What’s Happening?
Seven Redlands residents have been recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List.
The honours acknowledge Australians who have made strong contributions to their communities, professions and the nation.
Local recipients were recognised across education, medicine, the arts, veterans support, corrections and emergency services.
Among them is Cindel Richardson, who received the Emergency Services Medal.
The Redlands recipients include:
- Mrs Faith Baisden AM, Member of the Order of Australia
- Professor Noel Hayman AM, Member of the Order of Australia
- Mrs Annabelle Alexander OAM, Medal of the Order of Australia
- Mr Douglas Alexander OAM, Medal of the Order of Australia
- Mr Charles Sherrin OAM, Medal of the Order of Australia
- Mr Mark Spicer ACM, Australian Corrections Medal
- Mrs Cindel Richardson ESM, Emergency Services Medal
Why It Matters?
The honours recognise people whose work often reaches beyond their job titles.
For Redlands, the list shows years of service across local education, health, the arts, veterans support and emergency response.
Richardson’s award carries strong local weight.
She has served the Queensland State Emergency Service as a volunteer group leader. She has also worked as a search and rescue coordinator with the Queensland Police Service.
Her service has supported disaster response, community preparedness, recruitment and volunteer development.
Acting Commissioner Brett Pointing APM, congratulated the recipients and acknowledged their work across Queensland.
“The 2026 King’s Birthday awards represent the highest standard of policing, law enforcement and emergency service across the country, and our recipients embody the integrity, respect and courage the QPS is guided by,” Acting Commissioner Pointing said.
“Their dedication to serving the community with compassion, professionalism and integrity reflects the very best of the QPS, and I proudly acknowledge their accomplishments.
“Their contributions across regional operations, frontline support, specialist roles, training and investigations directly strengthen the Service’s ability to enhance community safety.”
Local Impact
Richardson’s recognition reflects more than 20 years of local service during major emergency moments.
She was recognised for her SES work across search and rescue, disaster response, community preparedness, training, recruitment and retention.
She has also helped strengthen trust between SES volunteers and local residents.
Within the SES, Richardson has mentored volunteers, supported training and helped build member confidence.
Her colleagues say she works to make every volunteer feel part of the orange family.
That matters during disasters, when strong local units help protect residents and support recovery.
By The Numbers
- Seven Redlanders were named in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List, across service, health, arts, veterans, corrections and emergency response.
- Richardson was recognised after more than 20 years of SES service, including search and rescue, disaster response and community preparedness.
- She held key leadership roles during Tropical Cyclone Marcia in 2015 and Tropical Cyclone Alfred in 2025, including work as Incident Commander.
Zoom In
The Emergency Services Medal recognises distinguished service as a member of an Australian emergency service.
The award can recognise frontline service, emergency management, training and education.
Richardson was recognised through the Meritorious Awards list, which also named Mr Mark Spicer as an Australian Corrections Medal recipient.
Her service includes:
- Leading major emergency operations during significant disaster responses.
- Serving as Incident Commander during Tropical Cyclone Alfred in 2025 and Tropical Cyclone Marcia in 2015.
- Helping coordinate operations that supported community safety and recovery.
- Pioneering training programs for search and rescue, disaster response and emergency management.
- Supporting community education to improve local preparedness.
- Helping recruitment and retention within the SES.
- Mentoring the next generation of SES leaders.
- Managing search and rescue operations through the Queensland Police Service with skill and empathy.
Her efforts helped her team earn recognition, including Regional Operational Response of the Year.
Richardson has also introduced training improvements and practical changes to strengthen operational readiness.
Her peers, volunteers and partner agencies have recognised her professionalism, integrity and sustained service.
Zoom Out
The King’s Birthday Honours highlight service across Australia, not just public-facing achievements.
In Queensland, the 2026 list recognised 142 people for service across community life, public service, the professions, emergency services and the Australian Defence Force.
The official Order of Australia list confirms local recognition for Mrs Faith Baisden, Professor Noel Hayman, Mrs Annabelle Alexander, Mr Douglas Alexander and Mr Charles Sherrin.
For Redlands, the list shows how local service connects to state and national life.
It also shows the wide range of work behind community safety.
Emergency response depends on volunteers, training, leadership and public trust. Richardson’s recognition brings that work into focus.
What To Look For Next?
Queensland recipients will attend investiture ceremonies to formally receive their award insignia from the Governor.
For Richardson, the honour is likely to keep attention on volunteer emergency service work in Redlands.
It may also help support future SES recruitment, training and community preparedness across the region.
