Australia Day honours 2025: Sydney residents recognised
While some call it “immensely humbling”, others have joked about thinking “which bastard has put me on here”. Meet Sydney’s local legends recognised on Australia Day.
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From Scrabble legends to sports advocates, frontline workers, researchers, pioneering pollies and more – Sydneysiders who go above and beyond have been honoured in the Australia Day honours list.
They may not be widely known, but they are everyday heroes who have been recognised for their selfless services to the community.
We take a look at this year’s recipients across the Harbour City.
NORTHERN BEACHES
Dr Cameron Bell – AM
For service to medicine
During his decades of service to gastroenterology medicine as a clinician and administrator, Royal North Shore Hospital’s Dr Bell has been a passionate and vocal advocate for people to get their bowel’s checked regularly to help detect and treat cancer.
Dr Bell, who has been the hospital’s director of endoscopy and a senior staff specialist since 1994, has been a doctor more than 40 years after graduating from Sydney University.
As well as now being a senior lecturer and student supervisor in medicine, he is – among other things – a gastroenterology consultant at North Shore Private and Southern Highlands Private hospitals.
He has been the leader of the National Endoscopy Training Initiative since 2009 and is a former chair of Bowel Cancer Australia and a member of the Clinical Advisory Group, for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program since 2014.
Dr Bell also had senior roles with Cancer Council Australia.
Deborah Killelea – AM
For service to the community through charitable organisations
The former nurse, and now philanthropist, is the co-founder of two important charities dedicated to the welfare of children, especially Aboriginal kids and children with physical disabilities and behavioural problems.
Ms Killelea, of Newport, has been the director of The Charitable Foundation (TCF), one of Australia’s biggest private overseas aid providers, since 2002 as well as the chair of the Be Centre, a mental health charity providing Play Therapy for children aged 3-12 years.
The TCF’s website states that her “passion has always been helping children”.
Ms Killelea is also a founding member of Green Cross Australia, which “educates and empowers Australians to become more resilient to our changing environment” and is a benefactor of the Sydney Peace Foundation.
Lisa Blair – OAM
For service to sailing
Lisa Blair attracted worldwide attention in 2017 when she battled potentially deadly weather conditions to pilot her yacht “Climate Action Now” to become the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica.
The Warriewood local later went on to became the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo, non-stop and unassisted, a voyage that saw her sleep for as little as four hours a day and for 10 minutes at a time.
Ms Blair points out that the symbolic name of her vessel reflects her commitment to a sustainable future and inspires others to take action to protect the earth’s climate from further damage.
She lead the first all-female team to compete in the 2017 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 16 years. In 2019 she raced Climate Action Now in the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race with co-skipper Jackie Parry becoming the first double-handed female team to finish in the history of the race.
Other sailing records include:
— first person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around New Zealand and;
— fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted on a monohull from Sydney to Auckland.
As well as being a sailor, Ms Blair is a data assistant/collector and researcher for the Bureau of Meteorology and wrote a book “Facing Fear”.
Martin Meredith – OAM
For service to rugby league as an administrator.
This former Manly Seas Eagles first grader has been honoured for his vast array of jobs managing and promoting rugby league, and the variety of people who play it.
Mr Meredith, of Collaroy, had a number of roles with the National Rugby League including coaching and development manager, chair of the Australian Junior Kangaroos selection committee and a member of the Australian Women’s Rugby League Board.
In a stint with the NSW Rugby League, he was on its Coaching Council and Policy Committee as well as being a member of the Management Committee and working as its development officer for seen years.
Mr Meredith is also the chair of Australian Wheelchair Rugby League.
He worked with the Australian Rugby League Commission, managing a number of touring teams including the National Wheelchair Squad and the Prime Minister’s XIII team to Papua New Guinea.
Locally, Mr Meredith has had committee and coaching roles at the Narrabeen Sharks Rugby League Football Club and was a development officer at the Sea Eagles.
Peter Owens – OAM
For service to the community through the NSW Rural Fire Service
Peter Owens was a respected NSW RFS veteran who died in June last year.
He was remembered by his colleagues and friends at the Coal and Candle Rural Fire Brigade, and the wider RFS Northern Beaches community, as a being a quietly spoken man with a calm, kind and caring nature.
Mr Owens, from Terrey Hills, started with the RFS at the Coal and Candle Brigade in 1964 where he was involved from his first day as its call-out officer.
In January 1994, he was captain of Coal and Candle RFB during one of the worst NSW fire seasons in memory. He led a crew that defended the marina at Akuna Bay, which contained more than 3000 litres of fuel when it was threatened by fire.
He served the then Warringah/Pittwater District as group officer from 1996 to 2006 and group captain from 2003 to 2006.
He was later involved with the Jindabyne Task Force as the Guthega Division Commander after which he went to Canberra as Division Commander for Belconnen.
Over the years, Mr Owens sat on a number of committees including the Warringah Pittwater Councils Advisory Committee, the Rural Fire Service Association and the Volunteer Welfare Fund.
