Prestigious King’s Birthday awards handed out to Victorian local sport stalwarts

Some of Victorian local sports’ most important figures have been recognised for their achievements and service in the King’s Birthday awards.

Local sport King's Birthday award recipients.

The King’s Birthday awards recognise the best the Australian community has to offer.

Local sport is a big part of Australian life and a host of Victorian volunteers have been recognised for their services.

From local footy and cricket to tennis, swimming, and many more much-loved pastimes.

Check out all the award recipients who’s time in sport has made a significant impact in their community below.

Ray Steele presents Dennis Lillee with his Test wicket record-breaking ball

RAYMOND STEELE

Order of Australia for significant service to cricket as a player, coach, and administrator.

Cricket Australia

Director, 1999-2008, former delegate, Australian Women’s Cricket Board, two years.

Australian Women’s Cricket Council

Former Director.

Cricket Victoria

Vice-president, 1998-2008, board member, 1987-2008, life member, current.

Melbourne University Cricket Club

Delegate, Cricket Victoria, 1986-2008, president, 1986-1993, coach, 1980-1982, captain, 1966-1967, vice-captain, 1964-1966, life member.

Melbourne University Sport

Member, Blues advisory group, since 1989.

Squash Rackets Association of Victoria

Vice-president, 1974-1976, former chair, men’s and women’s squash merger.

Awards and Recognition

Australian Sports Medal, 2000.

PAUL McCANN

OAM for service to cricket.

North West Metropolitan Cricket Association

Delegate, Black and Red Club member

Pascoe Vale Central Cricket Club

President, since 1996, committee Member, since 1987, former coach, former player, Hall of Fame 2018-19, club legend, 2019, 400 Club, life Member.

ROBERT PORTER

OAM for service to the community of Officer.

Community

President, committee of management, Officer Recreation Reserve, since 1972, chairman, Officer and District Community Association, since

1972, trustee, Officer Union Church, since 2017, volunteer, Officer and District Scout Group, since 1970s, former committee member, Officer and District Hall.

Rythdale Officer Cardinia Football Club (Officer Senior Football Club)

Former committee member, senior coach, 1966-1967 and 1990-1992, under-15s coach, 1980-1981 and 1983-1985, life member, 1988, player, 1955-1965.

Officer Primary School

Member, centenary celebration committee, 1985-1986, council committee member, 1970-1980.

Officer Cricket Club

Former Committee Member, player, 1959-1975, life member.

Awards and Recognition

Senior Citizen of the Year, Cardinia Shire Council, 2020, Stan Henwood Award, Cardinia Shire Council, 2005, Paul Harris Fellow, 2018-2019.

MAX PAPLEY

OAM for service to the community of the Cardinia Shire.

Lang Lang Bendigo Community Bank

Volunteer director, 1998-2019, inaugural chair, 1998-2008.

Bunyip Recreation Reserve

President, grounds management committee, member, grounds management committee.

Cardinia Shire

Mayor, 2000, councillor, Westernport Ward, six years

Community

Chairman, Lang Lang Community Recreation Precinct, president, Lang Lang Township Committee Sporting Achievements.

Williamstown Football Club

Team of Century, Hall of Fame, 2014, Legend, 2017, captain-coach, 1968-1972.

Sport

Coach, Bunyip Football Club, 1974-1975, player, South Melbourne Football Club, 1964-1967, captain-coach, Moorabbin Cricket Club, 1962-1963.

Awards and Recognition

Cardinia Shire Citizen of the Year, 2004.

Max Papley and Tommy Lahiff celebrate a South Melbourne win and their birthdays in 1965.

GWENDOLINE CHISHOLM

OAM for service to the community of Berrigan.

Ladies Auxiliary, Berrigan Football Netball Club

Former President, life Member, 1993, member, 1964-2018.

Berrigan Cricket Club

Former catering co-ordinator, life member, 1993, member, 1964-2018.

Sport

Belle of Belles, Murray Valley Football League, 1961.

Awards and Recognition

Volunteer recognition award, Australian Football League, 2018, Club Person of the Year, Berrigan Football Club, 2017.

