Winners: Geelong’s Australia Day Honours recipients 2024
Educators, pioneers, sportsmen and women and a Geelong Cats legend are among those recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours.
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Governor-General David Hurley has announced Honours and Awards for more than 1000 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service.
Educators, pioneers, sportsmen and women and the recruiter who brought players such as Gary Ablett Snr, Billy Brownless and more to Geelong, are among those Pivotonians recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours.
Bill McMaster, Highton - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
A long-time Geelong Cats recruiter and member of the club’s record-breaking 1950s side is among those recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours.
Cyril McMaster, better known as Bill, has received an OAM for services to Australian rules football in the Barwon South West Region.
McMaster said he was surprised to receive the award, and didn’t know who nominated him.
The 93-year-old has left a long legacy at the Cattery, as a player, coach, recruiter and more.
McMaster said it was hard to choose the proudest moment of his career, as they “were so many”.
“Winning the premierships in ‘51 and ‘52, they were great days,” he said.
“I’ve recruited a couple of people who have said ‘this is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me’, which is special.”
Another highlight was coaching the Hampden League to win the interleague Country Championships over Ovens & Murray in 1966.
Hailing from Lake Bolac, McMaster fell in love with football – and the Cats – while a boarder at St Joseph’s.
As a Cat, McMaster was a dangerous forward and was a key part in the flag-winning sides of 1951-52.
The team set the record for most wins on the trot – 23.
“We were a very good side, we should have won three or four (flags),” McMaster said.
The 1951 premiership in particular – the club’s first since 1937 – was “huge”.
“We looked out from City Hall and as far as you could see there were people,” he said.
“It was tremendous, Bob Davis made a speech. He wouldn’t shut up.”
After retiring in 1954, McMaster returned to Lake Bolac as player-coach, leading the side to back-to-back flags in 1955-56, before being poached to coach Mortlake in the Hampden League.
“The day I was going to Melbourne to be married, they (Mortlake) offered me a package,” he said.
McMaster came back to the Cats as coach in 1971 before becoming a recruiter for the club in 1973.
McMaster was instrumental in bringing players such as Gary Ablett Snr, Garry Hocking and dual Brownlow Medallist Greg Williams to Geelong.
Williams, now a dual Brownlow Medallist, had twice been rejected the Blues.
Another time, McMaster travelled to see a talented young kid from Jerilderie play.
“He got a ball 60m out. He just went back and drilled it straight through the middle,” McMaster recalled.
“I ran out onto the ground and said ‘Billy (Brownless), we’ve got to get you down’.”
“He said ‘What? I barrack for Hawthorn’.”
His time in recruiting came to an end in 1994, but McMaster was still heavily involved with the club, presiding over the History and Tradition Committee and giving tours between 1994 and 2006.
Wayne Buttner, Rippleside - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
The ability to share experiences in the local community with people from all walks of life has been a particular highlight of former Geelong Advertiser general manager Wayne Buttner’s long-running media career that has seen him awarded an OAM for services to print media and the community.
Whether it has been meeting hardworking volunteers, engaging with passionate local residents, CEOs, politicians and even Geelong Cats footballers, the Rippleside resident has relished the chance to connect and help make a difference in the community.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my more than four decades in the print media across Australia and the opportunities it has provided me to support a range of community and charitable causes,” Mr Buttner said.
“I am particularly fond of my time at the Addy, as for more than 180 years it has played an important role in keeping the community informed while documenting Geelong’s history.
“I’m also proud of the part the Geelong Advertiser played during my time there – and continues to do so – in supporting local charities such as Run4Geelong, Vinnies CEO Sleepout and the Addy’s own Adopt a Family.”
Mr Buttner’s media roles have included two stints as general manager at the Addy between 2011 and 2021, and time as general manager at Community Newspapers in Perth, editor-in-chief at Leader Newspapers and editor of Australian Home Beautiful magazine.
He has also been active in the community in a range of professional organisations and supporting various sporting bodies such as the Geelong Supercats and the West Australian Olympic Council.
“While the media landscape has changed dramatically in recent years as it has moved to a digital platform, it continues to play a critical role in bringing communities together, keeping them informed and making leaders across business and government accountable,” Mr Buttner said.