“Peter was a generous mentor, giving up his time to share his wealth of knowledge and experience with future generations of firefighters,” a colleague posted on Facebook.
Lyn Foley – OAM
For service to swimming as an official and administrator
Mrs Foley has been a long time volunteer with Swimming NSW and Swimming Metro North East.
She is a life member of the Warringah Amateur Swimming Association where she is a current co-patron and former president.
With the Warringah Aquatic Swim Club, Mrs Foley is a volunteer and a technical official. She has also been inducted into Warringah Aquatic Centre Hall of Fame and was president of the now disbanded Collaroy Women’s and Associates Swim Club.
She has a great involvement with those swimming with a disability and volunteers with Swimming NSW Multi Class events.
As a technical official, she has volunteered at school, zone and state events as well as the 2000 Olympics and Paralympics.
Bob Conroy – Australian Fire Service Medal
For distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service.
Over decades of service, Mr Conroy has made a serious and sustained contribution to bush fire control in NSW and Australia, through his influential management career in the National Parks and Wildlife Service as well as his volunteer service with the NSW RFS.
He also had a major input into the NSW Bush Fire Co-ordinating Committee and the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council.
Mr Conroy, of Bayview, joined the Coal and Candle Rural Fire Brigade in 1998 where he later served as a senior deputy captain. He recently co-authored the brigade’s history.
Mr Conroy has contributed to incident management teams and deployed to numerous fires and other incidents, including as a division commander to the USA in 2019, a strike team leader to Tasmania in 2019 and on 13 strike teams during the catastrophic 2019-20 fires.
He also provides expert advice on local risk management and mitigation planning based on his encyclopaedic memory of every major bush fire and hazard reduction activity on the northern beaches dating back to the 1950s.
Paul Kernick – Ambulance Service Medal
For distinguished service as a member of an Australian ambulance service.
Mr Kernick joined NSW Ambulance in 1986 before working in a range of roles including intensive care paramedic in the Special Casualty Access Team, swiftwater rescue operator, tactical medic, helicopter critical care paramedic, helicopter safety manager, helicopter education and training manager, and helicopter zone manager.
The Allambie Heights local is currently the senior manager of helicopter training at Bankstown Helicopter Base Training Centre.
During his career, Mr Kernick has responded to some of the most demanding, prolonged and complex wilderness patient rescues in remote and hazardous locations.
He was one of the first paramedics to respond to the 1997 Thredbo Landslide. He is deployed across NSW as a paramedic and Special Casualty Access Team member for emergencies such as bushfires, floods and landslides.
Michael Wasley – Emergency Services Medal (ESM)
For distinguished service as a member of an Australian emergency service.
Mr Wasley, of Bayview, has been a member of surf life saving for 38 years as a member of the Mona Vale Surf Life Saving Club.
He holds life membership at both the club and branch level.
At a club level, he has contributed to executive roles as the director of education, club captain and has been a consistent member of the Emergency Call Out Team assisting with after-hours incidents including rescues, CPR, missing people and other critical incidents.
Mr Wasley has been a patrol captain who has mentored young members. He started out as a nipper and has held numerous positions such as club captain, powercraft captain, junior board captain, training officer, age manager and junior carnival manager.
He has also held roles within Surf Life Saving Northern beaches including duty officer and patrol inspector.
He has Life Membership of both Mona Vale SLSC and SLS Sydney Northern Beaches.
NORTH SHORE
Stuart Clark – Australian Fire Service Medal
Mr Clark was recognised for his distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service.
The Killara resident joined the Elouera Rural Fire Brigade in 1973 and has since served as a member of the Ku-ring-gai, Killara and Hornsby Communications brigades. He served as the communications brigade captain from 2017 to 2024 and is currently the Killara brigade deputy captain and president.
Mr Clark said it was a “huge honour” to receive the recognition.
“I’ve been a member of the RFS for 53 years and I’ve worked with the most amazing people over that time,” he said.
“Whilst I’m honoured to receive it, it’s been made possible because of the wonderful people I’ve worked with and this is really a recognition of them”.
Mr Clark said his crew of volunteers has been flat out with recent jobs including responding to recent storm damage in Sydney as well as fighting fires both locally and on the state’s north coast.
Jennifer Anderson – OAM
Former Ku-ring-gai Mayor Jennifer Anderson’s contributions to the Ku-ring-gai community has led her to the Order of Australia Medal.
Along with serving three terms each as mayor and deputy mayor, she has been a patron of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter, Lindfield Community Bank and the Marian Street Theatre.
Showing a passion for a diverse range of interests, she has also been a board member of the
Ku-ring-gai Youth Development Service and Ku-ring-gai Meals on Wheels.
Her passion for community and sport has also led to her involvement with the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, Ku-ring-gai Horticultural Society, Gordon District Cricket Club and Ku-ring-gai Amateur Swimming Club.
Anderson also earned the Gem of Ku-ring-gai Award at the 2009 International Women’s Day.
Robert Jackman – OAM
Berowra’s Scrabble aficionado never thought his lunchtime activity in the late 1970s would lead him to be appointed an OAM for his service to competitive scrabble.
