Doug Biggs is probably one of the best known and most respected community workers on the Sunshine Coast for his work with Rotary and his unflagging commitment to the establishment of a Hear and Say Centre on the Sunshine Coast. The mission of the Hear and Say Centres is to enable families to teach their children, who are deaf or hard of hearing, to listen and speak. Its family focus is unique in Queensland. Recognising that parents are the natural teachers of their children, parents are encouraged and supported in teaching their children to listen and speak. The aim is to integrate the children into the hearing and speaking community and their local school at the earliest possible time. The $500 000 centre located in Nambour opened in May 2004, an achievement only possible through the outstanding support of the Sunshine Coast community. The Centre’s development was driven by the team at Nambour Rotary Club, led by Doug, who generously donated the land and sourced other supporters. The building’s construction can be attributed to the outstanding contribution by local developer Harry Reed and the Reed Property Group Charity Foundation, as well as numerous local businesses, community groups, members of government and individuals. Having a Centre based in Nambour means that Sunshine Coast based families no longer have to make the four hour round trip to Brisbane for their weekly therapy sessions. Doug’s longstanding involvement with Rotary – over 35 years – has included his presidency of the Rotary Club of Nambour, being District Governor in 1993/94 of Rotary District 9600, covering 70 clubs in South-East Queensland, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Since 1995, Doug has been an Honorary Ambassador for the Shire of Maroochy, and has been actively involved in a number of charitable organisations. He was a Patron and Fund Raising Trusts Coordinator for the Sunshine Coast Children’s Therapy Centre in Nambour for disabled children. His relationship with USC is a strong one. It was Doug who initiated talks of a partnership between the University and Rotary, which led to the establishment of the Rotary Sunshine Coast University Community Fund. In 1999, Doug became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).