Incoming governor-general Samantha Joy Mostyn AO has been appointed to the highest honour in the Order of Australia.

She is a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the General Division for her eminent service in the social justice, gender equity, sporting, cultural and business sectors, to reconciliation, and to environmental sustainability.

Ms Mostyn will become the 28th governor-general in July. 

Outgoing Governor-General David Hurley announced the King’s Birthday honours and awards for 737 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for conspicuous service. 

“I would like to congratulate all those recognised in today’s honours list. Some names are well-known, but the vast majority are not – they are people who work tirelessly and selflessly to make a difference in our community,” he said.

“This is my last honours list as governor-general. Presiding over investiture ceremonies and having the opportunity to meet so many diverse recipients in our honours system has been a tremendous privilege. Learning their stories has been inspiring and makes me enormously optimistic for our future.”

The Canberra honours list includes:

Member (AM) 

Dr John Aspley Davis, Hawker, for significant service to veterinary science, and to professional associations.

Emeritus Professor Elivio Bonollo, ACT, for significant service to tertiary education, particularly industrial design research and development.

Mr Michael Paul Burgess, ACT, for significant service to public administration, particularly national security and intelligence.

Ms Robyn-Lyn Henderson, O’Connor, for significant service to public administration, and to social welfare.

Sister Jane Irene Keogh, Downer, for significant service to the community through social welfare advocacy, and to primary education.

Medal (OAM) 

Mr Gregory Lawrence Aldridge, Flynn, for service to community health.

Mrs Barbara Ann Bowen, ACT, for service to the community of Canberra.

Ms Evelyn Callaghan, ACT, for service to early childhood education.

Mrs Esther Valerie Davies, ACT, for service to community history, and to education.

Ms Margaret Josceline Findlater-Smith, Kambah, for service to women’s affairs in a range of organisations.

Mrs Yohanni Bey Johns, ACT, for service to tertiary education.

Dr Chi Wing Lai, O’Malley, for service to medicine as a general practitioner, and to the community.

Dr Buuloc Lam, ACT, for service to dentistry, and to humanitarian dental care.

Dr Mark Kevin O’Connor, O’Connor, for service to literature as a poet and educator.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia at www.gg.gov.au.

Public Service Medal (PSM) 

Federal

Ms Susan Dorothy Bodell, Curtin, for outstanding public service, contribution and achievement to Australia’s interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ms Tamara Michelle Curll, ACT, for outstanding public service to the Australian Government and public through her sustained contribution to Australia’s action on climate change.

Dr Stephanie Davis, Giralang, for outstanding public service through sustained leadership in supporting Australia’s primary health care system throughout and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms Jennifer Leanne Hazelton, ACT, for outstanding public service in delivering evidence-based food labelling standards and information for consumers.

Ms Vidoshi Jana, ACT, for outstanding public service and dedication to public administration in leading the concept design, approval and establishment of the National Emergency Management Agency.

Mr David Charles Lewis, Hackett. for outstanding public service in providing expert constitutional policy advice to all parts of the Australian Government.

Ms Fiona Rose MacDonald, Gungahlin, for outstanding public service in customer service, policy and program design and service delivery.

Ms Rachael Karen Moore, Ainslie, for outstanding public service in leading Australia’s humanitarian, reconstruction and consular response as High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga.

Ms Abigael Emma Ogada-Osir, ACT, for outstanding public service in cultural diversity, particularly the Cultural Diversity Sprint Project.

Dr Mark Andrew Schipp, ACT, for outstanding public service in improved outcomes for animal health and biosecurity in Australia and overseas.

Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) 

ACT

Mr Michael John Blaseotto, Monash.

Mr Colin John O’Rourke, Yarralumla.

Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) 

ACT

Ms Joanne Louise Miles.

Australian Corrections Medal (ACM) 

ACT

Mr James Edward Taylor-Dayus.

Cartoonist Paul gets a gong from his other life