Every Geelong recipient of a 2025 King’s Birthday honour
This year’s recipients of King’s Birthday honours include the footy boss who turned around the Cats’ fortunes, those who shaped Geelong’s medical community and more.
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Nine of the region’s very best have received Order of Australia awards as part of the King’s Birthday honours - six earning Medals (OAM) and three becoming Members (AM).
They’ve overseen the transformation of football clubs and medical departments, spent careers caring for sick people and animals, and poured their time and effort into community organisations.
Here’s what set them apart.
Dr Jack Ayerbe – OAM
From treating seals and circus elephants to working horses in Ireland during the Troubles, Jack Ayerbe’s career as a vet has taken him places – but a King’s Birthday honour was not one he saw coming.
Fifty years after founding his practice – Newtown Veterinary Clinic – in 1974 – Dr Ayerbe’s love of helping animals has not wavered and now he has been recognised his services to veterinary science.
But when the email arrived in his inbox, Dr Ayerbe deleted the initial email thinking it was spam.
Speaking to the Geelong Advertiser, the veteran vet said he was “shocked and humbled” to receive the award for a career spent doing what he loved.
Dr Ayerbe said one highlight of his career was helping animals get better and witnessing the evolution and improvement of animal welfare, while another “great thrill” was the connections he had built.
“(We have) people coming in who were had patients we were treating 50 years ago and they still bring their dogs and cats in now,” he said.
Dr Ayerbe remembers the moment he knew he wanted to be a vet.
“The first job I wanted to be was a lion tamer … then at the age of five I was staying with friends of my parents on a farm and a cow had milk fever,” he said.
“I watched the farmer give her some calcium and I stayed with her all night and in the morning she stood up and I decided then that’s what I wanted to do.”
It’s a passion that has seen Dr Ayerbe treat animals in England and Ireland, a time he describes as “absolute bliss”.
While working in Lincoln in England Dr Ayerbe said was once called upon to treat a seal.
On another occasion, he had to treat five elephants for vitamin-D injections; the first day went smoothly, but things got exciting the next.
“As I lifted up my syringe to inject the elephant, the elephant grabbed me with his trunk and threw the syringe out,” Dr Ayerbe said.
Returning to Australia to raise children with his wife, the family settled in Geelong, where Dr Ayerbe ran the Newtown clinic until 2012 when he sold the practice.
However, he was remained a consultant since then, and has been involved in other veterinary, animal welfare and alumni organisations, including as an adviser for the CSIRO and a life member of the RSPCA.
Dr Ayerbe has also been the resident vet on the airwaves at numerous radio stations and written a book on his experiences in Ireland.
Dr Stephen Bolsin – OAM
Newtown’s Dr Stephen Bolsin has been an innovating and dynamic presence in Geelong’s medical community for decades, and been recognised for his service to medicine as an anaesthetist.
Dr Bolsin started at Geelong hospital in 1996 when the hospital had just five full-time anaesthetists and no full-time training registrars.
His arrival in Geelong came after he put his job on the line to expose the high death rate among babies in the Bristol Royal Infirmary where he worked between 1989-95, a move which led to his courage beings praised in a motion tabled to the British parliament.
Dr Bolsin said he had been “pleased and relieved” to be appointed to at Geelong, after the “turbulent times” in Bristol.
“I preferred to work in Geelong over Melbourne and I was immensely proud to work with high-achieving colleagues to develop a world class cardiac surgery service,” he said.
“This was so good that when I needed coronary artery surgery in 2009 I had no hesitation in choosing Geelong for my surgery over Melbourne, Sydney or UK hospitals.”
Dr Bolsin worked as an anaesthetist at Geelong hospital until 2019, including a decade as director of anaesthesia between 1996-2006.
During his tenure, he expanded the unit to more than 20 full-time anaesthetists and 20 trainee registrars, Dr Bolsin said.
He also initiated anaesthetic service for cardiac surgery and developed the first accredited pain service in Victoria, and the first perioperative service – which was copied by Melbourne teaching hospitals.
“These achievements for Geelong patients have made me incredibly pleased and also incredibly proud,” he said.
“My goal was always to develop excellence in medicine in Geelong.”
Dr Bolsin’s career has also seen him work as director of medical services at St John of God hospital from 2018-19, and group director of medical services and clinical governance at the organisation from 2019-2023.
Brian Cook – AM
Brian Cook didn’t know where football would take him when he was pulling on the boots for Box Hill as a teenager.
He hadn’t had the easiest childhood, having grown up between Scotland and Australia and losing his mother at the age of nine.
