Service to co-ops and mutuals recognised in Australia Day 2024 Honours List

29 January 2024

Congratulations to these outstanding people on being recognised in the 2024 Honours List. Your service and achievements shine a light on the co-operative and mutual sector:

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division – Recipients

• Mr Paul Anthony Briggs OAM for distinguished service to the Indigenous community, to social welfare through economic inclusion and reconciliation and to sporting organisations. Mr Briggs was Chair, First Nations Advantage Credit Union, 1999-2006 and Founding Chair, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, 2005.

Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division – Recipients

• Ms Lorraine Helen Berends for significant service to the financial and business sectors and to the community. She was a Superannuation/Actuarial Consultant, National Mutual, 1979-1996.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division – Recipients

• Councillor Victor Edward Bartley, for service to local government and to the community of Bourke. He is Director of 2WEB Co-operative and Bourke Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (BACHS).
• Mrs Susan Constance Dunn for service to the community of the New England region. She was the Initiator for the Bicentenary, Indigenous Community Mural, Widjeri Co-operative Ltd, Bourke in 1988.
• Ms Flavia Gobbo for service to business and to public administration. Ms Gobbo was Director of Employers Mutual Limited, 2016-2019.
• Mr Ian Malcolm Goldfinch for service to the community of Ravensthorpe. Mr Goldfinch was Director of Co-operative Bulk Handling (CBH) Group, 1987-2002, and author of Legends of the Grain Game, Stories of the People who Built Co-Operative Grain Handling (published 2003).
• Mr Graeme Alexander Grant for service to the finance and superannuation sectors. Mr Grant held various roles with CareSuper: Chair, 2012-2014, Deputy Chair, 2010-2011, Employer Director, 2008-2017, and Former Chair, Investment Review Committee and Governance and Remuneration Committee. He also worked with Colonial Group as Former State Manager, Former National Marketing Manager, Deputy Chief Executive Officer – United Kingdom, Colonial Mutual, 1966-1997 and Former General Manager, SuperPartners.
• The late Mr Brian Green for service to the community in a range of roles and organisations. He was a Board Director, Manly Warringah Credit Union, 2000s.
• Mr Peter Wayne Morris for service to the community of the Illawarra. Mr Morris held various roles with IMB Bank including Chief Executive Officer, 1999-2007, Chairman, IMB Financial Planning Limited, 2001-2007 and Employee, 1977-2007. He also served as Director, Newcastle Permanent Building Society, 2009-2014; Director, ABACUS Australian Mutuals, 2005-2007; and Chairman Australian Association of Permanent Building Societies, 2002-2005 and Director, 1999-2005.