King’s Birthday Honours List revealed

SEVERAL people from across the Geelong region have been recognised for their achievements and hard work in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List.

Tomorrow (Monday, June 12), Governor-General David Hurley will announce 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.

The highest recipient in the Geelong region is Fairhaven resident Dr Raymond J. Adams, who was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to education and psychometric testing.

Local awardees of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) are:

• Leslie Kelly, of Lara, for service to the community through emergency response organisations
• Margaret Markovic, of Lara, for service to road trauma, and safety initiatives
• Ian Caldwell, of Belmont, for service to cricket, and to professional organisations
• Ian Graham, of Grovedale, for service to the community through a range of roles
• Dr Liz Lester, of Highton, for service to the community through a range of organisations
• Sylvia Stewart-Muir, of Thomson, for service to the Indigenous community of Victoria
• Dr Margaret Grigg, of Geelong, for service to mental health through a range of roles
• Rieny Nieuwenhof, of Portarlington, for service to veterans and their families, and to the community
• Cr Rose Hodge, of Jan Juc, for service to local government, and to the community
• Lorraine Griffiths, of Lorne, for service to children as a foster carer
• Allan Holmes, of Apollo Bay, for service to the community through a range of organisations, and
• Gordon Hynes, of Kawarren, for service to Australian rules football.

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.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia.

If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at gg.gov.au