PHILLIP COLLINS

OAM for service to primary industry and to the community of Lockington.

Australian Angus Society (Angus Australia)

Former board member, former chair, Victorian branch, three years, member, 54 years, honorary life member, 2000.

Central Angus Region Committee, Angus Australia

Former Chair, life member.

Australian Pig Society

Former vice-president, former council member.

Other Primary Industry

Life member, Royal Agricultural Show Society.

Lockington Community Care Committee

Vice-president, ~20 years, founding member, since 1992.

Lockington Lions Club

Former president, member, ~50 years.

Tennyson fire brigade, Country Fire Authority

Former Volunteer, life member

Lockington Football Club

Former committee member, life member

Community

Former councillor, South Riding District, Rochester Shire Council, former representative, Bendigo Creek Trust, former committee member, Milloo hall committee, 40 years.

French Island Cricket Club president Rob Thompson, secretary Dianne Spark and First XI captain Matthew Spark in 2013.

DIANNE SPARK

OAM for service to the community of French Island.

French Island Cricket Club

Secretary, since 1978, scorer, since 1965, life member.

French Island Community Association

Former Secretary, current member

Community

Secretary, French Island Hall Committee, since 1976, secretary, French Island Country Fire Authority, 1980-1985, school president, Perseverance Primary School, 1991-1999, foundation member, French Island Landcare Group, 1989.

LANCE BOSWELL

OAM for service to the communities of Albury and Howlong.

Rotary District 9790, Rotary International

Chair, finance committee, 2009-2010, chairman, vocational service committee, one year.

Rotary Club of Albury West, Rotary International

President, 1988-1989, former treasurer, board member, 25 years, former sergeant at arms, family host, 10 years, member, since 1985.

Albury West Primary School

Treasurer, 16 years, member, school council, five years, life member.

Albury Preschool

President, six years, treasurer, seven years.

Albury West Preschool

Treasurer, seven years.

Murray District Golf Association

Inaugural President, president, four years, life member.

Howlong Country Golf Club, Howlong Bowling Club

President, 1983-2003, treasurer, 1964-2004, former committee member, 42 years, former deputy chairman, management committee, former member, building committee, life member, 1983.

Howlong Senior Football Club

Committee member, 1959-1963, treasurer, 1959-1962, coach, 1960-1963.

Howlong Juniors Football Club

Secretary, 1957-1958, captain & best-and-fairest, 1959.

Azzi Medal Hume Football League best-and-fairest player, 1959.

Forest Hill Tennis Club

Treasurer, 10 years, former committee member.

Howlong Cricket Club

Former treasurer and committee member.

Sport

Coach, Jindera Football Club, two years, coach, Kergunyah Football Club, one year, player, Cricket Howlong, Jindera and Albury SS&A clubs, represented Rutherglen and District Cricket Association, North-East Victoria Cricket Association, Albury and Border Cricket Association, Southern Riverina Cricket Association and Victoria Country Colts.

St David’s Uniting Church, Albury

Former vice-chair, church council, former treasurer, church council, four years, former member, church council, seven years, chairman, church fair organising committee, seven years.

St David’s Close Retirement Units

Chairman, four years, treasurer, seven years.

Community

Volunteer, Meals on Wheels, Albury West Albury Club, 31 years, founder of the Probus Club of Albury, 1995, former committee member, Lowe Square reference group, five years, former member, Albury Apex Club, 13 years, former treasurer, Howlong Pony Club, 10 years, honorary auditor, various charities, 10 years.

Awards and Recognition

Club legend, Rotary Club of Albury West, 2005, Australian Sports Medal, 2000, Paul Harris Fellowship, Rotary Club of Albury West, 1994. Walter E Savage Memorial Prize, first place in Australia in Company Law examination.

CLAIRE HENSHALL

OAM for service to the community of Warragul.

St Joseph’s Catholic Parish Warragul, Catholic Church in Australia

Organist, 1948-2023, recipient, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, 1996.

Warragul Football Netball Club

President, Ladies Committee, 1970s, former canteen manager, life member, 1976.

