Surf Coast Councillor and former Mayor Rosemary Hodge, is among a handful of local women recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list.She has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to local government and to the community, having served on Council since 2004.
Other local women to be honoured include Geelong doctor Margaret Grigg, and Highton general practitioner Dr Susan Lester.
Sylvia Stewart-Muir, known as Aunty Fay, has also been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Indigenous community of Victoria.
Governor-General David said an increasing number of women are being recognised.
“They are inspiring people and collectively speak to who we are and the nation we aspire to be.
“I’m particularly please that for the first time since the Order of Australia was established in 1975, more women than men are being recognised in the General Division of the Order.
“Reaching gender parity in the order is a major milestone.”
Former police officer Ian Graham of Grovedale has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, Mr Graham has been a member of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association and has been involved in international service club the Kiwanis.
Longtime Lara volunteer firefighter Leslie Kelly has also been honoured for his service, along Vietnam Veteran and Portarlington local Rieny Nieuwenhof.
Belmont’s Ian Caldwell has been recognised for his dedication to cricket, as the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s longest-standing president.
Image: Governer-General David Hurley (AAP)