13 June, 2022
We are delighted to announce that our Chairman Leighton Boyd, and Company Secretary Rosemary Boyd have both been recognised in the 2022 Queens Birthday Honours List.
Leighton has been appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) in recognition of his “significant service to people who are blind or have low vision”, and Rosemary has been appointed the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (General Division) in recognition of her “service to people who are blind or have low vision”.
Leighton has been involved in Retina Australia and its predecessor organisations, Retina Australia (Victoria) and The Retinitis Pigmentosa Society of Victoria, since joining the committee in 1982. He served as the Victorian President since 2008, and as Chairman of the national organisation Retina Australia since 2015. Leighton was also a Vice President of Retina International from 2015 – 2021 and a member of the organising committee for four World Congresses.
Leighton has also contributed across the sector through his participation as a board member of the former Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind; a volunteer and committee member with Blind Citizens Australia from 2000 – 2015; a committee member focussing on the needs of the blind and low vision communities with Vision 2020 Australia since 2011, and by being a supporter of Bionic Vision since 2010.
In his local community in Nillumbik, Leighton has served as a member of the Disability Advisory Group from 2001 – 2009, the Community Inclusion Advisory Committee 2010 -2014 and was recognised as Nillumbik’s Volunteer of the Year in 2009.
“It is a great honour to receive this award. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my endeavour to make a difference to the lives of Australians who are affected by an inherited retinal disease.” Leighton Boyd, June 2022.
Rosemary has been involved in Retina Australia and its predecessor organisations, Retina Australia (Victoria) and The Retinitis Pigmentosa Society of Victoria since joining the committee in 1986. She served as the Victorian Honorary Secretary from 2008 – 2019 and has been a Board member of Retina Australia since 2008, and Company Secretary since 2013. Rosemary has served as a delegate to Retina International for over 10 years and was the organiser of the Australian Retinitis Pigmentosa Conferences in 2002 and 2015.
Rosemary has also worked as Executive Officer for Blind Citizens Australia from 2013 – 2015, and was Chairman of Ross House Association, the current home of Retina Australia, from 2009 – 2013.
“I am extremely proud to receive this award. It has been a privilege to work with, and for, the inherited retinal disease community throughout Australia.” Rosemary Boyd, June 2022.
We would like to congratulate both Leighton and Rosemary for this well-earned recognition and thank them for their huge contribution to Retina Australia and the blind and low vision community.
https://retinaaustralia.com.au/queens-birthday-honours-for-leighton-and-rosemary-boyd/
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