“I didn’t really think that it would be an area that was deserving of one,’’ he said.
“I have put a lot of effort in over the years and made it a game for everybody but I was surprised to receive the award.”
A player asked him to participate in a game during his lunchbreak at North Sydney park in 1977 and he has played competitively for more than 30 years.
With a knack for English, maths and strategy, Jackman went on to become an Australian champion in 1993 and 2003. That led him to compete in New York where competitors were treated like royalty at the world championships.
He claimed $5000 after placing second in the Asia Pacific Championships in 2000.
“I was always pretty good at spelling at school and I was always good with words,’’ the 74-year-old said.
“I think you have to remember it’s a mathematical game too and I was always pretty good at maths.
“Some would say it’s an obsession. I must have been obsessed to stay with it for 30 years but it’s a healthy interest.’’
Scrabble has delivered a lot of fine memories for the Scrabble Association NSW president. He met his wife Liz at a Scrabble club in Turramurra and has made friends from across the globe including Nigeria and Thailand while competing.
He has also built up an elect vocabulary for words such as qindarka – even though it’s only likely to be used once.
When he’s not playing, he’s writing about it and has penned books including Winning Words for Wordgame Players in 2014.
Kim Olesen – Public Service Medal
Ms Olesen was recognised for her outstanding public service to the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, particularly in responding to the Covid pandemic.
As the district Covid response lead, Ms Olesen spearheaded the comprehensive response efforts in managing the crisis effectively and helped establish the Covid vaccination centre at St George Hospital.
The North Sydney resident was also honoured for her role in mentoring future generations of nursing and midwifery staff through initiatives including development professional resources. Ms Olesen said the health response to the pandemic was a collaborative effort.
“It was a massive team effort – no matter what position you held you did your work and more than your work for an outcome that was about the protection of the community,” she said.
“So many people went above and beyond and it stretched a lot of people, but it also made us grow. I can only thank the staff because they stepped up each and every day. For me, the greatest lesson that came from that time was that even in incredibly challenging circumstances, people will pull together for a common goal.”
Phillip Cornwell – AM
Mr Cornwell was recognised for his significant service to conservation and the environment, community health and to the legal profession. The Mosman resident is the director of Bush Heritage Australia, chair of the Midlands Conservation Fund, chair of the Australian Pro Bono Centre, and a previous chair of Suicide Prevention Australia.
Mr Cornwell also has an extensive legal career, including working as a partner at Allens Lawyers.
Penny Gerstle – AM
Ms Gerstle was recognised for her significant service to human rights, community health and to people with disability. Ms Gerstle is the co-chair of Human Rights Watch Australia and the director of the Justice and Equity Centre. The Northwood resident has also worked as a volunteer and case worker for refugee support agencies and co-founded The Hand Up Foundation, which supports people experiencing poverty or needing extra assistance.
Daniel Dreyfus – OAM
Mr Dreyfus was recognised for his service to the community through charitable organisations. The Castle Cove resident is the chair and co-founding director of the Australian Stockbrokers Foundation and has an extensive career in the stockbroking sector spanning six decades.
James Rodgers – OAM
Mr Rodgers was recognised for his service to primary and secondary education and to cricket. The Lane Cove resident taught history, English and ancient languages at Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview from 1978 to 2021 and also served as the school’s deputy principal. Mr Rodgers is a coach, patron, member and former chair of the Sydney University Cricket Club and is also the club’s historian.
Sharon Williams – OAM
Ms Williams was recognised for her service to business and to the community. The Artarmon resident is the syndicate chair of The CEO Institute, a council member of the Australian British Chamber of Commerce and a fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia. Ms Williams is also a member and co-convener of The Cook Society and a previous board member of the White Knight Foundation.
EASTERN SUBURBS
Cheryl Dunn – OAM
Matraville nurse Cheryl Dunn has been recognised with an Order of the Medal of Australia for her dedication to the nursing profession. Over her 60-plus years in nursing, Mrs Dunn has worked in maternity, neonatal and palliative care, the latter of which she lectured and tutored in at the University of Sydney after obtaining a master’s degree in Health Management from the University of New England.
Mrs Dunn is still working full-time as the Assistant Director of Nursing at Prince of Wales where she has worked for 25 years, previously as the Nurse Unit Manager in the hospital’s maternity ward and as an after-hours manager prior to that.
Mrs Dunn also offered her care and expertise at several other hospitals and hospices, including Eversleigh Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospice and The Children’s Hospital Westmead.
She said during one period she worked “part-time at three different hospitals”.
The mother-of-two and grandmother-of-five said she was “extremely pleased”.
“Receiving this award is an absolute honour, especially as it’s something very dear to my heart,” she said.
“I have seen so many changes in nursing over the past 60 years, and I am blessed that I have a career I am passionate about and still enjoy working even at my age.”
Thomas Gottlieb – AO
Another Eastern suburbs health professional to make the list of awardees is Professor Thomas Gottlieb from Woollahra. He was honoured with the Order of Australia for his service to medicine as an infectious disease and microbiology specialist.
