Greater Hume's Australia Day Ambassador Announced
Published on 09 January 2024
Each year Greater Hume holds its Australia Day Celebration in a different town or village. In 2024 the focus will be on the community of Wymah.
Greater Hume Council is thrilled to welcome, Mr Allan Sparks CV, OAM, VA, FRSN, as Greater Hume’s Australia Day Ambassador.
Allan is one of Australia’s most highly decorated citizens, being one of only five Australians in the past 48 years to receive Australia’s highest bravery decoration, The Cross of Valour, awarded in 1998 by the then Governor General of Australia, Sir William Deane. And in 2016, for another lifesaving rescue, Allan was awarded Australia’s fourth highest bravery decoration, the Commendation for Brave Conduct. In 2017 Allan was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to Mental Health Support organisations and the community. He is also the recipient of the NSW Police Commissioners Valour Award (VA) and the Royal Humane Society of NSW Galleghan Award.
Allan is one of only 10 Australians to receive the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal and one of only 10 Australians to be awarded the Queens Platinum Jubilee Medal. In September 2022, Allan was invited by St James Palace to attend the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II where he took part in the Chivalry and Gallantry Procession during the funeral proceedings. Allan is also one of only 10 Australians who are to be awarded the Kings Coronation Medal.
Allan is a 20 year veteran of the NSW Police force, and of recent times, a Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW. He is a qualified trainer of the Mental Health Commission of Canada mental health programs, The Working Mind and the Working Mind for First Responders, one of the founding partners of the Mental Health Training Program, ‘Operational Readiness for First Responders’, the Foundation Patron of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW, the Chairman of the National Police Bravery Award Committee, a member of the Mental Health Commission Suicide Prevention Advisory Panel and a member of the NSW Police Mental Health Intervention Team.
Allan is also a proud supporter of Tribal Warrior Indigenous Youth program and the Indigenous Never Going Back Program at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence at Redfern and a mentor for the Indigenous Police recruiting program, IPROWD. He is the Patron on the Australian Police Over 35’s Rugby Team and apart from being an Australia Day Ambassador, is also an Ambassador for Kookaburra Kids.
He is a former Non-Executive Director of the Gidget Foundation, a former Ambassador for Beyondblue and Soldier On.
Allan is also an accomplished international yachtsman having sailed his own yacht from England to Australia in 2009-2010, the best-selling author of “The Cost of Bravery” (Penguin Books, 2013).
The Australia Day celebrations will be held at the Wymah Recreation Reserve, 2334 Wymah Road, Wymah commencing with a free breakfast from 8.00 am prepared by the Wymah community and sponsored by Council.
The official ceremony will commence from 9.00 am including the Australia Day Ambassador’s address and the presentation of the awards for Citizen, Young Citizen, Sports Person/Team and Community Event of the Year, School Citizenship Certificates. Nominees will be announced shortly.
The Wymah Community is also planning an afternoon of live music, kid’s entertainment including giant outdoor games, a historical car display and a display at the Wymah Museum.
All Greater Hume residents are invited to celebrate Australia Day, this year, at Wymah Recreation Reserve, Wymah.
So, bring the family and enjoy Australia Day at Wymah.