Frank Stewart Distinguished Service Award

The Frank Stewart Award is Parks and Leisure Australia’s highest individual honour. It is awarded to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the development, promotion and advocacy of the parks and leisure industry through their personal and professional endeavours.

The Frank Stewart Distinguished Service Award is judged by previous winners of the award and the recipient receives an Honorary Life Membership to Parks and Leisure Australia as well as a commemorative plaque.

Nominees must:

  • Be a current individual member of PLA or the nominated representative for a corporate member of PLA
  • Have at least 5 years continuous and current membership of PLA
  • Have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the parks and leisure industry
  • Be nominated by two current individual PLA members
  • Please note: Individuals cannot self-nominate

Previous Winners

Year Winner Position / Organisation
1985
Laurie Boyd
Director, Centre for Leadership and Management
1986
Rob Ewart
Retired
1987
Ric Thompson
General Manager, Inclusion Works
1988
Garry Henshall
Managing Director, Garry Henshall and Associates
1989
Peter Butler
Manager, Amstel Golf Course
1990
Michael King
Director, SGL Leisure Group
1991
Helen Hayes
Planning Consultant, Queensland
1992
Greg Maddock
Deceased
1993
Jim Harley
Retired
1997
Ken Marriott Helen Croxford
Managing Director, HM Leisure Planning Director, City of Maroondah
1998
Peter Fitchett
Director, City of Casey
1999
John Senior Neville Byrne
Manager - Strategic Partnerships, Parks Victoria Team Leader, Mt Lofty Ranges
2000
Francis Lobo
Senior Lecturer, Edith Cowan University (retired)
2001
Andrew Taylor
Chief Executive Officer, Snowy Works and Services
2002
Martin Doulton
Director, Monash Sport
2003
Peter Nicholls
Managing Director, Work Leisure International
2004
Sarah-Jo Mason
Communications Manager, The AbiGroup
2005
Les Dennis David Aldous
Director, Community Development and Special Events Management Adjunct Professor, The University of Queensland (since deceased)
2006
Tony Veal
Adjunct Professor, University of Technology (Sydney)
2007
Stephen Wearing
Adjunct Professor, University of Technology (Sydney)
2008
Stephen Bourke
Director Community and Recreation, Sutherland Shire Council
2009
Sally Jeavons
Principal, @leisure
2010
Anne Binkley
Retired
2011
John Brandenburg
John P Brandenburg Consulting (since deceased)
2012
John Wood
John Wood Consultancy Services Pty Ltd
2013
Bruce Fordham
Manager of Leisure and Events, Hume City Council
2014
Cathy Kiss
Senior Open Space Planner, City of Melbourne
2015
Andrew Smith
Group Leader Asset Management, City of Onkaparinga
2016
Not Awarded
2017
Penny Davidson
Retired
2018
Kevin Lowe
General Manager Urban Planning & Leisure Services, Campbelltown City Council, SA
2019
Kirsten Jackson
Manager Active Communities, Cardinia Shire Council
2020
Martin Lambert
Director, Otium Planning Group
2021
Nick Cox
Chief Executive Officer, Belgravia Leisure
2022
Suzanne Suter
Principal Consultant, Suter Planners
2023
Dr John Tower
Advisory Chair, Parks & Leisure Australia