Police officer named Queenslander of the Year

Police Sergeant Jim Bellos has been named the 2009 Suncorp Queenslander of the Year.

Premier Anna Bligh presented the award to Sergeant Bellos, the Regional Cross Cultural Liaison Officer from the Queensland Police's Metropolitan South Region.

'In a region with an increasing number of new residents, speaking over 150 different languages and practising over 130 different faiths, Sergeant Bellos has built trust, understanding and harmony between the communities and the police,' Premier Bligh said.

Sergeant Bellos established the award-winning youth sporting program For the Love of the Game. The program encourages interaction and understanding for more than 6000 youths from many different backgrounds.

Since the formulation of this program there has been a noted decrease in youth crime in the region.

Sergeant Bellos has gained the respect and trust of local community leaders and residents.

He has received three national and state awards for his youth sporting program, and six national and state awards for his own outstanding contribution.

The Suncorp Young Queenslander of the Year is 25-year-old Chui-Hing Chan. Chui-Hing is the Vice Chairman of the Australian Chinese Chamber of Business.

The Suncorp Community Spirit Award went to Heather Nancarrow, the Director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic Violence and Family Violence Research, Central Queensland University.

Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009

Last updated: 22 July, 2009

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