Australia Day honours: Six Victorians receive Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)

SIX eminent Victorians have received the nation’s highest honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), in the 2018 Australia Day awards. And remarkably, four of those recipients are Monash University professors.

SIX eminent Victorians were among 16 people who received the nation’s highest honour, AC, in the 2018 Australia Day awards.

And remarkably, four of those recipients are Monash University professors — engineer Rhys Jones, neurosurgeon Jeffrey Rosenfeld, chemist Ezio Rizzardo and psychiatrist David Kissane.

Medical advocate Mukesh Haikerwal and social historian Janet McCalman were also appointed to the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

PROFESSOR JEFFREY ROSENFELD RECEIVES THE COUNTRY’S HIGHEST HONOUR

PETER GORDON AWARDED AN AM FOR COMMUNITY TO SERVICE

DR MUKESH HAIKERWAL HONOURED FOR STRIVING FOR GREATER SYSTEM

AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS: ALL THE WINNERS

CONNIE JOHNSON AWADED MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA BEFORE TRAGIC DEATH

WALTER MIKAC HONOURED FOR WORK AS GUN CONTROL, PROTECTION OF CHILDREN ADVOCATE

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Others to be acknowledged with the ultimate honour include tennis legend Evonne Goolagong-Cawley and the late Betty Cuthbert, both of whom had previously received MBEs.

Medical advocate Mukesh Haikerwal was made a Companion of the General Division of the Order of Australia.

Ms Cuthbert, Australia’s original “golden girl”, who died in August last year aged 79,

won four gold medals in athletics at the Melbourne and Tokyo Olympics. Sh`e was also a long-time campaigner and fundraiser for research into multiple sclerosis.

Ms Goolagong-Cawley won 11 Grand Slam singles titles between 1974 and 1980. Her citation also recognised her work as an advocate for the health and education of young indigenous people through sport and as a role model.

A total of 641 Australians — 426 men and 215 women — from all walks of life were recognised in the annual honours list. A further 254 people were given meritorious and military awards.

The annual gongs line-up included London-based, high-profile QC Geoffrey Robertson, squash legend Heather McKay, golfer Karrie Webb, swimming greats Susie O’Neill and Shane Gould, conservationist Don Henry, lawyer and Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon, Alannah and Madeline Foundation founding patron Walter Mikac, evergreen singer Russell Morris, football and sailing administrator Andrew Plympton and women’s basketball pioneer Michele Timms.

Lawyer and Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon has been honoured in this year’s Australia Day awards. Picture: Michael Klein

Melbourne business leaders were also acknowledged including former Sportsgirl Sportscraft Group boss David Bardas and Village Roadshow executive Graham Burke who were both appointed Officers of the Order of Australia.

Also named today is the late Connie Johnson, who received her OAM from Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove last year shortly before her death.

Ms Johnson, along with brother Samuel, the actor and Gold Logie winner, raised millions for breast cancer research through their Love Your Sister charity.

Alannah and Madeline Foundation founding patron Walter Mikac will be awarded the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) today. Picture: Elise Derwin

Sir Peter offered his “deepest congratulations, admiration and respect” to all honours’ recipients.

“For over 40 years these honours have helped to define, encourage and reinforce our national aspirations and ideals by acknowledging exceptional Australians. Today, we add a new group of names to those we should all admire,’’ Sir Peter said.

For the first time, the list contained the first recipients of the Australian Corrections Medal awarded to people who has given distinguished service as a correctional service member.

The honours list was the last for chairman of the Council of the Order of Australia, Sir Angus Houston, who will retire on 31 January after 12 years on the council, the last six as chair.

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