Statisticians and scholars, academics and advocates, Paralympians and public servants are among the Canberrans recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours.

Nationwide, 1,040 Australians received gongs, including awards in the Order of Australia, meritorious awards, and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service in the Australian Defence Force.

“Congratulations to the outstanding Australians recognised in today’s Honours List,” said Governor-General David Hurley. “It has been a challenging couple of years, and the recipients announced today are a reminder and reflection of the richness of spirit, selflessness, and good in our community.”

The recipients’ achievements span community service, science and research, industry, sport, and the arts, the Governor-General noted.

Across Australia, 732 people received awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia – 47 per cent for women (the highest ever percentage) and 45 per cent for service to local communities.

Thirty people received awards in the Military Division of the Order of Australia; 197 received meritorious awards; and 81 received Distinguished and Conspicuous Awards. Among them were 58 Australians recognised for their contribution in support of Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ACT recipients included:

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

• Dr David William Gruen. Chief Statistician of the Australian Bureau of Statistics; formerly with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Australian Treasury, and the Reserve Bank of Australia. “For distinguished service to public administration, to economic research, to business, and to education.”

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

• Allan Anforth. Barrister, Supreme Court of ACT, NT and the High Court; Senior Member of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal; Honorary Ambassador of the ACT. “For significant service to the law, to social welfare, and to education.”
• Mrs Dewani Bakkum. Chief Executive Officer of Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services Australia; ACT representative and former chair of the Settlement Council of Australia. “For significant service to migrant and refugee services, and to the community.”
• Professor Amanda Barnard. Senior Professor of Computational Science, ANU; former chief research scientist at CSIRO. “For significant service to computational science, to medical research, and to education.”
• Meredith Maxwell Hinchliffe. Patron of Canberra Museum and Gallery; donor to the National Gallery and National Museum; former director of Crafts Council ACT and former president of Ausdance ACT. “For significant service to the arts through a range of roles and organisations.”
• Professor John Duncan Love (deceased). FormerEmeritus Professorat the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering, and founder of the Photonics Program. “For significant service to tertiary education, particularly physics.”
• Dianne Lucas. Former chair of the ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service, president of ACTCOSS, and co-ordinator of the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre. “For significant service to women through sexual assault, domestic and family violence support organisations.”
• Peter McGrath. Formerchair and director of Australian Rugby Union (now Rugby Australia), council member of the International Rugby Board (now World Rugby), and chair and director of the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union (Brumbies Rugby); former deputy chair of the Canberra Institute of Technology, and director of Daramalan College. “For significant service to rugby union as an administrator, and to tertiary education.”
• Jennifer Margery Morison. Financialconsultant and chartered accountant; chair of Commonwealth and ACT government agencies. “For significant service to business in the field of accountancy, and to professional associations.”
• Susan Margaret Salthouse (deceased). Formerpresidentof Women with Disabilities Australia, chair of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network and the Communications Alliance Disability Council; former ACT Senior Australian of the Year, Canberra Citizen of the Year, Senior Woman of the Year. “For significant service as an advocate for people with disability, and to the prevention of family violence.”
• David Jon Williams. Founder and coach ofthe ACT Down Syndrome Association’s Confident Speakers Program; Special Olympics Greater Canberra Club trainer and mentor; president of the Australian Society for Knowledge Management. “For significant service to people with disability, and to education.”

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

• Colonel Ian Francis Ahearn (retired). Chair of theRoyal Australian Artillery Historical Company. “For service to veterans.”
• Kerry Marie Allen (deceased). Formerpresident of the Kodaly Music Association; co-founder of the Orff Music Institute; conductor and music teacher. “For service to the arts through music education.”
• Dr Christine Elizabeth Biggs. Ambassador’s spouse in Tehran, Ankara, Riyadh. “For service to the international community through diplomatic service.”
• Margaret Helen Burns. “For service to the community of Lithgow” [NSW].
• Bonnie Jennifer Carter. Fundraiser for the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, Canberra Hospital Foundation; for Lifeline Canberra; and for Bears of Hope. ACT representative, Red Nose National Community Advisory Committee. Organiser, Canberra landmarks illumination for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. “For service to community health.”
• Margaret Rita Eichholzer. Former manager of the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.“For service to education.”
• Martin Fisk. Chief Executive Officer of Menslink; founding director of Fearless Women Inc. “For service to the community through social welfare organisations.”
• Lynn Joan Fletcher. Secretary of theNational Centre for Australian Children’s Literature; former president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Canberra Branch. “For service to the arts through children’s literature.”
• Deepak-Raj Gupta. FormerLabor MLA; patron and founding president of the Canberra India Council; board member of the Australia India Business Council. “For service to the community of Canberra.”
• Anne Haycock. Tennis ACT, Tennis Seniors Australia, Belconnen Tennis Club. “For service to tennis.”
• Alan Frederick Jessop. SalvationArmy – ACT Branch fundraising collector, Canberra Centre, 1998–2020. “For service to the community through charitable organisations.”
• Julie Kulikowski. Former social worker and bereavement counsellor at Clare Holland House and Canberra Hospital; president, Friends of Vietnam Orphanages. “For service to community health.”
• Dr Milton Lewis. Historian of medicine and public health;formerly Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney. “For service to community health.”
• Vanessa Low. Goldmedallistand Olympic champion, women’s long jump T63, Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020. “For service to sport as a gold medallist at the Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020.”
• Caroline Fiona Stacey. Chief ExecutiveOfficer and Artistic Director of the Street Theatre. “For service to the performing arts through administrative roles.”
• Mark Vergano. General manager of the Canberra Region and Community Rugby League; president of the ANU Cricket Club; radio sports contributor; former deputy chairman of ACTSport and CEO of Cricket ACT. “For service to sport as an administrator.”
• Peter Michael White, OBE. Executive director at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority; management, intelligence, and public service. “For service to public administration.”

