Service to co-ops and mutuals recognised in King’s Birthday 2023 Honours List

15 June 2023

Congratulations to these outstanding people on being recognised in the King’s Birthday 2023 Honours List. Your service and achievements shine a light on the co-operative and mutual sector:

Member (AM) in the general division of the Order of Australia

• Ms Suzanne Becker, for significant service to the disability services sector. Ms Becker was Chief Executive Officer at Lifestart Co-operative Ltd, from 2010-2022.
• Associate Professor Ravi Subramanya Bhat, for significant service to medicine and to rural psychiatry. Associate Professor Bhat was involved in the establishment of Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative’s spiritual and wellbeing clinic for the Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander Peoples with mental health problems.
• Ms Karen Louise Heap, for significant service to the Indigenous community in a range of roles. Ms Heap has been Chief Executive Officer of the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative since 2004. She was also Director of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation from 2018-2020, HACC Coordinator of the Wathaurong Aboriginal Corporation from 1982-1984 and Chair (2018-2020) and Deputy Chair (2016-2018) of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.
• Mrs Christine Elizabeth Corby OAM, for significant service to Indigenous health and to the community of Walgett. Mrs Corby OAM is the Chief Executive Officer of both the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (since 1986) and Brewarrina Aboriginal Medical Service. Mrs Corby OAM is the former Chair of Bila Muuji Aboriginal Corporation Health Service Incorporated, former New South Wales Board Representative of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and served as Chair (2012-2017) and Director (2012-2021) of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales.
• Professor Simon Mark Willcock, for significant service to primary health care and to tertiary education. Professor Willcock was a Member Director of AVANT Mutual Group since 2006 and served as Chair from 2014-2019.
• Ms Anne-Marie O’Loghlin, for significant service to the finance sector, to women, and to the community. Ms O’Loghlin has been a Director of Bank Australia since 2015. She was Chief Executive Officer of HESTA from 1998-2015, and a Director of Industry Super Australia from 2010-2015.

Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the general division

• Ms Anneke Deutsch, for service to the community through a range of roles. Ms Deutsch was a Founding Member of Hepburn Renewable Energy Association/Sustainable Hepburn Association (later know as Hepburn Community Wind Park Co-operative Ltd), c2005.
• The Hon. David Gordon Brownhill, for service to the Parliament of Australia. The Hon. Brownhill was a Director of NRMA, c2003.
• Ms Jaclyne Edwina Fisher, for service to public administration and to the community. Ms Fisher was a Board Member of Hastings Co-operative Ltd from 2017-2020.
• Mr Gilbert Harold Freeman, for service to conservation and the environment. Mr Freeman was a Foundation Director at Energy Innovation Co-operative from 2006-2011.
• Ms Wendy Annette Lindgren, for service to the community through a range of organisations. She is the Chairperson of Community Early Learning Australia (formerly Community Child Care Co-operative), having held that role since 2015. Previously she was Deputy Chairperson from 2008-2009. She has been a Director since 2007, an Inaugural Life Member since  2008, and a Member since 1991.
• Mr Ian Alan Langdon, for service to the community and to primary industry. Mr Langdon was Chair of Dairy Farmers Co-operative from 1989-2008 and a Director of Primary Industry Bank of Australia (now Rabobank) from 1995-2004.
• Mrs Gwladys Olive McLachlan, for service to oral history and to the community. Mrs McLachlan was a Presenter on 3YYR Geelong Community Radio Co-operative, c1985-1997.
• Mr Jasper Daniel Norton, for service to agriculture and to the community. Mr Norton was Chairman (1996-2013) and Promoter Director (1994-1996) at South West Irrigation Management Co-operative (now Harvey Water),
• Mr Lynton Patrick Nicholas, for service to the community through a range of organisations. Mr Nicholas has been a Member of the IMB Bank Community Foundation since 2005. From 2007-2014 he held the role of Chair, and he has been a Community Representative since 2015. He also held the roles of Deputy Chairman (2007-2014), Director (2007-2014) and Past Chair, Audit and Risk Committee at IMB Bank.
• Ms Jayne Therese Sunbird, for service to the community through a range of roles. Ms Sunbird is a consultant for a range of Indigenous organisations, including Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative and Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-operative Ltd.