More than 30 ACT residents, around half of whom are women, including Ngunnawal traditional elder Dr Caroline Hughes, have been recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list in the Order of Australia awards, and another 30-plus in the meritorious awards.
The Governor-General today announced Honours and Awards for 1,191 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service.
“Congratulations to the outstanding Australians recognised in today’s Honours List. Recipients have made substantial contributions and had a significant impact at the local, national or international level. Some are volunteers, others have had a remarkable impact in professional roles – many have done both. They are all inspiring and their service is valued by us all,” the Governor-General said in a statement.
“Learning about the wide-ranging service of recipients, which spans almost every field of endeavour imaginable, is uplifting and makes me enormously optimistic for our country. Collectively, they speak to who we are now and who we can be in the future.”
Notably, for the first time since the Order of Australia was established in 1975, the majority of recipients in the General Division are women. Similarly, there is gender parity or better at the three highest levels in the Order.
“While we can take a moment to acknowledge the significance of achieving gender parity in our Honours, it should not be a cause to pause. We reflect on our progress, and then recommit our efforts to ensure nominations reflect our diverse and strong community,” the Governor-General said.
“Each recipient has something in common: someone nominated them. The Order of Australia belongs to each of us because nominations come from the community. In honouring today’s recipients, I also encourage all Australians to consider nominating someone they admire who has had a significant impact in the community.”
In addition to the 919 recipients of awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia (6 AC, 46 AO, 246 AM and 621 OAM), today’s Honours list includes:
- 19 recipients of awards in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (3 AO, 11 AM and 5 OAM)
- 199 Meritorious awards
- 54 Distinguished and Conspicuous service decorations.
This list also includes 73 Australians recognised for their contribution in support of Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These individuals will also be included in an ongoing and permanent COVID-19 Honour roll.
Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at www.gg.gov.au.
ACT recipients on King’s Birthday honours list
Among the ACT residents recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list are:
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
Dr Marianne Horak, for distinguished service to entomology, to taxonomic and phylogenetic research, and to philanthropic endeavours.
Ms Rosemary Therese Huxtable PSM, Ainslie, for distinguished service to public administration through leadership roles in the areas of health and finance, and to strategic policy reform.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Professor Emerita Berwyn Clayton, Waramanga, for significant service to the vocational education and training sector.
Mrs Caroline Hughes, for significant service to the Indigenous community of Canberra.
Dr David Charles Hughes, for significant service to sports medicine as an administrator and elite athlete physician.
Dr John Thomas Kirk, O’Connor, for significant service to oenology, and to professional associations.
Ms Jill McIntosh, Charnwood, for significant service to netball, particularly as a coach at the national and international level.
Ms Margery Anne Nicoll, for significant service to the law, and to the legal profession.
Mr Peter James Strong, Turner, for significant service to the small business sector, and to the community.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Mrs Gillian Bailey-Graham, Forrest, for service to the performing arts, particularly through music.
Mr Ebenezer Banful, Curtin, for service to the African community and to health.
Mrs Catherine Margaret Bohm, for service to the community, particularly through the church.
Mr Lesley Martin Bohm, Red Hill, for service to the community, particularly through the church.
Mr Barry Leonard Campton, Deakin, for service to veterans and their families.
Mr Robert Peter Clynes, Yarralumla, for service to the law and to the legal profession.
Mr John Joseph Crotty, for service to taxation reform.
Dr Sunita Siddhu Dhindsa, for service to the Indian community of the ACT.
Mrs Jaishri Patricia Falcetta, for service to the community through social welfare organisations.
Dr Fergus William Gardiner, Flynn, for service to medicine.
Ms Penelope Jane Grist, Curtin, for service to community history and to the arts.
Mr Mainul Haque, Nicholls, for service to the multicultural community of Canberra.
Mrs Elizabeth Harrison Harding, Marson, for service to youth.
Dr Stephen James Jamieson, for service to medicine through a range of roles.
Mr Barrington Frederick Jarman, Gordon, for service to Australia-Japan relations.
Mr David Bruce Kerr, Stirling, for service to conservation and the environment.
Mrs Beverley Leahy, Lyons, for service to the community of Canberra.
Mr Geoffrey Lewis Moore, for service to athletics.
Mrs Belinda Jane Moss, Deakin, for service to education.
Mrs Heidi Joy Prowse, Higgins, for service to community health.
Mrs Nishi Puri, Denman Prospect, for service to the Indian community of Canberra.
Mr Muhammed SadarudDean Saku Khan, North Lyneham, for service to the community and to interfaith relations.
Mrs Margaret Larraine Shadforth Nicholls, Deakin, for service to women and to the community.
Mr Arun Venkatesha, Gowrie, for service to the Indian community of Canberra.
PSM – Commonwealth Public Service: Mr Graham Roy Archer, Ms Amanda-Lee Charlton, Ms Sarah Jane Chidgey, Ms Greta Elizabeth Doherty, Ms Justine Elizabeth Greig, Ms Margaret Ann Hayes, Mr Dac Huan Ho, Ms Elspeth Sarah Kay, Ms Virginia Leitch, Mr Grant Lovelock, Mr Gerard David Martin, Ms Melissa Jane Rayan, Mr Robert Barry Ryan, Dr Andrew John Stevenson, Ms Cathy Anne Toze.
PSM – ACT Public Service: Ms Bobby Antonious, Mrs Vanessa Lee Hoban, Mrs Lana Carol Junakovic, Mr Daniel James Lalor, Mr David Andrew Matthews, Ms Stacey Narelle Matthews, Ms Margaret Anne McManus, Mrs Melissa Kate O’Brien, Mr Joshua Leonard Rynehart, Mr Ajay Sharma, Ms Emily Springett, Mr Howard Douglas Wren ASM (Jerrabomberra).
AFSM: ACT Fire and Rescue – Mr Glenn Cameron Brewer (Jerrabomberra); ACT Rural Fire Service – Mr Anthony Hill.
ASM: ACT Ambulance Service – Ms Michelle Maree Blewitt BM.
ESM: SES ACT – Mrs Marlana Elizabeth Butters; ACT ESA – Mr Jason Jones.
ACM: ACT Corrective Services – Mrs Daniella Posavec.
Nearby neighbours
Across the border, Ms Hiroe Swen of Queanbeyan was awarded an AM for significant service to ceramic art as a teacher and an artist. Former Mayor of Yass Valley, Ms Rowena Alisa Abbey of Yass, was awarded an OAM for service to local government, and to the community of Yass. Mrs Susan Ruth Owen of Murrumbateman was awarded an OAM for service to community health.
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