Toowoomba winners of 2025 King’s Birthday honours list revealed

Clive Berghofer wasn’t the only Toowoomba resident recognised — here are our winners from the 2025 King’s Birthday honours list:

Two dedicated Highfields volunteers are among the notable residents recognised for their years of service as part of the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours.

While philanthropist and developer Clive Berghofer was the most notable recipient, Monday’s announcement also included two local legends finally honoured for their commitments to Toowoomba.

Here are the local names on the honours list:

Rob Craig — OAM

Highfields' Rob Craig has been awarded an OAM for his services to communities across Queensland, particularly through the Lions Club.

Even after decades of volunteerism and service to the communities he’s lived in, Rob Craig won’t let an Order of Australia Medal go to his head.

“I find I’m deeply humbled and honoured, but tomorrow I’ll still be Rob Craig,” the Highfields resident joked.

This sentiment sums up Mr Craig’s approach to community service, having dedicating his time to various local groups, societies and organisations since the 1970s.

A justice of the peace who just celebrated 50 years in the role, Mr Craig is best-known for his work with Lions Clubs across Queensland.

Along with being a member of about seven different Lions groups since 1975, he is also the current president of the Highfields North-Eastern Downs branch, is on various state branch committees and was a past district governor nationally.

Mr Craig is also a life member and the Darling Downs branch patron for the Society of St Andrew’s, a former treasurer for Lifeline Darling Downs and previously involved with the Association of School Business Administrators Queensland.

Professionally, he worked for schools like Concordia Luthern College and Brisbane Boys College and was the chief executive of St Andrews Private Hospital from 1991 to 1994.

While he has been honoured and recognised before, Mr Craig said finding out about the OAM was a truly special moment.

“It’s more than I can even express in words,” he said.

“I’ve had top jobs but it’s not what I’ve earnt the award for — it’s the things you do to help (others).

“It’s a profound acknowledgment (and) it’s a wonderful feeling.”

Mr Craig paid special tribute to his wife Bernadette, whom he said had been “there the whole way”.

Clive Berghofer — AO

Clive Berghofer at the 2024 Queensland Philanthropy Awards. Photo Steve Pohlner

One of regional Queensland’s last living legends, a bush larrikin born in a time of war who went on to build a multimillion-dollar empire from the ground up off the back of a fair-go and hard work, is now an Officer of the order of Australia.

The 90-year-old Darling Downs philanthropist, Clive John Berghofer, added the distinguished feather to his Akubra in June 2025, as part of the King’s Birthday honours list.

The former mayor, member of parliament, and semi-retired property developer was one of 31 Australians honoured with the AO this year, which recognises Australians for their distinguished service to the nation or humanity at large.

Mr Berghofer has donated more than $140m to charities and Toowoomba region organisations, focusing on health, education, and sport.

For the full profile, click here.

Rtd Major David Melandri — OAM

Joan and David Melandri. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Supporting returned servicepeople has been close to the heart of Retired Major David Melandri, who was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his “service to veterans and their families, and to the community of Toowoomba”.

After an entire career with Australian Defence Force, where he progressed from a craftsman in 1966 to a major by the time of his retirement in 2004, Major Melandri joined the Toowoomba branch of Legacy to support hundreds of widows and the children of veterans.

He was twice president of the branch and has worked as a pension officer with the organisation to “provide assistance to widows of deceased veterans in the preparation and submission of claims for a war widow pension”.

Major Melandri was also the second-in-command of the Oakey Army Aviation Base from 1987 until 1992 and was company commander of the Regional Universities Regiment of Queensland at UQ Gatton from 1993 to 1995.

Away from the armed forces, he has also been a volunteer with the Salvation Army.