“Media and the community share a unique relationship in helping ensure the best outcomes for our city and its residents.”
Mr Buttner also made mention of his satisfaction in seeing many of the young journalists he mentored during his career and as an awards judge go on to great success in the field of media and the community.
Diana Taylor, Highton - Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Joining the Cats board was a “pinch-me” moment for the club’s vice-president Diana Taylor.
“Before my interview started, Frank (Costa) placed the 2009 premiership cup in the middle of the table,” Ms Taylor recalled of the 2010 meeting.
“He said, over to you Diana.”
Now, more than a decade later, the lawyer, author and businesswoman has been recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to Australian rules football and the community of Geelong.
However, Ms Taylor’s service to football began not in Geelong, but in Williamstown, where the young lawyer put her hand up to join the Wester Region Football League’s tribunal.
“I wanted to get involved in the community and I loved footy,” she said.
“For the next five years, I was in the West Footscray YMCA on Tuesday evenings.”
From there, Ms Taylor was invited to join the board and later became the league’s president – the first female president of a metro league in Australia in 2008.
Less than two years later, she was staring at the 2009 premiership cup across a table in Point Cook.
“I couldn’t quite believe it when I was asked to join the (Cats) board by Frank Costa and Brian Cook,” Ms Taylor said.
When she became vice-president of the Cats in 2019, Ms Taylor became the first woman in the role in the club’s history.
Ms Taylor said a highlight of her time at the Cats had been the evolution of women’s football.
Outside of Geelong, Ms Taylor has been part of AFL Victoria, as the first woman on the VFL Tribunal in 2004, and as a member of the AFLW Competition Committee, the Community Football Board, the Fair Game Respect Matters Board.
She’s been the chair of Anam Cara House, Geelong’s non-profit palliative care centre, since 2016 and led the Geelong Authority – which advises the planning minister on investment in the CBD – since 2021.
Football and the city of Geelong remain Ms Taylor’s “two great loves”.
“I think Australian rules football is the greatest positive change agent we have in Australia,” Ms Taylor said.
“There’s so many people who I have worked alongside with who just give their heart and soul to this community and who continue to inspire me.”
One of those was the legendary Cats president Frank Costa, who offered Ms Taylor some advice.
“Always act in accordance with your values and never give up until the job is done.”
Ian Thomson, Grovedale - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Ian Thomson said he was “shocked” when he found out he would be awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to the community.
Receiving the gong wasn’t his aim when he signed up as a Country Fire Authority volunteer after finishing school in 1952.
“I was stunned,” Mr Thomson said.
“I burst out crying, my wife came in and looked at me and said ‘who’s died?’.”
The Grovedale resident was part of the CFA until 2008.
During that period he was also a member of a large number of other community organisations.
Mr Thomson joined the Rotary Club of Corio Bay in 1963, serving as the president between 1987-88, as well as serving in a number of other roles.
Mr Thomson has been a philanthropic supporter of the Geelong Kokoda Youth Program since 2015, a trustee of the Windmill Jelderks trust which funds scholarships at the Gordon since 2010, as well as being a member of Holy Trinity Lara with Christ Church Little River since the early 2000s.
Mr Thomson was awarded a duty of service award in 2019 for his service to the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation.
He said being able to serve his community was a “privilege.”
Dr Joan Benjamin, Highton - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Highton’s Dr Joan Benjamin was recognised for her service to tertiary education. Dr Benjamin began her career as an early childhood education teacher in 1965. In 1982, she became a lecturer at the Phillip Institute, a position she held for twelve years before joining RMIT University as a senior lecturer in 1995.
In 1999, she joined the Western Health Service as a Medical Education Officer, and in 2001 took on the same role with the Postgraduate Medica Education Council of Victoria, a role she still holds.
She has also enjoyed stints as a lecturer across three different universities, Monash (2007-2011), Deakin University (2015-17) and Melbourne University (2017-2022, 2023-).
Dr Benjamin has been the director of Northern Futures Ltd, a not for profit organisation addressing disadvantage in Geelong’s northern suburbs, since 2017, among other community and professional positions.