Marist Brothers and Sion College, Warragul

Former pianist, various concerts and eisteddfods.

JAMES MACLEOD

OAM for service to the community of Melbourne.

The Wellington Collingwood

Chair, since 2015, board member, since 2013.

Blackburn Football Club

Former president, chair, club constitution working group, current, chair, football life membership committee, current, former committee member, football and sporting club, life member.

The Lifesaver Foundation

Chair, late 2010s-early 2020s, trustee, since 2008.

Forest Hill Lions Club, Lions International

President, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, member, current.

Lions International

Former president and charter member, Lions Club Frankston Burnside, former member, Lions Club of Karingal, former member, Belconnen Lions Club, member, since 1990.

Community

Trustee, Valda Twaddle trust, since 2007, justice of the peace, current.

Tobin Brothers Group of Companies

Managing Director, since 2011, company director, since 2006, general manager, Melbourne, 2004-2010, service manager, 1999-2004, branch manager, Melbourne, 1993-1998, employee, Canberra, 1990-1993, employee, Adelaide, 1987-1990.

Australian Funeral Directors’ Association

National treasurer, since 2019, national councillor, since 2017, Victorian councillor, since 2015.

MICHAEL McLAUGHLIN

OAM for service to the community of Violet Town.

Community

Vice-chairman, Violet Town Action Group, current, treasurer, Violet Town sub-branch, Returned and Services League of Australia, current, member, former player and trainer, Violet Town Football Netball Club, over 30 years, member, Violet Town brigade, Country Fire Authority, since 1997, member, Violet Town Lions Club, 10 years, carer and trustee, Violet Town cemetery trust, since 2019.

Awards and Recognition

Citizen of the Year, Shire of Strathbogie, 2010.

BERNARD SINNOTT

OAM for service to the community of Camperdown.

Camperdown Brigade

Member, since 1973, treasurer, since 1975, secretary, 36 years, communications officer, 18 years, life Member, 2012, life Member, Country Fire Authority, 2012.

Camperdown Group of Fire Brigades.

Secretary, 16 years, group communications officer, 10 years, deputy group officer, six years.

Camperdown Hospital

President, 1989-1991, former treasurer, life member, board member, c10 years.

Camperdown Golf Club

President, 10 years, treasurer, 18 years, life Member, 2018, member, management committee, c20 years, six-time B-Grade champion.

Camperdown Football Netball Club

Past president, secretary, treasurer, player, administrator, Hampden Football League, 2000, MVP, Camperdown Football Club, 2000.

Camperdown Cycle Club

Treasurer, winner, Victorian Veterans Cycling Classic, 1990.

Camperdown Basketball Association

Winning Member, Victorian Basketball Association Country Championship, c1980.

Sunnyside House

Board member, 12 years. former treasurer.

Community

Former volunteer, Meals on Wheels, c30 years.

Awards and Recognition

Citizen of the Year, Corangamite Shire, 2010, national medal, Country Fire Authority, 1st and 2nd Clasp (35 Years), 2008, gold star medal, Victorian Urban Fire Brigades Association, 2008, chief officers commendation for Service Medal, 2016, Fireman of the Year, 1976, 1986, 2002, 2005, 2008-09 and 2020.

LEIGH EVANS

OAM service to softball

World Baseball and Softball Federation (WBSC)

Umpiring director, Oceania, since 2023, umpire in chief – elect, current, umpires’ commissioner, current, chief umpire/deputy umpire of tournaments, including men’s and women’s world championships, Europe & Africa Olympic qualifier, Commonwealth championships, Canada Cup, Japan Cup, since early 2000s, international umpire certification presenter, member, rules committee, peer leader, four-umpire system, international accreditation, 2004, international umpire, six World Cups, including finals.

Softball Australia

Life Member, 2021, umpire in chief technical, since 2015, member, national umpiring committee, since 2002, national umpire examiner, since 2004, deputy umpire in chief – technical, 2007-2015, national umpire rules interpreter, since 2007, umpire in chief, national championships, since 2007, national Level 8 umpiring accreditation, current.

