“In the process I got to know people from migrant camps and help celebrate their own achievements. The other big achievement was becoming partners in mental health work. To have that continue running means it’s making a big difference in lives.”
She said she credited the honour of an OAM to the team she worked with.
“I’m very fortunate to work with great people,” she said. “You’re only as good a the people you work with, so I owe this to them. It’s a privilege to be able to work in social services.”
Ms Biro was also a manager at SkillShare, a volunteer mentor at Ngulpa Ngulpa Women’s Business, Cultural and Wellbeing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation, a member of the Board of Justice and Care with the Catholic Diocese as well as for the Queensland Council of Social Services.