Former Tasmanian Premiers Lara Giddings and Robin Gray have received one of Australia’s highest honours today, being appointed Officers of the Order of Australia.
Giddings was the youngest woman to be elected into an Australian parliament in 1996 when she was just 23 years old. In 2011, she became Premier of Tasmania.
Gray was elected in 1979, becoming Premier in 1982.
Tasmanian Helen Geard was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to youth and to the community, while Mary Kille was also appointed AM for her significant service to public health and to the community in the state.
The following nineteen Tasmanians have been awarded a Medal of the Australia (OAM) in appreciation of their contributions to their local communities:
- Mr Graeme Barker, for service to the communities of Port Sorrell and Penguin
- Mrs Ellen Casimaty, for service to the museums and galleries sector
- Mrs Joan Common, for service to the community of Ulverstone
- Mrs Elizabeth Crummy, for service to youth, and to the community
- The late Mrs Beth Dayton, for service to the museums and galleries sector
- Mr Matthew Fargher, for service to the performing arts, particularly through music
- Mrs Rosslyn Ferguson-Pelley, for service to the community through a range of organisations
- Ms Jane Haley, for service to the arts through administrative roles
- The late Mr Anthony Hope, for service to the community in a range of roles and organisations
- Mrs Caroline Jackson, for service to language education
- Dr Johanna Lammersma, for service to the community through a range of roles
- Ms Claire O’Toole, for service to the building industry
- Mr Michael Patten, for service to the community through a range of organisations
- Ms Janice Peacock, for service to the museums and galleries sector
- Mr Geoffrey Pickard, for service to the law, and to the aquaculture industry
- Ms Suzanne Rees, for service to the community through a range of roles
- Mrs Janet Symons, for service to the community of Huon
- Mr John (Jack) Synnott, for service to the community of Cygnet
- Mrs Elizabeth Synnott, for service to the community of Cygnet
Five Public Service Medals have been awarded to the following State Government employees:
- Ms Patricia (Rae) Burrows, for outstanding public service through the management of Tasmania’s biosecurity policies and programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Mr Simon Hiscock, for outstanding public service in emergency management and recovery throughout various community disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic
- Ms Sophie Muller, for outstanding public service and leadership in Tasmania’s COVID-19 pandemic response through the instrumental development of essential policies and documents
- Ms Elizabeth Owen, for outstanding public service to the LGBTIQA+ community through the facilitation and integration of legislative reforms
- Ms Laura Pyszkowski, for outstanding public service through exceptional leadership and innovation to acute care and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic
One Conspicuous Service Medal has been awarded to Tasmanian Warrant Officer Robert Elliott, for meritorious achievement while posted as the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems subject matter expert within the 2nd Commando Regiment, and the 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery from January 2019 to October 2022.
Further Meritorious Awards have been awarded to 10 Tasmanians in recognition of their outstanding service in their field:
- Commander Kate Chambers APM
- Mr Jason Elmer APM
- Mr Evan Cram AFSM
- Mr Lyndon Gabites AFSM
- Mr David Hean AFSM
- Mrs Suzanne Smith ASM
- Mr Raymond Cooper ESM
- Mr Brian James ESM
- Ms Frances Manning ESM
- Mr Matthew Shadwick ACM