Softball Victoria

Member, Victorian umpiring committee, since 1994, member, SV training committee, 2000-2010, member, allocations committee, 1994-2000, member, state rules interpreter, since 2002, member, state examination committee, since 2007, umpire in chief/deputy umpire in chief/training examining officer/examiner, various state championships, since 1994, involved in developing ‘electronic three umpire rotation system’, facilitator, rules and umpiring courses (players, coaches, scorers, umpires), 2002-2007, life member, 2009.

Junior Western League

Member, organising committee, coach.

Sunshine Softball Association

Member, pennant and protest committee, since 1990, umpires co-ordinator, umpire, since 1989, facilitator, rules lectures and training sessions, since 1993, life member, 2002.

Awards and Recognition

Hall of Fame, Softball Australia, 2015, Victorian Umpire of the Year, 2007 and 2013, National Umpire of the Year, 2005 and 2008, service award, Avondale Heights Softball Club, 1990.

ANGUS MACKEY

OAM for service to philanthropy, education and local sport.

Philanthropy

Epworth Medical Foundation, since 2017, Cabrini Hospital Foundation, since 2011, Girton Grammar School.

Melbourne Grammar School

Foundation governor, current, member, Witherby Tower Society, current, captain of cricket, 1952.

Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club

Foundation emissary, current, chairman, membership sub-committee, 1962-1963 and 1967-1968, chairman, pennant selection sub-committee, 1966-1968, chairman, pennant sub-committee, 1965-1967, chairman, social sub-committee, 1959-1965, chairman, squash sub-committee, 1963-1964, member, general committee, 1955-1968, member, various sub-committees, 1953-1967.

Awards and Recognition

RSY Foundation Award, Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club, 2019.

MOIRA RYDE

OAM for service to people with disability.

Special Olympics Victoria

Former chair, treasurer, director of sport, former director of aquatic, former co-ordinator, numerous State Games.

Melbourne Southern Club, Special Olympics Australia

Sports manager, current, former vice-chairperson.

Special Olympics

Team management member, World Games and Asia Pacific Games, current, former member, international rules committee, Special Olympics International, former member, national sports advisory council, Special Olympics Australia.

Awards and Recognition

Victorian Premier’s volunteer champions award, 2016, Special Olympics Australia Hall of Fame, 2014, life member, Special Olympics Australia, Australian Sports Medal, 2000.

GRAEME WORTHINGTON

OAM for service to the community of the Sunraysia region.

Sunraysia Baseball League Inc, Mildura

Past member, tribunal and pennant committee, Coach, Sunraysia junior baseball teams.

Saints Baseball Club

Inaugural president, c1983-1993, committee member and/or coach, c1983-2003, match sponsor, mental health awareness, current, inaugural life member, founding member since 1983.

Merbein P-10 College

Inaugural council member, 2010-2021, vice-president, 2017, past president and council member, Merbein Secondary College, past president and council member, Merbein Primary School.

Community

Chair, Merbein cemetery trust, since 2017, board member, Rural Care Australia and Chaffey Aged Care, current, member, Mildura Senior College School council, current, supporter/volunteer, Mallee Sports Assembly, since 2006, member, Mildura Workers Bowls Club, current, past treasurer and committee member, Merbein South Cricket Club.

Awards and Recognition

Merbein Citizen of the Year, Merbein Development Association Inc, 2020, 25-year service award, Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, 2017.

JEANETTE WORTHINGTON

OAM for service to the community of the Sunraysia region.

Saints Baseball Club

Past coach, team manager, and/or official, c1983-2003, past co-ordinator, junior program, match sponsor, mental health awareness, current, life member, founding member, since 1983.

Sunraysia Baseball League Inc

Past member, junior committee.

Merbein and District Community Bank

Non-executive director and chair of marketing and development committee, current, company secretary, since 2004, founding member.

Community

Member, Sunraysia liquor accord committee, current, member, Sunraysia Daily Workers Bowls Club, current, past member, Mildura Rotaract Club, 10 years.

Merbein Primary School

Past member, parent and citizens Council, c1990s-2000s, past member, mothers’ club, c1990s-2000s.