The state legislative member for Jordan, Charis Mullen, is offering $1,000 to one Year 11 or 12 student in the Greater Springfield region who best embodies the virtues of leadership — with entries closing in just a few days.
Jordan MP Charis Mullen recently announced the competition for the Violet Jordan Leadership Award, with application submissions closing 5pm this Friday, March 3.
Both the electorate and the award are named after trailblazer Ellen Violet Jordan, who in 1966 was the second woman ever to be elected to Queensland’s parliament.
The winner will receive $1,000 to assist with their final years of education.
“Do you know a young person in Year 11 or 12 in the Jordan electorate showing leadership potential?” Ms Mullen asked on her Facebook page.
“[If so], please encourage them to apply for the Violet Jordan Leadership Award!”
Details of how to apply are in the image below.
For enquiries, contact Ms Mullen’s office on 3447 9300, or at jordan@parliament.qld.gov.au.
Students will need to answer two questions, totalling 750 words, and email Ms Mullen along with basic personal details — with permission from their parent or guardian, of course.
The Violet Jordan Leadership Award “seeks to find the next generation of leaders within the Jordan electorate,” according to application materials.
The Jordan electorate covers all of Greater Springfield except for Bellbird Park (which falls in the Bundamba electorate).
Eligible suburbs are therefore Augustine Heights, Brookwater, Camira, Springfield, Springfield Lakes, Springfield Central, and the majority of Spring Mountain. Residents in Gailes and Carole Park, as well as Greenbank, New Beith, Lyons, and Undullah, are also eligible to apply.
Ellen Violet “Vi” Jordan (1913-1982) was born in Ipswich and attended Brassall State and Ipswich Girls Grammar schools.+
After the war, Jordan joined the Australian Labor Party. She became a member of the Council of Queensland Women in 1975, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1976, and awarded the Queen’s Jubilee medal in 1977.+
See also: ‘Field’ of dreams: our city turns 30
+ Patricia Fallon, ‘Jordan, Ellen Violet (Vi) (1913–1982)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/jordan-ellen-violet-vi-12708/text22913, published first in hardcopy 2007, accessed online 28 February 2023.
