As part of the 2024 Australia Day Award Ceremony, former Burdekin local, Terri Bradon, was honorably presented with a Medal of the Order of Australia. An award of great prestige, the medal stands to recognise outstanding achievement and service, and Terri has been celebrated for her contributions to the arts in regional Queensland.
When Terri began her journey in the world of the performing arts, she never contemplated the possibility of being presented an award as prestigious as an Order of Australia Medal, yet she feels it’s the perfect way to recognise and honor the work of her mentors and all the influential people who have led her to where she is today.
“It’s a big achievement for everyone involved with the whole company, and I suppose I’m representing the work of a lot of people who have made this happen and all the people in my life that I could not live without,” expressed Terri.
Throughout Terri’s secondary education at Ayr State High School, with the encouragement of dedicated staff and her parents, she found joy in participating in school musicals and the annual Interschool Drama Festival. She often spent her spare time developing small plays where she would cast her friends to act them out.
“It’s funny because when I look at my parents I think, here are two people who were not involved in the arts, and one out of all of their kids just decided she was going to follow this path, but they were so trusting, supportive, and happy that I was having a go and I’m so grateful for them, and I love that I have made them proud,” expressed Terri.
Following graduation, Terri enrolled in James Cook University to pursue a degree in drama, and her passion for the stage continued to flourish throughout her studies with the support of her respected mentor, Jean-Pierre Voos. After completing her tertiary studies, Terri moved to pursue her career in Melbourne, however, following the passing of Jean-Pierre Voos in 2008, Terri found herself drawn to return to the region continue his legacy.
“Jean-Pierre Voos started Townsville’s Shakespear Under the Stars, which is where I first truly feel in love with the work of Shakespear and got my start in theatre,” explained Terri.
“At the time of his passing, I was working for the Australian Shakespeare Company in Melbourne, and because of him, that’s where my life had taken me, and I just felt so passionate about the event staying in honor of Jean-Pierre, and for the little Terri Bradons who might be like me, see one show and go that’s what I want to do.”
With drama education facilities closing their doors, Terri took it upon herself to create opportunities to continue fostering the love of theatre. Her love for the arts turned into determination to keep the industry afloat in regional Queensland and further prompted her to co-found various institutions including the Bridge Project, and TheatreiNQ.
“Being awarded with an Order of Australia Medal to me certainly feels that we’re making a difference and that has been our motto at TheatreiNQ; do something in our lifetime to make a difference, and I think that it’s quite remarkable this award is recognising regional arts,” expressed Terri.
“The outpouring of support and love has been really overwhelming, and the people who have been a part of my whole career are so proud and I just feel so grateful and so lucky that this is my life.”
