Dedicated Bellarine locals recognised in the 2026 Australia Day Honours

PORTARLINGTON local Dr Gillian Miles has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her outstanding service to transport and infrastructure.

Dr Miles said she feels deeply humbled by the honour.

“I feel really honoured to be recognised by peers and community because for me it’s a real privilege to have spent my career in the service of delivering transport and infrastructure both for now and for the future,” she said.

“For me, transport and infrastructure are fundamental things that most people need to use in their everyday lives.”

Having worked across multiple senior roles in government and industry, Dr Miles said one of her proudest achievements was establishing the National Women in Transport network.

The network was designed to connect and promote women across the industry, making it easier to highlight female voices in the field.

“It’s just grown and grown and is a fantastic resource – it’s really simple but people use it all the time now,” Dr Miles said.

Since its inception, Dr Miles has seen strong improvement in women’s representation.

“There has been a lot of change over the past decade in this country to give space for women to step in, both at a really practical level on work sites… but also in the design world of how transport operates.”

 

 

Though she has stepped away from transport roles at times, Dr Miles admits it’s a field she can never quite leave behind.

“It’s just one of those systems that you just can’t get away from because it’s so complex and it’s so important to get it right,” she said.

To young professionals, especially women entering the sector, she offers reassurance that there are countless opportunities to learn and grow. She also credited her success to the many mentors and employers who supported her.

Living in Portarlington, she said, has also given her a strong appreciation of regional connectivity – from ferry services to Melbourne to regional transport links – and a deeper understanding of how vital good infrastructure is for communities.

“It’s also a beautiful place to live, I love it,” she said.

Looking ahead, Dr Miles said she hopes to continue contributing to the sector for as long as she can serve it well.

“I want to continue as long as I’m making a difference and adding value to the future systems in our transport and infrastructure world,” she said.

To celebrate, Dr Miles plans to gather the women in her family to toast a glass of champagne.

 

 

Drysdale resident Richard Trigg has also been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his dedicated service to youth and the community.

“I didn’t believe it to start with,” he said. “I thought maybe it was a scam email… but I was just stunned.”

“I do stuff because I like volunteering and my reward is seeing the benefits of that volunteering.”

A commander with the Australian Navy Cadets, who he has been with since 1992, Mr Trigg has devoted decades to training young people in leadership and maritime skills.

“My sons aged out at 18 and I kept going – and I’m still going,” he said.

To see the young cadets “mature and grow up through those years”, he said, is a “great thrill”.

Leopold’s John Womersley, who was awarded an OAM in 1978, has today also been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to archery as an officiator and administrator.