NAMED: Tasmanian Kings Birthday Honours for 2025
An aviation pioneer and an animal rescuer were among the diverse Tasmanians ‘humbled’ after being named to receive King’s Birthday honours. FULL LIST OF RECIPIENTS >>
Tasmania
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Craig Webb has been rehabilitating sick and injured birds of prey for almost 25 years and says he is humbled to be recognised with an Order of Australia medal for service to wildlife rehabilitation.
Mr Webb is among 18 Tasmanians recognised for a King’s Birthday Honours today which includes an aviator, former mayors, educators, health and humanitarian workers, conservationists, sports people, a real estate agent, a musician, a historian and community leaders and volunteers.
They were on the list of people recommended to the Governor-General by the Council of the Order of Australia and organisations responsible for recommending meritorious, gallantry, distinguished and conspicuous honours.
Highest honour bestowed to four Tasmanians
The highest honour winners for the state were four people who became Members of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division.
Early childhood education administrator Roslyn Cornish, who lives in Sandy Bay, was included on the list for her service to early childhood education administration after decades in the sector.
The founder of View Real Estate and industry stalwart, Hobart’s Adrian Kelly was recognised for his significant service in leadership and board roles.
Roches Beach resident Dr David Law, who has decades experience as a Tasmanian general practitioner, was honoured for his contribution to public health.
Albert van Zetten, who served as Launceston mayor for over a decade, also received an AM for his service to local government and the community.
Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn said she was delighted to congratulate all those recognised in the King’s Birthday 2025 Honours list.
“These honours recognise the selfless service, integrity, achievement, creativity, and care that flourish across our country.
“As your Governor-General, I see the values of care, kindness and respect in the many Australians who are honoured today, and in those who have been recognised throughout the fifty-year history of our Australian honours system,” Ms Mostyn said.
‘It means a great deal’: Raptor Refuge founder
Mr Webb founded Raptor Refuge in Kettering in 2001 after several years working as a veterinary nurse in the Kimberleys.
“It means a great deal, not just to me, but the cause we are working for,” he told the Mercury.
“I still get just as much of a buzz, if not more, looking at these birds as I did 25 years ago — I just never tire of it.”
He said he didn’t start the refuge with a grand plan, but as a response to a need.
“The threats facing Tasmanian birds of prey are real: habitat destruction, poisons and the ever ongoing powerline issue,” Mr Webb said.
“My mission has always been to protect these magnificent animals and to educate people about their importance to the ecosystem.
“I never set out to work with raptors but once I started, I couldn’t turn back.”
One of the biggest challenges for Mr Webb has been going alone without the help of government funding.
“This is very much a team effort,” he said of the not-for-profit wildlife rehabilitation centre that focuses on birds of prey.
“I’m grateful for all the people who have helped with my vision and support of the refuge over the years.
“We rely heavily on the generosity of supporters, community donations, our guided tours and workshops and sheer determination to keep the refuge going.
“That makes this recognition even more meaningful because it reflects the strength of what we’ve been able to build against the odds.”
Recently Mr Webb built two unique studio cabins on the property for short-stay accommodation which supports the conservation efforts of the not-for-profit.
He said guests had given the stay a five star rating and the funds all went directly back to the refuge.
Mr Webb thanked the Governor-General for the recognition and all the people who contribute to the country in unique and meaningful ways.
Aviation pioneer recognised
Kingston-born Donald Wells was also awarded an OAM for service to the aviation industry in Tasmania.
Mr Wells aviation company Par Avion helped unlocked a wild and pristine corner of the state to visitors.
He had aspirations of being a pilot so joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1955, served as an aircraft engineer and got his electrical apprenticeship.
He worked interstate where he met his wife before returning to Hobart in the 60s with his young family, starting a successful sales career in Hobart.
At that time, he started running an aviation business out of the Cambridge airport.
He bought Par Avion with a fleet of four planes and started flying in and out of Melaleuca at Port Davey in 1970.
“There was not much there in those days,” Mr Wells said, recalling flying to Lake Pedder pre-flooding.
“It was pretty primitive, being a national park- World Heritage designation came later.”
The company bought Bob Geeves’ standing camp in the early 80s and Mr Wells’ son continues to transport visitors to the pristine wilderness location with Par Avion.
Although Mr Wells has piloted world famous celebrities such as William Shatner, he said he was most happy to charter the general population.
He said the most important commercial work the company undertook was cloud seeding for the Hydro and in Victoria.
“It was great flying but hard to keep pilots doing it,” Mr Wells said.
“They didn’t like the idea of flying into a thunderstorm.”
At its peak Par Avion had up to seven pilots, six engineers and completed work across the mainland Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, South East Asia and even Hong Kong.
Mr Wells stopped flying around ten years ago, not because he couldn’t, but because he’d completed 18,000 hours of flying.
“I decided I had done enough flying, I had a very successful career flying and an accident free record.”
Mr Wells keeps busy with his family including his two sons who are following in his aviation flight path and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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Originally published as NAMED: Tasmanian Kings Birthday Honours for 2025
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