Service to co-ops and mutuals recognised in Australia Day 2026 Honours List

27 January 2026

Congratulations to these outstanding people on being recognised in the 2026 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

Associate Professor Anthony Joseph Lynham – for distinguished service to trauma medicine as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, to the Parliament of Queensland and to the community.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service
  • Board Member and Surgeon, since 2018

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

Ms Melanie Victoria Rose Willis – for significant service to the finance, banking, and insurance sectors.

• NRMA
  • Chief Executive Officer – Investments, 2009-2015

Mr Phillip Brian Cooper – for significant service to the Indigenous community of Victoria in a range of roles.

• Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Co-operative
  • Acting Chief Executive Officer, 1990s
  • Former Field Officer, Echuca and Mildura, c1976-1980s
  • Founding Member, 1976

• Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
  • Executive Director and Field Officer, 1980s-1990s

• Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative
  • Administrator, c1980s

Dr Bruce Allan McGregor – for significant service to conservation and environment, in a range of roles.

• Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Co-operative Ltd
  • Vice-President, 1990-1992

• Brunswick Community Childcare Co-operative
  • Board Member, 1990-1994

Mr Bruce Campbell Cowley – for significant service to business, to the law and to tertiary education.

• Australian Retirement Trust
  • Board Member, since 2022

Mr Brendan Schwab – for significant service to professional sport as a lawyer, and as an advocate for athlete’s rights.

• Just Super (now part of CBUS trading as Media Super)
  • Director, 2003-2007

Ms Kim Elizabeth Anderson – for significant service to literature, and to the publishing industry.

• Great Southern Bank
  • Chair and Non-Executive Director, People and Culture Committee, current

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

Mrs Leona Christine Murphy – for service to business through governance roles.

• Royal Automobile Club of Queensland
  • Chair, since 2022
  • Director, since 2018
  • Chair, Royal Automobile Club of Queensland Bank, since 2018
  • Chair, Royal Automobile Club of Queensland Insurance, since 2017

Mr Rodney Keith Birch – for service to the grains industry.

• Co-operative Bulk Handling, Grower Advisory Council
  • Deputy Chair, 2003-2006
  • Member, 2002-2006

Mr Stephen Mark Day – for service to charitable organisations, and to the finance sector.

• People’s Choice Credit Union
  • Non-Executive Director, and Chair of the Risk Committee, 2006-2016
• Electricity Industry Superannuation Scheme
  • Independent Chair, 2002-2015
  • Chair, Board Investment Committee, 2002-2010

Mr Roger John Downs – for service to the community of the Illawarra Region.

• Illawarra Credit Union
  • Chair, 2014-2020
  • Director, 2010-2022
  • Chair, Governance Committee, 2010-2014

Brigadier Bruce Andrew Scott CSC (Retd) – for service to the sport of rifle shooting, and to the community.

• Australian Military Bank
  • Director, 2013-2022
  • Former Regional Manager

Mr Philip Alan Armstrong – for service to the community through a range of organisations.

• Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels Co-operative Ltd
  • President, current.

Mr William John Baker – for service to the community of Queanbeyan.

• Karabar Housing Co-operative
  • Member.

Emeritus Professor Shahjahan Khan – for service to the Islamic community of Australia.

• Muslim Community Co-operative Australia
  • Director, 2014-2017.

Dr Andrew Yiu-Man Kwong – for service to general practice medicine.

• Yerin Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Centre
  • Co-Founder 1993
• Gosford GP After-Hours Co-operative
  • Founder, 1985
  • Chair, 1985-1994

Mr Eli James Murn – for service to road safety advocacy.

• Royal Automobile Association South Australia
  • Presenter, Street Smart High, since 2009.

Mr Alister Colin Ferguson – for service to the Indigenous community of Bourke.

• Orana Haven Aboriginal Corporation
  • Deputy Chair c2022.

Mr Paul Orlando Griffin – for service to industrial relations through the trade union sector.

• Tasplan Super (now part of Spirit Super)
  • Board Member, 1995-2021
  • Former Member, Administration Committee.

Ms Rosamund Lesley Heit – for service to the community through a range of organisations.

• Brighter Super
  • Trustee Director, 2018-2022

Mr Reginald Alan Young – for service to the electrical trade industry.

• NESS Super
  • Chair, 2018-2021
  • Director, 2005-2021
  • Former Chair, Insurance Committee
  • Former Member, Audit and Compliance Committee
  • Former Member, Marketing Committee
  • Representative, Employer Group, 2002-2003

(Honorary) Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division

Mr George McDonald – for service to badminton.

• Mountain District Stadium Co-operative Ltd
  • Former Board Member Established, 1972

The late Mr David Andrew Heard – for service to community radio.

• Progressive Broadcasting Service Cooperative Ltd
  • Founding Volunteer, 1979
  • Broadcaster, 1979-2021
  • Presenter, Acid Country, 1979-2021
  • Former Board Member