Swinburne community recognised in Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List

An AFL club president, a Nobel Prize-winner and a respected Aboriginal Elder are among 13 members of the Swinburne community recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List.

President of the Richmond Football Club, Ms Peggy O’Neal, who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Swinburne last year, has been appointed an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. She is recognised for distinguished service to Australian rules football, to superannuation and finance law, and to the advancement of women in leadership roles.

Dimity Hawkins, who founded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize-winning organisation, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), has been appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the global community as an advocate for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.  Ms Hawkins is a PhD candidate at Swinburne.

Reconciliation advocate and author, Aunty Dot Peters, has also been appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the Indigenous community of Victoria. She completed a Certificate IV in Business (Governance) and Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training at Swinburne. A biofilm detailing the life of the celebrated Aboriginal elder was produced by a Swinburne creative team in 2017, and her son, Dr Andrew Peters, is a lecturer in Indigenous Studies at the university.

Recognising outstanding service

The Queen's Birthday Honours List recognises Australians for outstanding excellence, achievement or meritorious service.

Other members of the Swinburne community recognised this year are:

Mrs Alisa Camplin-Warner OAM, Bachelor of IT alumna, has been appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through support of paediatric health care.

Mr Michael D'Elia, a Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Housing and Management Policy) alumnus, has been awarded an Emergency Services Medal (ESM) for service to Shepparton Search and Rescue Squad, Victorian State Emergency Services, the community of Shepparton and the wider Victorian Community.

Mr Geoff Harris, who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business from Swinburne in 2018, has been appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through a range of organisations.

Ms Michelle Lauder, a Diploma of Frontline Management alumna, has been awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service to natural resource management and forest policy development and implementation.

Mrs Patricia O'Hara, former staff member, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to nursing.

Ms Carol Schwartz AM, wife of Swinburne Council member Alan Schwartz, has been appointed an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the community as a supporter of women in leadership roles, to social justice advocacy, and to business.

Professor Rob Skinner, a Diploma in Civil Engineering alumnus, has been appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to environmental water management. Professor Skinner is the Director of Monash Water Sensitive Cities.

Dr Deborah Towns, former staff member, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to education and to gender equity. Dr Towns is a Research Fellow, Centre for Workplace Leadership, at the University of Melbourne.

Mr Don Tregonning, who studied engineering at Swinburne, has been awarded a Medal (AM) of the Order of Australia for service to tennis. Mr Tregonning was a well known member of the international professional tennis community, playing twice in the quarter finals of doubles competitions at the Australian Open (1949, 1953).

Dr Di Winkler, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (Computer Science) alumna has been appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to people with a disability. Dr Winkler is an occupational therapist who has worked with people with severe brain injury for more than twenty years.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at www.gg.gov.au

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