Working as The Head of Infectious Diseases at Concord Hospital since 2000, Professor Gottlieb’s professional achievements are extensive, working across the full spectrum of infectious diseases from both individual management of chronic infections to the management of outbreaks in the wider community.
Professor Gottlieb explains his particular interest is in contributing to Australian research and policies regarding antimicrobial resistance, and the societal risk of a “sleeper epidemic”, both great challenges that modern medicine must grapple with.
In being ordered an AO, Professor Gottlieb says it’s “oddly embarrassing” and “immensely humbling”.
“This is an immensely humbling honour, it is oddly embarrassing to receive acclaim for doing something that I love and am passionate about and which has been richly fulfilling,” he said.
“For me, it has been a privilege to have been on the executive, and at times president, of collaborative professional societies that maintain community and professional education, develop guidelines and drive national policy on aspects of infectious diseases and microbiology, but in particular on resistance surveillance and antibiotic stewardship.”
James Simpson – AO
James Christopher Simpson was recognised through his advocacy for the health and wellbeing of Australians living with disabilities, through taking on a range of legal and board positions.
The Malabar resident’s distinguished career includes working with the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal, the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability and serving on an expert advisory panel for NSW’s Law Reform Commission.
John Wilson – OAM
John Bowie Wilson has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to the financial sector.
Throughout his career spanning 30-plus years, the Double Bay resident served as a Chairman and board member of St Luke’s Hospital, the Director of BNP Equities and most recently became a Senior Fellow at the Financial Services Institute of Australia.
Francine Lazarus – OAM
Francine Lazarus has been honoured the Order of Australia Medal for her service to the Jewish Community.
The Double Bay resident has been a Holocaust survivor speaker at the Sydney Jewish Museum since 2010, where she has also volunteered.
In 2017 Mrs Lazarus also authored her memoir titled, ‘A Hidden Jewish Child from Belgium: survival, scars and healing.’
Cecilia Pemberton – OAM
Cecilia Jane Pemberton has been honoured with the Order of Australia Medal for her service to community health through working as a speech pathologist since 1977.
Notable achievements of the Woollahra resident include co-founding the Australian Voice Association in 1991 along with the St Vincent’s Voice Assessment Centre.
Lawrence Raftery – OAM
Lawrence Edward Raftery has been recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to rugby league, namely his time serving as a volunteer coach at St Charles Junior Rugby League Football Club since 1971.
Rosslyn Sweetapple – OAM
Rosslyn Mackenzie Sweetapple has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to community history. In 2006 Ms Sweetapple was awarded with a Volunteer Service Award from the National Trust of Australia where she has been a member since 1984, and was made an Honorary Life Member in 2019.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Woodburn – OAM
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Joseph Woodburn is awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contributions to a range of community organisations, including the Rotary Club of Botany Randwick where he currently serves as treasurer.
He is also the director of Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children and has been a board member of Ronald McDonald House Charities for six years. Prior to that, he served as a Member of Royal Australian Engineers in the Army from 1969-2002.
SOUTHERN SYDNEY
Paul Charles Archer – OAM
Watching the 2023 NRL grand final was a proud moment for Woolooware’s Paul Archer.
Not because his team won or played (they didn’t, he’s a Bulldogs diehard) but because he helped mentor Adam Gee, who was the referee for the decider between Penrith and Brisbane.
As a 14 year old, Gee joined Canterbury Bankstown Referees’ Association of which Archer is the president.
His service to rugby league and the association has led him to be awarded the Order of Australia Medal.
The 71 year old – who is not related to former NRL referee Tony Archer – took up refereeing when he was 16 after he broke his right arm playing rugby league with Marrickville RSL.
He was too young to join the Newtown refs so got on board with Canterbury-Bankstown Referees’ Association and has been a life member since 1986.
He even met his wife Kim, who was a trailblazer as the association’s first female referee, at meetings 40 years ago.
Archer was a referee for 10 years and stopped officiating matches 50 years ago.
“I think I kept involved because I think it developed you as a person, in regard to your personality,’’ he said.
“You at times have to handle difficult people and I think it builds character.’’
The ugly side to rugby league included verbal abuse that forced Archer to seek security in the dressing sheds in the 1970s and ‘80s. But he has witnessed abuse escalating.
“Unfortunately the change is the behaviour of the crowd,’’ Archer said.
“That causes us grave concerns because it makes it very difficult for us to recruit and retain referees – particularly younger referees – because the level of abuse on the sidelines has increased over the past 10 to 15 years.’’
Fortunately, he says the game is clamping down on aggressive behaviour and has also welcomed rules introduced in an effort to avoid concussion.
He notes one of the better changes to refereeing is the rising rate of female participation.
“It’s great to see there’s opportunities for young girls and women … it’s the way of the future,’’ he said.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Association has 50 referees and 130 members.
Archer has retired as senior steward at Harness Racing NSW and national manager with the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Dr Graeme Gwilliam – OAM
Kogarah’s Dr Gwilliam has been recognised for his academic and community achievements.
