Strong showing by sector in King's Birthday Honours

Nineteen-year-old West Australian Scott Guerini was this year’s youngest award recipient after being named an Officer of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community through charitable organisations.

A motivational speaker, marathon runner, podcaster and author, Guerini founded Scott’s Great Walk for Telethon as a four-year-old in 2010, after a kindergarten lesson on fundraising inspired him to walk 25km from the family farm to town to raise money to help sick babies and children.

Guerini has walked or run fundraising marathons every year since, clocking up 1,100km and raising more than $220,000 for charity.

He said he was surprised but honoured when told he had been awarded an OAM.

“It was just incredible because I never thought I’d be in such a position where my charity efforts would be recognised in this way, so it was kind of amazing really.”

Guerini, who is in his second year of studying cybersecurity at university, said receiving an OAM would spur on his efforts to help others.

“Obviously, it feels good every year doing what I do, but receiving such an honour just gives me fresh ambition to keep pushing myself and keep doing good things for people and taking the charity as far as I can.”

At the other end of the age scale, 101-year-old Henry Young received an OAM for service to veterans, and to tennis.

Young, from Myrtle Bank in South Australia, is an honorary life member of the Memorial Drive Tennis Club in Adelaide and a member of the South Australian Seniors Tennis Association, and he saw extensive service with the Fleet Air Arm in World War Two.

Young, who plans to play tennis with his doubles partner Pam McGrath in an international tournament in Croatia in October and believes the secret to his longevity is drinking six litres of milk every week, said he felt humbled to be recognised by the King.

“There are many people who are more worthy than me for an award of this nature,” said Young.

“Australia is a lucky country and we are all fortunate to live in it. There is no better place to live in the world.”

A total of 830 people were recognised across multiple categories in this year’s awards, a 30 per cent increase on the 2025 Australia Day Honour’s List.

The not-for-profit and charity sector was well represented, with award recipients ranging from high profile CEOs and sportspeople through to unsung grassroots community members, all of them acknowledged by Governor General Samantha Mostyn.

“I am delighted to congratulate all those recognised in the King’s Birthday 2025 Honours List,” she said.

“These honours recognise the selfless service, integrity, achievement, creativity and care that flourish across our country.”

Mostyn said that as Governor General, she is witness to the values of care, kindness and respect evident in Australians recognised by the nations honours system.

“Every day, and all across the country, Australians are doing extraordinary things with passion, generosity, energy and resolve,” she said.

“To all who are being recognised in the Kings Birthday 2025 Honours List, I want to offer my congratulations and gratitude for all that you have given to Australia.”

High profile Kings Birthday Honours List recipients this year included:

• veteran media personality and broadcaster Philip Adams, who received a Companion of the Order of Australia (AO) for eminent service to broadcast media, journalism, the arts, cultural leadership and the community
  
  
• National Australia Bank non-executive director Kathryn Fagg AO for eminent service to business governance, to the banking, finance and investment industry, to public administration, to the not-for-profit sector, and to women
  
• Baz Luhrmann, director of blockbuster films including Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge and Elvis, who received a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to the arts as a filmmaker, to the theatre, to cultural heritage, and to the development of artistic talent
  
  
• Nicole Livingstone AO, former swimmer, broadcaster, founder of charity Ovarian Cancer Australia and CEO of the Victorian Institute of Sport, for distinguished service to sports development and administration, to the promotion of women in sport, and to community health

• former prime minister Scott Morrison AC, “for eminent service to the people and Parliament of Australia, particularly as Prime Minister, to notable contributions to global engagement, to leadership of the national COVID-19 response, to economic initiatives, and to national security enhancements, especially through leadership of Australia's contribution to AUKUS.”

The diverse range of charity, NFP and community sector award recipients ranged from enthusiastic community sports advocates to philanthropists and indefatigable volunteers.

They included:

• Wendy McCarthy, chair of Parenthood Alliance, former chair of Plan International Australia and co-founder of Sydney Women’s Fund, who was awarded an AC for eminent service to children and youth, to health, to the arts, to business, to the community, and to women's leadership
  
  
• Dr Geraldine Atkinson AO, for distinguished service to the Indigenous community, education, First Nations self-determination and reconciliation
  
  
• 2024 Queensland Community Philanthropist of the Year Clive Berghofer AO, for distinguished service to the community of Queensland through philanthropic support of health and emergency services, sporting and educational organisations
  
  
• Professor Christine Bigby, director of the Latrobe University Living with Disability Research Centre, who received an AO for distinguished service to people with intellectual disabilities, to social welfare and inclusion research, policy and practice, and to tertiary education
  
  
• Beyond Blue CEO and Excellence in Women’s Leadership Award winner Georgina Harman AO for distinguished service to the mental health sector, to the LBGTQIA+ community, and to not-for-profit organisations.

Read the full 2025 Kings Birthday Honours List

More information

Sector efforts recognised in Australia Day Honours