Sports administrators honoured on Australia Day

MOGGS Creek sporting administrator and judge Anne-Catherine Thompson is among many across the Geelong region to receive plaudits in the 2024 Australia Day Honours Last.

Thompson was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to modern pentathlon – a five-event Olympic sport.

Ms Thompson has been secretary/director of Sport at Modern Pentathlon Victoria since 1997 and was made a life member of the organisation in 2019.

Her previous roles at Modern Pentathlon Australia include vice-president for 10 years, and Australian director of sport and high performance manager from 2001-2013.

Ms Thompson is still a judge of international modern pentathlon, as well as the state tetrathlon coach at Pony Club Victoria.

Across the wider south-west region, there were several other honours announced today (Friday, January 26).

Long-time Geelong sports administrator and lawyer Diana Taylor was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to Australian rules football, and to the community of Geelong.

Ms Taylor has been involved in football for more than two decades and is presently vice-president of the Geelong Cats – the first woman to hold this position in the club’s history.

“Football, for me, is about people, and is about community, and about building community,” she said.

“It’s also, I believe, Australia’s greatest positive change agent.

“So you put all of those factors together, as well as the fact’s it’s the most exciting game you could possibly go and watch… I love it.”

Bernadette Uzelac was also appointed an AM for significant service to the community of the Barwon South West Region, including many leadership, board, and advisory roles across a swathe of organisations.

These include G21, Geelong Business Club, Kardinia Park Advisory Committee, Small Business Ministerial Council, Committee for Geelong, Deakin Business School and Future Proofing Geelong.

Other honourees today include:

• Port Fairy’s James Andrew MacKenzie, who was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to business, and to public administration through leadership roles
• Warrnambool’s Georgina Sarah Gubbins, who was awarded an OAM for service to primary industry, and to the community, and
• Maria Stella Cameron, of Port Fairy, who was awarded an OAM for service to veterans, and to the community.

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