They include being an ambassador with the NSW Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, a STEM ambassador since 2021 and a state co-ordinator for the STEM Education Teacher Student Support Programme for six years last decade.
He loves to get involved in the community and was a Justice of the Peace for 40 years and served as the vice president of the Kogarah Chamber of Commerce from 2008 to 2012.
He was the foundation director of Bexley Community Bank for 15 years and treasurer of the Pennant Hills Community Centre from 1979 to 1988.
He has also served the Scouts as a district senior leader in the early 1970s and was the head of electrical engineering at Granville TAFE for most of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
His talent for engineering earned him the Millennium Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers in 2000.
Terence O’Hara – OAM
Kareela’s Terence O’Hara is proud to be an Old Fart. Specifically, he is proud to be part of the Touring Old Farts, a group that brings retired and semi-retired men for adventures.
That is just one of the groups for which he has shown his community spirit, leading him to be appointed an Order of Australia Medal for service to a range of organisations.
That includes 36 years as a St Vincent de Paul Society member and president of the Oyster Bay Conference in the early 1990s.
He was also president of the Sydney Archdiocesan Council’s disaster recovery committee from 1998 to 2003 and the president of the St Joseph’s Primary School Como-Oyster Bay Parents and Friends’ Association in 1978-9.
SOUTHWEST SYDNEY
Professor Philip Chung – AM
He has held senior titles with the Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII) since 2009 and been an advisory member of the Southern African Legal Information Institute since 2023 and board member of the British and Irish Legal Information Institute since 2018.
In 2007, Professor Chung received a Human Rights Award – Social Justice and Human Rights Commendation – for his work with the Diplomacy Training Program making accessible free legal information for human rights defenders in the Asia Pacific region.
Hassan Iskandar – OAM
Mr Iskandar has been awarded for his service to taekwondo.
The Earlwood man has been a council member with World taekwondo since 2021 and held various titles with Sports taekwondo Australia since the 1990s.
He was inducted into the taekwondo Hall of Fame in 2011 and has been the director and instructor of Pinnacle Martial Arts since 1996.
Joan Pellegrino – OAM
Mrs Pellegrino has been recognised for service to the Italian community of southwestern Sydney through her work with Club Marconi, the Sicilian Federation Australia and the community.
She has been Club Marconi’s Ladies Auxiliary president since 2011 and was a founding member of the Sicilian Federation Australia since 2022.
Mrs Pellegrino has also been active in the community through her work with the Wentworthville Chamber of Commerce and role of Justice of the Peace.
Pamela Anne Valentine – OAM
Ms Valentine has a passion for the community of Liverpool and has been awarded for her services across the region.
Since the 1970s, Ms Valentine has volunteered or many clubs from The City of Liverpool and District Historical Society to the Liverpool Genealogy Society and NSW and ACT Association of Family History Societies.
She has been co-ordinator of the Holroyd Family History Group and also division commissioner of the Girl Guides NSW in the Hume Valley and Liverpool regions.
Peter Tran – Australian Corrections Medal (ACM)
Mr Tran has been recognised for his distinguished service as a member of an Australian correctional service.
Mr Tran has served in the public sector for more than 40 years and was the first Vietnamese probation and parole officer appointed at Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) in 1995.
He transitioned from NSW Police, where he worked as a Vietnamese cultural liaison officer. Mr Tran has been working with offenders for over 29 years and is now a team leader.
Mr Tran leads the Community Service Work Scheme at the Fairfield office and has built various partnerships with community agencies to ensure clients give back to the community.
He has also championed projects including knitting and sewing groups that see beanies and dialysis bags made and donated to various people in need, including patients at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and residents of the Lansdowne Nursing Home.
INNER WEST
Mr Gavin James Smith – OAM
Bee hero and conservationist Gavin Smith’s reaction to being a part of the Australia Day Honours list wasn’t your typical response, admitting his first thought was “which bastard has put me on here”. But his career has been far from typical.
From being escorted away in a paddy wagon, denied from Greenpeace and winning the Westfield Local Hero award, Gavin Smith has done it all in the name of bee conservation … but it hasn’t always been his calling.
Starting off as schoolteacher, Gavin only found his passion for beekeeping after retiring when he became a member of the wilderness society in the 90s and later went on to found the Urban Beekeepers of the inner west.
However, he jokes that even after co-founding his own conservationist group, Greenpeace thought he may have been too “violent”.
“My wife worked for Greenpeace and they wanted volunteers to protest and I failed because I was too violent,” he said.
“We got a bit carried away and ended up in a paddy wagon so Greenpeace figured we weren’t suitable candidates.
“But I was eventually introduced to the Wilderness Society and as a result of all the protesting and work I did, I became an honorary lifetime member, so it was Greenpeace’s loss.”
Grateful but surprised, Mr Gavin said he had his daughter to thank for being added to the Ausralia Day list.
“My daughter would have been the one who signed me up for this,” he said.
“It’s a nice moment.”