Bruce Wilson, Barwon Heads - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Barwon Heads’ Bruce Wilson has been recognised for his service to the community and to agricultural education.
In 1995, Mr Wilson co-founded research company Southern Farming Systems as part of a group of farmers who came together looking to diversify their income.
Mr Wilson served as the inaugural chairman of the company – which now boasts 600 members.
In 1998, Mr Wilson took home a Graduate of Excellence Award from Geelong agriculture school Marcus Oldham College and became a member of the institution’s council the next year.
Mr Wilson was a council member for over 20 years until 2021, during which time he spent five years as deputy chairman and served as chairman from 2008 until 2021.
Outside of farming, Mr Wilson has been a firefighter at Winchelsea, and remains a member of Barwon Park promoters.
Bernadette Uzelac, Geelong - Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
The former boss of Geelong’s Chamber of Commerce, Bernadette Uzelac is a familiar face throughout the city.
Now she’s one of 194 Australians being recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia.
Ms Uzelac was awarded the honour for significant service to the community of the Barwon South West Region.
Her career began as founder and managing director of People at Work, a role she held until 2010, while also managing director of Geelong EmployAbility, the company that would turn into Encompass Community Services, from 1991-95.
In 2010 she was appointed chief executive of Geelong Chamber of Commerce, a role she held until 2019.
Since 2022, Ms Uzelac has been a board recruitment specialist at Evisage HR Solutions.
But her professional roles don’t tell the whole story, as Ms Uzelac has been a part of many community organisations across the years.
She’s a trustee and chair of the Kardinia Park Advisory Committee, a trustee of Geelong Cemeteries Trust and deputy chair of La Trobe Community Trust.
Ms Uzelac is a member of the Telstra Victora Telecommunications Regional Advisory Council since 2019,
She was a member and chairwoman of the Victorian government’s Small Business Ministerial Council from 2016-21, and chair of the Geelong Tech School Committee from 2017-2021.
Ms Uzelac has sat on many boards and advisory boards, been founding director of the Committee for Geelong and ambassador for many other groups.
In 2010, she received an Outstanding Woman of Achievement Award for Zonta Club of Geelong.
John Bligh, Norlane - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
North Shore hall of famer John Bligh has been recognised for his service to Australian rules football.
The Seagull legend has been involved in local footy since the 1960s, and is a life member both at North Shore and the Geelong & District Football League, where he was a coach between 1965 and 2001.
For decades, Bligh took on a range of roles with junior football teams at clubs including North Shore, St. Peters and Drysdale.
In the 1980s, Bligh was president of North Shore, at a time when the club won premierships in 1980, 1981 and 1983, to go with flags in the 1970s and 1990s.
In 2012, he was inducted into the Seagulls’ Hall of Fame, alongside club legends such as John Albon, Gordon Hynes and Max Evans.
Edward ‘Ted’ Pitfield, Leopold - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Edward ‘Ted’ Pitfield has been awarded an OAM for services to youth and the community.
Mr Pitfield has been involved with Scouts Victoria since the late 1960s and was the group leader of 1st Geelong from 2011-2023.
He has also been involved with the Leopold War Memorial Committee, Geelong Try Boys Brigade and other community organisations.
Cathryn Nixon, St Leonards - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Cathy Nixon, of St Leonards, has been recognised for service to choral music, and to conservation and the environment.
Ms Nixon trained as a music teacher in the 1980s, and in 1991 founded the Brunswick Women’s Choir.
The choir is, according to its website, a collective of women who are “passionate about social justice and believe music has the power to unite, inspire and foster change”.
Ms Nixon has led the choir from its inception as artistic director, and in 2002 took home the Vida Goldstein Award for Women in the Arts in Victoria.
Professionally, Ms Nixon works at Werribee Open Range Zoo as the park’s general manager of visitor experience.
Between 1995-2011, Ms Nixon was co-chief executive officer at the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies.
David Greenwood, Geelong - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
A mainstay of Geelong’s theatre scene, David Greenwood is among this year’s Australia Day Honours for his service to the performing arts and to business.
Mr Greenwood combined these two pursuits when he founded CentreStage Performing Arts Academy in 2010.
