Three of the GC’s very best

ALAN THOMAS A Gold

Coast commentator says a Queen’s Birthday Honour was thanks to his family morals.

Academy for Young Race Callers founder Alan Thomas said he hopes it will show his granddaughter what it means to have values and morals.

“The honour is a representation of what the Thomas family has been for a long time. My mother and father taught me to have values, work hard and be thoughtful of your fellow man.”

The ex-Sky and Channel 9 race caller said: “I've mentored and spent time with young callers to make them as good as they can.”

KOBE STEELE Orangutan Foundation International Australian founder Kobe

Steele lost her daughter in 2008, saying it led her to a journey of self-discovery.

“My daughter was travelling when she was 25 in Amsterdam and she was killed,” she said. “Being my only child, I fell to pieces and my life stopped.

“A dear friend of mine took me to Borneo and said orangutan would change my life. I fell so deeply in love with them.

“When I came back I stopped grieving and found purpose in my life again.”

Her honour was for service to conservation/environment. KENNETH CLARK The Gold Coast volunteer is on the Queen’s Birthday Honour roll for services to surf lifesaving and to the community.

The dad of two and member of many clubs said “my hair stood up on the back of my neck when I heard the news”.

He said he was most proud of volunteering work at Surf Life Saving: “You don’t volunteer for recognition but it’s nice when you do get recognised.”

He inherited his passion from his Dad, a firefighter.