Mr Gavin also coordinates and presents at the Royal Easter Show, is a member of the Sydney Bee Club and founder of the Beemergency Project.
Dedicating his retirement to saving bees he has rescued hundreds of swarms and uses his teaching skills to educate the community that bees are not important only for honey.
Dr Antheunis Boogert – AM
Hailing from Balmain, Dr Antheunis Boogert has seen her efforts in obstetric medicine rewarded.
During Dr Boogert’s near 50-year career she has started her own medical practice Sydney Ultrasound for Women, was The Head of Department at the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Ultrasound for over ten years at Prince Alfred Hospital and has been a clinical lecturer at Sydney University for Obstetrics and Gynaecology since 1981.
She has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division.
Mrs Ann Weldon – AM
Ms Ann Weldon has received a nod on the Australia Day Honours list for her significant service to the Indigenous community across NSW.
Weldon’s service to the indigenous community spans over 60 years, where she has been the Foundation Member and Inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Aboriginal Legal Service and was Aboriginal Liaison Officer for the Public Service association.
She has worked in over 17 different roles across NSW including being a founding member for the Marrickville Aboriginal Consultative Committee and Inner West Aboriginal Community Company.
Ms Sharon Therese Buckley – OAM
Sharon Buckley has been recognised with a OAM for her services to the community through emergency response organisations.
Ms Buckley’s career began in 1982 when she joined as a volunteer with Radio Print for Handicapped Australia.
Other highlights in her service career include being a Member for the NSW State Advisory Board, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia from 2017 to 2022.
PENRITH
Royce Simmons – OAM
Former Panther’s captain and coach Royce Simmons received an Order of Australia Medal for service to rugby league and as a coach.
Simmons, who was the captain of the Panthers from 1983 to 1990 and coach from 1994 to 2001, played 237 first grade games for the team between 1980 and 1991, as well as 10 State of Origin games and went on to coach several teams in the United Kingdom.
He also founded the Royce Simmons foundation in 2022 and has remained director of the charity ever since.
Noemie Fox – OAM
Olympian Noemie Fox received an Order of Australia Medal for service to sport for her gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Ms Fox, a Penrith local, took home the medal for the women’s Slalom Kayak Cross – the first she had ever received.
Vivienne and David Bertenshaw – OAM
Londonderry couple Vivienne and David Bertenshaw both received Order of Australia Medals for their services to sport – Mrs Bertenshaw as an administrator and coach for netball and Mr Bertenshaw as an administrator and coach for soccer.
Mrs Bertenshaw has spent almost 50 years in various roles at the Hawkesbury Netball Association, as well at the Londonderry Netball Club.
Mr Bertenshaw has spent 49 years in various roles at the Hawkesbury Football Club, Hawkesbury City Sports Council, Football NSW and been a coach at various clubs.
BLUE MOUNTAINS
Sally and Marten Wynd – OAM
Blaxlands Ridge couple Sally and Marten Wynd both received Order of Australia Medals for their services to youth.
Mr and Mrs Wynd are both co-founders and presidents of the Eagles RAPS since 1997 and established the Eagles RAPS centre in Doonside in 1999.
Mr Wynd later established the Eagles Education and Training in 2001, while Mrs Wynd was a program co-ordinator/trainer.
Both have counselled and educated more than 2500 youths since Eagles RAPS was founded.
Mrs Wynd said on behalf of her and her husband that it was “an honour” to receive the award, but she felt the act of caring for others was something that should be a normal standard.
Martin Wren – OAM
Leura man Martin Wren received an Order of Australia Medal for his service to people with disabilities.
Mr Wren has been the CEO of Nova Employment since 1990, was the founder and has been the manager of the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival since 2009.
He has been a sponsor and supporter of the Elevate the Stage concert since 2023, and wrote the book ‘The Ten Demandments: How to Improve Employment Services for People with Disability’ in 2016.
He was also previously director of Winning Edge Australia and the owner of Blue Mountains Fine Papers.
Dr Susan Reed – AM
Springwood woman Dr Susan Reed received Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to the occupational and environmental health and safety sector.
Dr Reed has had many accolades and roles in her industry since the 1970s – including at the Australian OHS Education and Accreditation Board for the Australian Institute of Health and Safety, the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists and Standards Australia.
She has also been an associate professor at Western Sydney University and Edith Cowan University, and written two educational books.
Dr James Branley – OAM
Hazelbrook man Dr James Branley was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for significant service to diagnostic pathology and to medical administration.
Dr Branley has been in multiple roles across the health sector in western Sydney, most significantly as part of the Nepean Blue Mountains Health District – where his roles include head of the medicine division from 2010 to 2014 and a member of the Covid Incident Management Team since 2020.
He is currently the director of Pathology and head of the Department for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at Nepean Hospital.
He has also been a member of the active reserves for the Australian Defence Force since 2021, and previously was a reserve medical officer for the Royal Australian Air Force from 2000 to 2021.
Macarthur region
Annamaria Wood – OAM
For service to people with disability
Macarthur local Annamaria Wood has dedicated more than 46 years to advocating for people with disabilities, establishing vital support services and resources for her community.