Meritorious

Public Service Medal – Federal

• James Victor Baxter. FAS, Office of Trade Negotiations, DFAT. “For outstanding public service as Australia’s chief negotiator for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Free Trade Agreement.”
• Michelle Frances Baxter. Chief Executive Officer of Safe Work Australia. “For outstanding public service to the health and safety of Australian workplaces and the community, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
• Caragh Maria Cassoni. Director of the Aged Care COVID-19 Liaison Section, March to December 2020. “For outstanding public service through leadership in the Australian Government’s response to COVID-19, particularly in residential aged care.”
• Kylie Maree Crane. “For outstanding public service through contributions to the Disability Taskforce, and to the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package, during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
• Paul Jason Creech. General Manager, Health Programmes Division at Service Australia. “For outstanding public service to community health, particularly through ensuring access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
• Tracey Creech. Branch Manager of the National Redress Scheme at the Department of Social Services. “For outstanding public service in establishing survivor-focussed support services for the National Redress Scheme and for guiding instrumental improvements.”
• Kim Ann Crimmins. Family Investigative Liaison Officer, Coordination Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations in the Australian Federal Police. “For outstanding public service through support for victims of crime and Australians impacted by disaster.”
• Justine Curnow. Former Assistant Secretary of the Arts COVID Response Taskforce at the Office for the Arts. “For outstanding public service in leading the assistance package to sustain and revive the arts and entertainment sectors through the COVID-19 pandemic.”
• Bronwyn Louise Field. First Assistant Secretary (FAS) at the Department of Health. “For outstanding public service managing national collaboration to ensure hospital capacity and industry viability, and a leading role in the return of Australians from overseas.”
• Travis William Haslam. Medical Benefits Division Policy and Specialist Services Branch at the Department of Health. “For outstanding public service managing the National Medical Stockpile particularly in ensuring sufficient PPE for Australian health care workers.”
• Dr Stephanie Elizabeth Hodson CSC. Open Arms – Veteran & Families Counselling. “For outstanding public service through the provision of mental health counselling services to the veteran community.”
• Vanessa Jane Holben. FAS, Emergency Management and Coordination, National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) Division at the Department of Home Affairs. “For outstanding public service through leadership of the NCM as part of the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
• Alice Ruth Linacre. Chief Counsel and FAS, Legal Division at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. “For outstanding public service in the provision and management of legal services and resources to support the Government’s response to critical events, including the COVID-19 pandemic.”
• David Anthony Luchetti. General Manager, Vaccine Manufacturing Taskforce at the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. “For outstanding public service to science and industry policy in Australia, particularly in the Square Kilometre Array project.”
• Ivan Roger Neville. Labour market and economic policy expert. “For outstanding public service in improving labour market policies and responsiveness to labour market developments, particularly to address unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery.”
• Kathryn Louise Paton. Branch Manager of the Department of Social Services COVID-19 Taskforce. “For outstanding public service through developing the policy and processes that enabled critical income support payments to Australians impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.”
• John William Shepherd. General Manager, Industry Statistics Division at the Australian Bureau of Statistics. “For outstanding public service through the development, design and implementation of the Single Touch Payroll program.”
• Christopher Hayden Teal. Establishedthe Foreign Interference Threat Assessment Centre and the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce; led the University Foreign Interference Taskforce. “For outstanding public service in developing and establishing globally recognised best practice guidelines to counter foreign interference in the Australian university sector.”

Public Service Medal – ACT

• Sara White Burns. Led theIntergovernmental Relations Team; led the ACT Cabinet Office.“For outstanding public service, in particular to improving cross border governance and the modernisation of cabinet processes.”
• Mary Louise Toohey. Former Parliamentary Counsel for the ACT Government. “For outstanding public service to law reform in the ACT and supporting the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Canberra Daily would love to hear from you about a story idea in the Canberra and surrounding region. Click here to submit a news tip.