Community and professional work recognised in Australia Day honours

A HIGH-profile advocate for the Ballarat Botanic Gardens, a military identity and a cybersecurity expert have been recognised in the 2026 Australia Day honours list.

Elizabeth Gilfillan has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her years of community service, while Neil Leckie and Paul Watters have received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for their service to veterans and the community and to tertiary education respectively.

Ms Gilfillan is among 160 AM recipients around the nation and Mr Leckie and Dr Watters are among 472 on the OAM list.

The 2026 honours list includes 680 awards recipients – 10 Companions of the Order of Australia (AC), 38 Officers of the Order of Australia (AO), the 160 AM members and the 472 medal recipients.

Mrs Gilfillan, a noted garden lover and active community worker, said she was honoured but overwhelmed about such high-level recognition, which was awarded because of her “significant” service to the community.

A trained nurse who specialised in pediatrics, Mrs Gilfillan said her professional work inspired her passion for community involvement.

“I think it’s very important for people to be connected and part of their community; it adds tremendous value to our lives,” she said.

“Healthy communities make healthy people.”

The 77-year-old’s long list of activities and involvements includes the Australian Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens, the Ballarat Botanic Gardens Foundation, the gardens committee, the Friends of the Ballarat Botanic Gardens, and the Ballarat Friends’ Art Group.

 

She has also been involved with the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, the Anglican Church Buninyong, the Australian Red Cross and the Ballarat Pony Club, among others.

“I would encourage anyone to take part in their community,” Mrs Gilfillan said. “It’s a very enriching experience.”

Mrs Gilfillan paid tribute to her husband of 57 years, Tim, who she said had always been very supportive of her community work.

Mr Leckie, meanwhile, is well known in Ballarat for his military-related activities and his involvement in various community groups.

His connections include the Officer Training Unit Association, the Ballarat Ranger Military Museum, the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia Ballarat sub-branch, the Royal Victoria Regiment Association, the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute.

The former Army Reservist who attained the rank of major was a volunteer firefighter and held various other positions with the Clunes CFA brigade, has been a cricket umpire, and has written several military history publications.

He has already received several awards and official recognitions, and became a life member of the CFA in 2022.

 

 

He is a battlefield tour guide for sites in Gallipoli and the Western Front, and has been a communications officer for CFA Region 15 since 2012.

Dr Watters received his medal for services to tertiary education and specialises in cybersecurity.

He has been an honorary professor in security studies and criminology at Macquarie University since 2020 and founded its Cybercrime Research Laboratory in 2004.

Dr Watters was an adjunct professor in cybersecurity at La Trobe University between 2020 and 2023 and was leader of its Cybersecurity Group from 2017 to 2020.

His numerous other positions and achievements include roles at Massey University in New Zealand, Federation University, the University of Newcastle, University College London and Unitec in New Zealand.

Dr Watters is also the creator of the 100-point cyber check.

His publications include Counterintelligence in a Cyber World and Cybercrime and Cybersecurity (both in 2023).

All recipients will receive their awards in a ceremony at Government House in Melbourne later in the year.