She was the CEO of Disability Macarthur for 16 years, overseeing services supporting children and adults with physical or mental disabilities in the region, before stepping back in 2022 to enjoy time with her children and grandchildren.
Ms Wood began her career in the late 70s as a community nurse specialising in children with disabilities, meeting families in hospitals and offering support from birth.
Balancing her passion for her work she also raised three children as a single mother in Ingleburn.
“Macarthur was very under-resourced, and so I always knew that I wanted to work in this industry and I loved it. It was a passion … and I love the people in the community that I worked with,” she said.
Throughout her career, she championed initiatives to fill gaps in services, securing funding from businesses and government grants. Among her proudest achievements was establishing Sunflower Cottage in Narellan Vale, a respite care facility providing families peace of mind while their loved ones received high-support care.
But Ms Wood emphasised that “none of it would have happened” without the dedication and efforts of all the people around her, and the connections she made dating back over 20 years made it “all worthwhile”.
“I get emotional because they’re all integral … integral in the work that I’ve done, and to know that you have the support of people who believe in what you do.”
Lindy Deitz – Public Service Medal
For outstanding public service to NSW local government in the city of Campbelltown and surrounding region.
Bowral resident Lindy Joy Deitz has been recognised for her tireless advocacy for the Campbelltown community and numerous accomplishments during almost four decades working for Campbelltown City Council.
Ms Deitz has championed equity for Western Sydney and her leadership has driven transformational initiatives, including the Western Sydney City Deal which unites all levels of government to create a future-focused, thriving Western Parkland City.
While humbled by the recognition, the council CEO emphasised that everything she had accomplished was through collaboration and support of her colleagues.
“It’s a team effort. Advocacy isn’t just about talking — it’s about delivering real outcomes.”
Reflecting on her many achievements, Ms Deitz highlighted her team’s development of the Reimagining Campbelltown City Centre Master Plan and securing major projects like the $630m Campbelltown Hospital expansion and the GenesisCare cancer facility.
“What we’ve done is we’ve created jobs, we’ve improved healthcare outcomes, plus we’ve created revenue for ongoing needs for our community,” Ms Deitz said.
Having moved to Bowral from Campbelltown for her family over 20 years ago, Ms Deitz’s love of the unique Campbelltown community has never wavered.
“I just fell in love with the community … I felt like I was at home … I just wanted to do whatever I could to work within that community and help to add value,” she said.
Ms Deitz said that despite the area’s urban development it still felt like “where city meets bush” and has retained its “country feel of friendliness” and generosity.
Inspired by her father, a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal, Ms Deitz attributes her passion for helping others as a credit to him being her role model.
From securing funding across all three tiers of government to fostering business and community partnerships, Ms Deitz aims to help “all of Macarthur” and beyond to “work together as a region”.
David Stuart-Watt – AM
For significant service to the civil infrastructure and transport industry.
Catherine Field resident David Stuart-Watt has been recognised for his contributions to Australia’s transport and civil infrastructure sectors, spanning over 55 years.
A Fellow of Engineers Australia and former President of Roads Australia for almost a decade, Mr Stuart-Watt’s career has been defined by his leadership and dedication to delivering inspirational projects.
One of the highlights for him was his pivotal role in the seamless functioning of transport for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, as the Director of Transport.
“Juan Samaranch, the head of the IOC at the time, said it was the first time ever that transport actually ran properly,” Mr Stuart-Watt recalled.
His efforts also earned him the prestigious International Olympic Committee Gold Award for Olympic Service.
Throughout his career, Mr Stuart-Watt has held a number of prominent positions, including being a director at the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority as well as at WSP Consulting Engineers, an internationally recognised firm.
Passionate about fostering the next generation of engineers, Mr Stuart-Watt has been actively involved in mentoring programs, including establishing the Roads Australia’s Fellowship Mentoring Program, which he also chaired for a number of years.
“Sharing knowledge and supporting the growth of future leaders is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career,” he said.
“I encourage anyone with a strong ability in maths and science to seriously consider going into engineering.”
Inspired by a childhood gift from his grandfather, The History of Civil Engineering, Mr. Stuart-Watt developed a passion for engineering early on.
“That book got me hooked, and I’ve been fortunate to turn that passion into a lifelong career,” he said.
Mr Stuart-Watt attributed his achievements to the talented professionals he has worked with across disciplines.
“Australia is home to incredible engineers, and it’s been a pleasure to collaborate with such highly skilled individuals,” he said.
PARRAMATTA
Robert Katz – OAM
Northmead’s Robert Katz has lived and breathed the martial arts since his youth.
Katz, 67, grew up in Willoughby and his sister introduced him to judo after she took a self defence class at the same community centre he later developed a passion for the sport.
The president of the Budokan Judo Club at Castle Hill coached the Australian women’s team for the Olympics in Seoul in 1988 – a highlight of his prolific international contributions to the sport.
He met his wife Kerrye through the sport three years before and she was part of the gold medal-winning Australian women’s team in Seoul when it made history as the first females to compete in judo at an Olympics.
