Congratulations to the members of the University of New England community who have been recognised in the 2025 Australia Day Honours list for their unique contributions to their fields.
We will continue to update this story with further information on members of the UNE community who have received Australia Day Honours.
The recipients of these honours - bestowed to highlight and reward outstanding service and contributions - include current and former UNE alumni, staff, students.
After being named the recipient of the 2022 UNE Alumni Community Award for his significant contribution to supporting the arts community, Mr Alan Gilmour has also received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Australia Day 2025. Mr Gilmour has again deservedly been honoured for service to the arts, particularly through music.
Among the honours recipients with a historical connection to UNE, Professor Claire Smith - an Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow with UNE from 1994-1998 - has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to tertiary education, particularly social and anthropological archaeology, and as a national and international academic.
Adam Johnston has been named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to community health, to the law, and to people living with disability. Mr Johnston has a Master of Laws from UNE. He is a solicitor and a committed advocate for people with disabilities interacting with health and disability services and agencies such as local health districts and the NDIS - something with which he has lived experience as a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy. He has served and continues to serve on several advisory committees including being the deputy chair of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians' Ethics Committee since 2021; and a current member of Health Ethics Advisory Panel with the NSW Ministry of Health.
Colonel Graham Ferguson has received an OAM for service to veterans and their families. He is a decorated Australian Army colonel who was the inaugural president of the 1st Commando Regiment Association (2005) and the inaugural chairman of the Commando Welfare Trust (2011-2021). His previous recognition includes the Defence Force Service Medal, Australian Army, 1988, 1993 and 1997.
Mrs Anna Barwick, until recently a lecturer in pharmacy practice with UNE and now completing her PhD, has received an OAM for her service to the pharmacy profession. Anna is also the founder of PharmOnline, which aims to connect Australians in remote areas to pharmacists 24/7. Anna's other accolades in recent years include being named the 2021 NSW Pharmacist of the Year (Pharmaceutical Society of Australia), the 2022 NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year, and a 2023 Superstar of STEM (Science & Technology Australia).
Armidale Regional Council has named its Young Citizen of the year as Mr James Pegg, who is completing his Bachelor of Rural Science degree and living in college at UNE. James, 20, is also a member of the Diggings Rural Fire Brigade and has been recognised for “a level of maturity and leadership well beyond his years, which is reflected by his appointment as Captain of the New England RAFT Brigade in 2024”.
Other members of the UNE community who have been recognised in the Australia Day Honours are:
Mrs Marcia Armstrong: PSM for outstanding public service in maternal and child health service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councillor Dianna Baker: OAM For service to local government, and to the community of Inverell.
Ms Cheryl Dunn: OAM for service to nursing.
Captain Hugh Grogan: CSC for outstanding achievement in enhancing Australian Defence Force preparedness planning and governance.
Ms Patricia Hadley: OAM for service to the community of Narrabri.
Mr John Hedley: ASFM for distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service.
Mr Gregory Hoving: OAM for service to veterans.
The late Mr Daryll Raymond Hull: AM for his significant service to the transport industry, and to tertiary education.
Ms Janelle Lynes: PSM for outstanding public service to multicultural public education in NSW.
Mr John Mason: OAM for service to the community of Millthorpe.
Ms Jodie McEwan: PSM for outstanding public service in significant policy and legislative reform at the Australian Federal Police.
Mr Michael Nowill: CSM for meritorious devotion to duty as an Aviation Technician within the Fleet Air Arm.
Mrs Cheryle Pedler: OAM for service to the community through a range of roles and organisations.
Mr James Rodgers: OAM for service to primary and secondary education, and to cricket.
Mr Martin Wren: OAM for service to people with disability.
