Geelong regions’s Australia Day Honours recipients 2025
A married couple are among the Geelong region residents being celebrated for their dedication and achievements across a range of fields in this year’s Australia Day Honours. SEE THE LIST
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A number of people from the Geelong region have been featured in this year’s Australia Day honours.
The Governor-General announced honours and awards for 732 Australians.
CHRISTINE AND JOHN WHEAL
Both awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the community of Barwon Heads.
Christine and John Wheal have devoted their lives together to community service.
“It means a lot,” Mr Wheal said.
“It means that people in the area take notice of things that people do.”
Having served at the local RSL, Geelong Aero Club, fire brigade, and community hall, among others, Mr Wheal was unable to narrow down a highlight.
“You can’t really say anything’s better than other,” he said.
Ms Wheal said she was “overawed” by the recognition.
She has been heavily involved with the All Saints Op Shop in Barwon Heads, volunteering their since 2006.
DR CRAIG RAYNER
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to pharmacology in a range of roles and organisations.
Craig Rayner’s career in pharmacology is a lengthy one, filled with incredible achievements.
But at no point was his service more necessary than throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, in which he was tasked with testing pharmaceuticals against the deadly virus.
Dr Rayner said he was “bowled over” by the news he would be honoured on Australia Day.
“I was surprised and supremely delighted,” he said.
Dr Rayner said the pandemic was a “very tough time”.
“So many of us were 24/7 through that time, I was one of those, it was all hand on deck,” he said.
“I think we saw the best of humanity throughout that period.”
Dr Rayner had various roles throughout the pandemic, including as a member of the World Health Organisation’s expert group on therapeutics.
DR ROSS CUTLER
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to veterinary medicine, and to the pork industry.
Ocean Grove’s Ross Cutler has held roles contributing to, and educating people about, the health of pigs around the world.
These include numerous positions with universities and organisations like Australian Pork, as well as being principal consultant at Ross Cutler and Associates since 1998.
Dr Cutler has also held board positions and worked with organisations like the United Nations, Australasian Pig Science Association, the International Pig Veterinary Society and the Department of Agriculture.
PROF DAVID RUNIA
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to tertiary education, and as an academic in the fields of humanities and social sciences.
David Runia has been a professorial fellow at the University of Melbourne’s School of Historical and Philosophical Studies since 2002.
He was master of Queen’s College, which provides student accommodation, between 2002 and 2016.
This role taught him about the challenges young people faced, and allowed him to offer them guidance in their lives and studies, he said.
The Ocean Grove 73-year-old, who was born in the Netherlands and moved to the Australia with his family aged four, has held positions in academia around the world.
Early influences that drew him to his eventual career included his father being a professor of theology, and his “wonderful” Latin teacher, Michael Keary, at Geelong College.
“I’ve always loved the ancient world and classical languages,” Prof Runia said.
Prof Runia said learning he would receive an Australia Day honour was “really quite unexpected”.
PAULINE CLINE
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the community of the Bellarine region.
Pauline Cline has volunteered in numerous roles at the church she attended, St James’ Anglican Church Drysdale, and a number of other organisations around the Bellarine Peninsula.
Mrs Cline is passionate about animal welfare, raising funds for a number of organisations dedicated to this cause.
The St Leonards 76-year-old said she was “surprised and pleased” to learn of the Australia Day honour.
“It was just a bit overwhelming,” she said.
She said she enjoyed helping the community through volunteering.
“It keeps me busy — who wants to stay in the house and sweep floors?”
STEPHEN KIP
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the construction industry.
Construction and building runs in the veins of the Kip family.
Stephen Kip’s family migrated to Australia from the Netherlands in the 1950s and were all involved in Australia’s construction industry.
He would go on the work as an apprentice under his father.
Mr Kip has spent time working for various organisations such as the Geelong council and the state government, as well as lecturing at the University of Melbourne.
“I’m still shell shocked,” Mr Kip said of the Australia Day honour.
“It’s quite amazing, I know nothing about the process.
“It’s quite humbling, I’m a builder, I come from a family of builders.
“I just go where the work is interesting, so to get this sort of recognition is sort of really surprising to me.”
GEOFFREY MCFARLANE
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to conservation and the environment.
Geoffrey McFarlane’s life has been dedicated to conservation, but that’s not how he sees it.
To him, his life’s work has been all about helping others.
“It’s very nice to be recognised, but I just did a job I loved,” Mr McFarlane said.
“I just love the job, didn’t expect any recognition for it.”
Since the mid-2000s, Mr McFarlane has combated the uphill battle of rabbit control as part of the Victorian Rabbit Action Network.
“They’re not going away in a hurry,” he quipped.
Other organisations Mr McFarlane has worked with during his lengthy career include the Bellarine Landcare Group, Soil Conservation Authority, City of Greater Geelong, Victorian Landcare Council and many more.
DR ANTHONY HODDER
Emergency Services Medal – Life Saving Victoria
Drysdale’s Anthony Hodder has shown exceptional commitment to frontline service over his 45-year tenure with Life Saving Victoria.
He has served as a dedicated lifesaver since 1979.
Dr Hodder has held pivotal roles including regional operations officer and lifesaving operations officer, contributing significantly to lifesaving operations in the Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula region.
His leadership was key in establishing and leading the Point Lonsdale SLSC Lifesaving Emergency Response Team.
Dr Hodder has served as a volunteer aircrewman with LifeFlight helicopters and supporting aerial firefighting efforts.
He continues to serve as an operational air observer for the Country Fire Authority.
DONALD HARRISON OAM
Emergency Services Medal – Volunteer Coast Guard
Already a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia, Donald Harrison has again been recognised, this time for his extensive work with the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association.
A men’s hairdresser by trade, Mr Harrison has volunteered with the coast guard for over 45 years currently working as a search and rescue captain.
“I’m a very simple person,” he said.
“I’m very proud to get these awards, but I’m there to help.
“I’m a Christian, so it’s my job on earth to help people.
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