“It developed a lot of resilience in me. It developed the love for being a bit adventurous,” Mr Cook said.
The future AFL life member was working two jobs – Safeways two nights a week and a bakery run – while paying his way through final year of high school and playing for the then-VFA side.
“I was a pretty skinny kid with some talent … I hadn’t thought of administration then or coaching or any other business acumen outside of finishing year 12,” Mr Cook said.
Fast forward a few decades and there’s few resumes in football administration that read like Brian Cook’s.
It’s a career, along with his involvement in other business and community organisations, that’s earnt him a King’s Birthday honour for significant service to football, business and the community.
He was at the tiller when the Eagles became the first non-Victorian team to win a premiership – then another, before arriving at Geelong at arguably the most difficult point in its history and helping usher in a golden age for the club.
“When I got there the level of debt was, well I thought it may be insurmountable. But we found a way through that,” Mr Cook said.
“Where we’d come from to winning the premiership in 2007 was nothing short of a miracle.”
Mr Cook put it down to getting “the right people, the right strategy and the right culture”.
“It’s all about teamwork. If you aren’t a team person in AFL, you won’t survive,” Mr Cook said.
While running the Cats, Cook threw himself in to a variety of local businesses and organisations including six years as chair of Barwon Health, and roles with Give Where You Live, Active Geelong and Geelong Major Events Committee.
Since 2012, he’s been a patron of Wombat’s Wish, an Clifton Springs-based organisation that supports children after the death of a parent.
“I was one of those as a kid … I know some of the problems I got through,” Mr Cook said.
Mr Cook said he was surprised and humbled to receive the award, but was ”stoked” about the recognition.
To come as far as he has, it has meaning to Mr Cook.
“You can be a good achiever, you can be a good person, you can give back to the community, you can be successful – even though you might have had some horrible obstacles and hurdles as a kid. There’s always opportunity,” Mr Cook said.
“That’s one of the things I’ve got out of my life.
“(To receive this honour) … for me it’s a recognition of the little people around the place that do so much good and they don’t often get recognised.”
Dr Charlie Corke – AM
When Dr Charlie Corke arrived at Geelong hospital, the intensive care unit had just eight beds.
As director of the unit from 1991 until 2008, Dr Corke oversaw its growth and evolution, caring for Geelong’s sickest and nursing them back to health.
Three decades later the unit now boasts 24 beds across two pods, and eighty-percent of patients who come through the doors, go home, Dr Corke said.
He can still be seen on the ward, helping and teaching as a senior specialist, while pioneering tools to foster communication and developing strategies around end-of-life care.
“It’s (about) the getting people better and fixing them, with lots of tools and colleagues to do it with,” Dr Corke said.
Dr Corke said education was the most rewarding part of a career spent in intensive care.
“It’s nice to see people who have been your juniors over the years do well and thrive, and bringing on the next generation,” he said.
“The teaching and the nurturing of others is what I really like.”
The son of a builder, Dr Corke got into medicine because he thought it “offered a lot of possibilities” and hasn’t looked back throughout a career driven by passion.
Now, the intensive care specialist is being recognised for significant service to multiple facets of intensive care – as a clinician, administrator and researcher.
“You have a lot of highs and lows in ICU,” Dr Corke said.
He was trained at St Bartholomew’s hospital in London and worked in Hong Kong before landing in Australia in 1985, where he ran the ICU at Repatriation Hospital (now The Austin), before ending up in Geelong.
Outside the wall’s of Geelong hospital’s ICU, Dr Corke has been active on committees and advisory roles and has been involved in the development of the advance care planning program, ‘MyValues’.
His love of teaching has taken him to Deakin University, where he is an affiliate professor, and overseas as a volunteer and teacher across Asia and the Pacific.
The English-born doctor was also integral to the implementation of Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying laws, and served on the review board as deputy chair for six years.
Dr Corke said he was honoured to be the recipient of a King’s Birthday honour and be appointed a member of the Order of Australia.
“Teaching junior clinicians how to navigate the ethical, emotional and human side of medicine, especially around end-of-life care, has been one of the most meaningful parts of my work,” he said.
In a statement, Barwon Health lauded Dr Corke’s tireless dedication, leadership and service to the community.
James Demetriou – AM
Airey’s Inlet resident James Demetriou is being honoured for his significant service to sport, education and business.
Mr Demetriou was founding chair of the Australian Sports Technology Network, a not-for-profit promoting sports technology innovation.
Since its establishment in 2012, Mr Demetriou has worn many hats within the network, currently as director of ESG Perform since 2022.
