Fifteen Greater Geelong people have received Australia Day honours.
Three – Michael Betts, John Womersley and Dr Gillian Miles – received Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division honours.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division
Dr Miles, from Portarlington, was recognised for significant service to the transport and infrastructure sectors.
She has been commissioner of Infrastructure Australia since 2024 and Rail Industry Safety and Standards board chair since 2025.
Dr Miles was co-founder of the National Women in Transport Network in 2022 and was City of Greater Geelong’s chief executive in 2014/15.
Mr Womersley, from Leopold, was recognised for service to archery as an officiator and administrator.
He was president of Archery Australia from 1976 to 1989 and was inducted into Australia’s archery Hall of Fame in 2013. He also received an OAM in 1979.
Mr Betts, from Newtown, was honoured for significant service to the community of Geelong.
He has been Geelong Community Foundation’s chair since 2021, Committee for Geelong chair from 2008 to 2013 and has strong ties to Geelong College and Give Where You Live Foundation.
Highton man Distinguished Professor Saeid Nahavandi was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division for distinguished service to tertiary education, to engineering, to robotics and haptics research and innovation, and to defence capability development.
Distinguished Professor Nahavandi has published more than 1300 scientific papers, was Australian Space researcher of the year in 2021, received a World Automation Congress lifetime achievement award and won first prize on the ABC’s The New Inventors program in 2009, among many other accolades.
Eleven locals received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division.
Elizabeth Bate’s passion for her home town Lara was recognised with an OAM. Ms Bate has served organisations in Lara, such as the CFA, Holy Trinity Anglican Church and was the Lions Club’s citizen of the year in 2003/04.
Roxanne Bennett (OAM) has served the community of Geelong through radio stations Bay 93.9 and K-Rock, Salvation Army, Barwon Health Foundation, Lifeline and GAWS.
Ernest Drew OAM lives in Queensland, but his Geelong connection is strong. Mr Drew was Blind Citizens Geelong branch president in 2012 and a volunteer for Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind.
Bellbrae’s Barry Fagg OAM was recognised for service to charitable organisations and to the community of Geelong.
A former board chair of Give Where You Live, current board member of Geelong Cats and was the inaugural inductee into Mitre 10’s Hall of Fame in 2012.
Belmont’s Leon Herviou OAM is a Meals on Wheels legend. He was a volunteer for Geelong’s Meals on Wheels for 23 years and a driver for 15 years.
Torquay’s Brian Keane OAM has served MacKillop Family Services, Lions Club of Torquay, Nazareth Catholic Parish and Surf Coast Shire council.
Richard Lawysz received an OAM for his service to athletics, which includes more than 20 years as Geelong Athletics president and life membership and earning a distinguished service award in 2021.
Marie McPadden OAM, from Wurdiboluc, has contributed heavily towards animal welfare and has a long list of accolades for Barwon and Otway Plains Scouts Districts.
Grovedale’s William (Bill) Rebula OAM has been heavily involved in Geelong Prostate Support Group, Nazareth Catholic Parish and a supervising driver for the L2P program.
Drysdale’s John Trigg OAM’s service to youth and the community is evidenced by his contributions to Australian Navy Cadets, Rotary, State Emergency Service and APEX.
Highton’s Nigel Wilson OAM has given years of service to All Saints’ Anglican Parish of Newtown and Geelong West, All Saints’ Newtown Tennis Club, Tennis Geelong, Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Geelong sub-branch and has been awarded various service medals including the Australian Active Service Medal.
