Ceremony celebrates Order of Australia recipients

Geelong’s Order of Australia recipients have been presented with their medallions in-person at a civic reception for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic.

Mayor Stephanie Asher handed out the medals to the beaming group of local community members who were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Greater Geelong community.

Cr Asher said those in the room represented many different fields, including community service, veterans’ affairs, the arts, sport, health and medicine.

“The 23 recipients have demonstrated qualities of dedication, generosity and passion for their respective areas of interest and I thank them for making Greater Geelong a better place,” she said.

“These community members are all very deserving of the honours they’ve received, and I have no doubt that their efforts have inspired others to strive for the best in their own endeavours.”

Those who received honours this year were:

Pete Johnston OAM – Awarded for service to veterans
Barry Abley OAM – Awarded for service to the community of Geelong
Brian Edward OAM – Awarded for service to the community of Geelong
Janet Synot OAM – Awarded for service to the arts, to the community, and to badminton
Elaine Mitchell OAM – Awarded for service to the performing arts
Donna Rae-Szalinski OAM – Awarded for service to cycling
Alan Joyce OAM – Awarded for service to surf lifesaving, and to the community
Alistair McCooke OAM – Awarded for service to surf lifesaving
Professor Debra Nestel AM – Awarded for significant service to medical education through simulated teaching methods
Professor Peter Gates OAM – Awarded for service to neurology
Douglas Whan OAM – Awarded for service to the community through the church
Rosanne King OAM – Awarded for service to sports administration
Warren Hewitt OAM – Awarded for service to community health through welfare support groups
Lisa Kingman McGlinchey OAM – Awarded for service to business and community engagement initiatives
Norman Houghton OAM – Awarded for service to community history
David Morgan OAM – Awarded for service to the wool industry
Gary Tomlins OAM – Awarded for service to marine rescue organisations, and to the community
Jennifer Walsh OAM (Honorary) – Awarded for service to community health, particularly to palliative care
Alistair Urquhart OAM – Awarded for service to people with a disability through employment initiatives
Professor Felice Jacka OAM (absent) – Awarded for service to nutritional psychiatry research
Jeffrey Stewart OAM (absent) – Awarded for service to the community of Drysdale
Philip Emery OAM (absent) – Awarded for service to the community of Greater Geelong, and
Raymond Weston OAM (absent) – Awarded for service to youth, and to emergency response organisations.

Cr Anthony Aitken, chair of the Citizenship and Community Engagement portfolio, congratulated the OAM recipients who he said came from many different backgrounds and had been selfless in helping thousands of people.

“This group has certainly made an impact on the lives of the people they’ve come into contact with, and in doing that, they’ve enriched our community,” Cr Aitken said.

Councillors Jim Mason and Ron Nelson were also in attendance to celebrate the occasion.