CentreStage, where Mr Greenwood continues to lead as managing director, now boasts being “Australia’s largest amateur musical theatre company”.
Mr Greenwood has also been an ensemble member and supporter of Geelong Lyric Theatre Society since 2019.
Professionally, Mr Greenwood has occupied a number of roles in sales and marketing, working for brands including Cotton On, Abercrombie and Fitch as well as in the public sector for the NDIS and Victorian government.
Along the way, Mr Greenwood has taken home the Victorian Music Theatre Guild’s Edith Harrhy Award for outstanding service to the musical theatre, in 2019 – the same year he took home a Geelong Business Excellence Award.
In 2008, Mr Greenwood was named Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, a year after he was named Youth Business Person of the Year in 2007.
Dawn McDonald, Barwon Heads - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
A passionate golfer, Barwon Heads Dawn McDonald is among this year’s recipients of Australia Day Honours for her services to golf and the community.
For 12 years Mrs McDonald played golf for Victoria and Australia, as a member of the junior state team, the state team and the Australia team that competed for the Tasman Cup from 1959-1964.
In 1976, Mrs McDonald became a council member of the Victorian Ladies’ Golf Union.
Back on the Bellarine, Mrs McDonald has been a member of the Barwon Heads Golf Club since 1966 and in 2022 was made a life member.
She has been Women’s Club Champion five times, in 1985, 1986, 1993, 2007 and 2014.
Mrs McDonald is not just a player, in 2014 she was awarded Golf Victoria’s Volunteer of the Year, and gave up her time for the Vic Open between 2013 and 2018.
From 1990-2014, she volunteered at school holiday golf clinics for kids, and was a volunteer for Golf Victoria’s rating and handicapping team from the 1970s until 2010.
Outside of golf, Mrs McDonald has been board director of Ballarat and queen’s Anglican Grammar School between 1986-1992, and was life governor in 1997.
She’s been heavily involved in community activities in Meredith; being a member of the Village Project Committee for 23 years, the Community Centre Committee for 48 years, and the Newsletter Committee for 53 years.
She’s a former trustee and secretary of the Meredith Cemetery Trust and has been Church Organist at St Joseph’s Parish of Merdith since 1996, and in the 1970s she was a foundation member and volunteer at Meredith Kindergarten.
Mrs McDonald has also volunteered her time as a piano and organ player at the Anglican and Catholic Church, and Bannockburn Nursing Home from the 1960s until last year.
Anne-Catherine Thompson, Moggs Creek - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Moggs Creek’s Anne-Catherine Thompson knows a thing or two about Modern Pentathlon.
Inspired by a sport held in ancient Greece, modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport comprising of fencing, swimming, showjumping on a horse, shooting and cross-country running
Mrs Thompson has been the secretary and director of sport at Modern Pentathlon Victoria for more than 25 years, and a life member of the organisation since 2019.
For a decade between 2003 and 2013, Ms Thompson was vice-president of Modern Pentathlon Australia.
Between 2001 and 2013, she was a director of sport and high performance manager.
Currently, she’s an international judge of the sport, the state’s tetrathlon coach and a chairman on state and national Pony Club Tetrathlon Discipline committees.
The late Emeritus Professor William Sawyer, Point Lonsdale - Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
University of Melbourne professor William Sawyer died in August, but has been posthumously recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours.
Professor Sawyer has been entered into the Order of Australia as a member (AM), for significant service to tertiary education and to biochemistry.
His career began as a lecturer at the University of Melbourne in 1968. By 1973, Professor Saywer was a senior lecturer, and in 1991 he was awarded a personal chair. A renowned figure at the university, he was an emeritus professor of biochemistry and pharmacology and had the university’s Sawyer Medal named in his honour.
Professor Sawyer has represented Australia at the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and was president of the Australian Society for Biophysics from 1986-88.
Between 2002-3, he was executive director of the Australian Research Council’s Biological Science and Biotechnology Program.
Professor Sawyer has occupied numerous other roles and been cited in more than 300 journals in fluorescence spectrometry.
In 1980 he received the University of Melbourne’s David Syme Research Prize and in 2022, he received a Lemberg Medal from the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Originally published as Winners: Geelong’s Australia Day Honours recipients 2024
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