Mr Demetriou also founded non-profit Sports Without Borders in 2006, chairing the organisation until 2016.
The former footballer has also been involved with several other organisations including universities and been a councillor in the former City of Coburg.
He was director of the Essendon Football Club between 1996-98, for whom he played nine games in the 1970s.
In 2007, he was awarded for his services to community sport by Victoria’s governor.
Mr Demetriou’s younger brother is former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.
Dr David Iser – OAM
Barwon Heads GP David Iser has been recognised for his services to medicine.
Before moving to the Bellarine four years ago, Dr Iser spent his career treating the people of Gippsland at the Foster Medical Clinic since 1998.
He is also a senior lecturer at the Monash School of Rural Health, and worked as a medical officer at the Shire of South Gippsland from 1989 until 2012.
Since 2015 he has been a life member of the Royal Australian College of GPs, having been a fellow since 1983, and he spent 21 years on the board of South Gippsland hospital.
Outside of medicine, he has been involved in the Sandy Point Musical events group, a consultant for the Wind Turbine parliamentary committee.
He was the South Gippsland Shire citizen of the year in 2010 and Victorian Rural Doctor of the Year in 2008.
In 2008-9, he worked in indigenous health at Tennant Creek and Katherine in the Northern Territory.
William McFarlane – OAM
One doesn’t have to go far to feel William McFarlane’s influence on the Geelong Racing Club – there’s a function room named in his honour.
Across four decades on the committee of the club between 1979 and 2019, Mr McFarlane served as chair from 1990 to 2004 and treasurer in the 1980s and 2010s.
In 1993 he was appointed a life member.
Mr McFarlane is also a life member of the Geelong St Patrick’s Racing Club, where he was secretary from 1973 until 2010.
He has been vice-president of the Old Port Phillip Racing Association and is a member of the Victorian Racing Club.
Outside of racing, Mr McFarlane has also been involved with St Mary of the Angels Parish, St Joseph’s Nursing Home and Sacred Heart College Geelong, where he worked as business manager for 25 years.
Elsewhere in the community, Mr McFarlane was a foundation member and coach of Newtown Little League Football, and has been a member of the Geelong Football Club and Geelong Business Club, treasurer of St Gabriel’s Monastery.
Barry Solomon – OAM
Veteran Barry Solomon has been recognised for his services to the Geelong community.
As a member of the Rotary Club of Geelong West since 1995, Mr Solomon has been involved in various appeals and spent time on the board and as president.
Mr Solomon served in the navy from 1955-60 and ran Solomon’s Store from 1953-66.
He has been involved the Geelong Business Club, the Australian Friendly Society, the Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust and spent two decades with the Geelong Disabled People’s Industries.
In 1972, Mr Solomon was founding chair of the Geelong branch of the National Trust and seven years later was a foundation member of the Barwon Regional Association for Alcohol and Drug Dependence in 1979.
He was a councillor for the City of Newtown from 1967-74, was involved Capital Building Society, chaired the Geelong Springding Festival for a time and served on the boards of Geelong hospital and Geelong and District Ambulance Service, and sat on the Geelong Chamber of Commerce council.
Roger Sykes – OAM
Moolap’s Roger Alan Sykes was just 17 when joined the Geelong West brigade of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) in 1958.
Mr Sykes said he joined up largely for the “sporting aspect”, being a keen runner.
More than six decades later at the age of 84, he’s still involved as a volunteer and has now been recognised for his community service.
Mr Sykes said the most fulfilling part of a lifetime spent in the CFA was “feeling as though you’re contributing” and the support of the firefighting community.
Throughout his time at the CFA, he has worked to raise funds, sat on committees and chair of both the Geelong West and Belmont brigades, the latter of which he transferred to in 1989.
In 2008, My Sykes became a life member of the CFA and ten years later earned his 60 year medal.
Volunteering as a firefighter wasn’t the only way Mr Sykes gave back to his community.
Between 1991 and 1993, he was mayor of the City of South Barwon prior to the amalgamation, capping a decade-long stint on the council.
Born in Belmont, Mr Sykes attended school in North Geelong.
Outside of his community involvement, Mr Sykes worked in the trucking industry.
Sykes Transport traces its origins back to 1959 and the company is run to this day by Mr Sykes son in Western Australia.
By 1973, the company had ten vehicles and, according to the company’s website, in 1981 it became the first operator to obtain the “necessary permits” to operate road trains across the Nullabor plain.
Vehicles have been a passion for Mr Sykes; since 1998 he has been a member of the Western District Historic Vehicle Club, serving on the committee from 2003-15 and as president from 2011-13.
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