AusLeisure

Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser has today been appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - the highest level of the nation’s awards for achievement or meritorious service - in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Fraser won eight Olympic medals, including freestyle gold medals at three successive Olympic Games in 1956, 1960 and 1964, and since her swimming career has been involved in a range of community and business activities.

Fraser said the honour made her feel the same as winning her first gold medal in 1956, commenting “I’ve got to put it down as equalling my first gold medal win.”

Fraser was named the World's Greatest Living Female Water Sports Champion by the International Olympic Committee in 1999 and Australia's Greatest Female Athlete in 2013.

A range of rugby union figures were also acknowledged for the contribution to Australian society in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

A total of seven recipients were acknowledged for their service to the headlined by Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) Chairman, Bruce Hodgkinson, and Rob Bradley, who were each named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Hodgkinson was recognised for significant service to community health through cancer support and awareness programs, for his work as Chair of Cancer Council NSW. He was also acknowledged for his role with RUPA, particularly with regards to player welfare.

Bradley received his AM for significant service to sport through management and community development, and as an advocate for health and water safety initiatives as Chief Executive of Royal Life Saving Society – Australia. He was instrumental in the creation of the Australian national women’s XVs team, the Wallaroos, when he worked with the national union in the early 1990’s.

Bradley has also served as President of the Australian, Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA).

Five other key members of the rugby community were awarded for their service to the game and their local communities.

Queensland’s Geoff Barton, and the ACT region’s Geoff Larkham and Richard Cordy each received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) exclusively for service to the game.

Barton was awarded for his service to Queensland Country Rugby Union in various roles, while both Larkham and Cordy served as Board Directors of the Brumbies and were tributed for their contribution to their local clubs – Cordy with the Tuggeranong Vikings, and Larkham with Western Districts Rugby Club in Canberra. Larkham served as President of the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union from 2004-2015 and is father of former Wallabies great and current Wallabies Assistant Coach, Stephen Larkham.

In Sydney, St Ives Rugby Club life member and former Vice President, Peter Thomson was credited with an OAM for his service to the community through a range of volunteer roles.

Former Cairns Rugby Union President, the late Charles Woodward was awarded a posthumous OAM for significant services to tourism in north Queensland.

Australia Day Honours List level of award

Companion of the Order (AC)
Officer of the Order (AO)
Member of the Order (AM)
Medal of the Order (OAM)

To advise of others recognised in the Australia Day honours please contact leisure@ausleisure.com.au

Images: Dawne Fraser, AC (top) and Rob Bradley, AM (below).

26th January 2018 - LIFESAVER’S DECADES OF ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNISED WITH MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

12th June 2017 - ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FIGURES ACKNOWLEDGED IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 

26th January 2017 - AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS AWARD INDUSTRY FIGURES 

8th December 2016 - DAWN FRASER CALLS FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS TO LEARN TO SWIM

28th January 2016 - LIFE SAVING LEADERS RECOGNISED BY AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

26th January 2016 - ROD LAVER, GRAHAM FORD AND DAVID GALLOP RECOGNISED IN AUSTRALIAN DAY HONOURS

26th January 2016 - CULTURAL FIGURES AND PHILANTHROPISTS RECOGNISED IN AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS 

8th June 2015 - MORE THAN 700 AUSTRALIANS RECOGNISED IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS

20th January 2014 - RESEARCH REVIEW SUGGESTS BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISKS OF INJURY IN JUNIOR SPORT 

15th January 2013 - BRADLEY TO LEAVE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY AUSTRALIA 

16th April 2012 - MADAME TUSSAUDS OPENS SYDNEY ATTRACTION

11th May 2011 - BRADLEY PASSES AALARA PRESIDENCY TO VILLAGE’S LINES

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.