Cultivating his sons Joshua and Nathan’ talents to reach the Olympics was also a highlight.
In 2016 he helped them reach the Rio Olympics where they became the first brother duo to compete against each other in judo in the same event.
At 18 years and 220 days, Josh was also Australia’s youngest ever male judoka at an Olympic Games.
Katz is attracted to the resilience judo teaches.
“I guess it’s almost like a physical game of chest,’’ he said.
“It’s very complex and it takes a long time to get skilled. I love the fact you’re competing on your own even though you have coaches.
“You build confidence and independence on the mat.’’
Last year, Katz earned a graded sixth Dan black belt.
As well as coaching at Rio and Seoul, Katz has coached individual athletes for the Athens and Tokyo Olympics along with other major tournaments across the globe including the Australian coach from 1988-2017 and the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in 2013.
He is also no stranger to success after claiming silver in the Senior Australian Championships in 1983 and 1984 and bronze in the same tournament through the ‘80s and early ‘90s.
More recently he was named the Community Coach of the Year as part of the NSW Community Sport Awards in 2020.
For all the international highlights, Katz enjoys the sport at a community level and established the Budokan Judo Club with Kerrye, where participants of all skill levels can compete.
“I think being able to achieve that has not been an easy thing and that’s something Kerrye and I wanted to strive for at the beginning,’’ he said.
Michael Buettner – OAM
Former NRL player Michael Buettner was never going to let retirement sideline him from contributing to the game, or the community, when he hung up his boots in 2004.
The Oztag Australia national director of coaching and development wanted to give back to rugby league and has since tackled a host of roles with the NRL.
They include working as an education and welfare officer, a player liaison officer, co-ordinator with the match review committee’s and an alumni manager with the Men of League Foundation.
Philanthropic work has also led to his recognition with the Order of Australia Medal, including his work as chair of the Central Coast-based Donnica Clarke Foundation which provides scholarships for young emerging athletes from the Central Coast.
The Terrigal resident is also a mentor with Pass it On Clothing, a non-profit organisation he helped expand in Gosford, assisting the homeless and underprivileged to select donated clothes.
“The idea of the whole thing is creating a service to those doing it tough but also a sense of community, a sense of dignity,’’ Buettner said.
“We don’t just give them any clothing, they get to pick and choose which clothing they prefer. That sense of dignity is really important.’’
The centre and five-eighth debuted for the Eels in 1992 – one round after Peter Sterling suffered a career-ending shoulder injury.
“I always lay claim to the fact that I replaced Peter Sterling. I’m sure that’s not the case but I got to play with Brett Kenny and Mark Laurie who were part of the premiership years,’’ Buettner said.
He went on to play for the North Sydney Bears, returning to the Eels and Wests Tigers and was always mindful of his future after league, and studied teaching before landing a job at his former school, Westfield Sports High at Fairfield West.
“I probably gave new meaning to the term casual teaching,’’ he joked.
“At the time the game had just gone professional and I thought it was important for me to keep my brush in the paint, then it became a career. I was always really conscious about preparing for life after football.
“Working hard is not an issue for me.’’
He amassed more than 260 first grade games over 13 seasons. “I still look back and think an average of 20 games a year is pretty damn good.’’
The 51-year-old father-of-three was “humbled” by his OAM recognition.
“The fact I was nominated was quite flattering in itself,’’ he said.
Murray Forrest – AM
Roll the credits. Carlingford’s Murray Forrest has a host of achievements and now he can add Australia Medal recipient to the list after being recognised for significant service to the film and television industry.
Working behind the scenes to ensure productions are fit for the screen, Forrest has been a stalwart of the industry for decades.
He migrated to Australia from Scotland in 1964 and soon traded a bank job after landing a junior position with a company that sold motion picture cameras and editing equipment.
He worked for Colorfilm for 44 years including as its managing director.
He merged the company with Atlab when there were 250 staff, growing it to 400 when he retired in 2008, turning it into a leading post-production facility. He also expanded its services to South East Asia before it merged with Deluxe.
He was the Motion Picture Industry Benevolent Society chair since 1996 and is a life member.
He was the Screen Producers’ Australia director from 1982 to 1996, and the chair of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (US) from 1982 to 1985.
Forrest was the founding chair of Ausfilm in 1994 and director of the Federation of Producers of Asia for six years from 1978.
He was crowned the Australian Cinema Pioneer of the Year in 2004 and achieved the Lifetime Achievement Award the same year.
HILLS DISTRICT
Sharon Smith – Public Service Medal
Rouse Hill local Sharon Smith is being recognised for her public service to the state’s healthcare system, especially during the Covid pandemic.
Through her role as the chief data officer and executive director of the System Information and Analytics branch, Ms Smith helps NSW Health to keep up with its state and national reporting obligations, maintain high standards of public accountability and transparency in the healthcare system.
Throughout the pandemic, Ms Smith played a pivotal role in the state’s pandemic response through the development of epidemiological modelling, health system capacity forecasting and vaccination reporting.
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