Members of Bushwalking NSW and our clubs have been recognised with an Order of Australia or National Service medal for their conservation work and contribution to bushwalking.
Awards
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) – awarded for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large.
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) – for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) – awarded for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) – awarded for service worthy of particular recognition.
The National Emergency Medal – awarded to persons who rendered sustained or significant service during nationally-significant emergencies in Australia.
Centenary Medal – instituted to commemorate the contribution made to the Federation of Australia, Australian society and government by its citizens and other persons during the year 2001, the Centenary of Federation of Australia.
Prior to the current Australia award system, Commonwealth citizens were awarded the following medals by the British Crown:
Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Distinguished regional or county-wide role in any field, through achievement or service to the community including notable practitioners known nationally.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) – Achievement or service in and to the community which is outstanding in its field and has delivered sustained and real impact which stands out as an example to others
British Empire Medal (BEM) – Achievement or contribution of a very “hands-on” service to the community in a local geographical area.This might take the form of sustained commitment in support of very local charitable and/or voluntary activity.
The list below includes these awards if they are related to services to bushwalking, conservation, or search and rescue.
Bushwalking recipients
Alex Colley OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 11th of June, 1984.
Citation:In recognition of service to conservation.
Centenary Medal 1st of January, 2001.
Citation: For service to the environment through the Foundation for Wilderness.
Andy MacQueen OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 10th of June 2019.
Citation: For service to conservation and the environment.
Media Note: Conservation
- Foundation Member, Sea Spurge Remote Area Teams (SPRATS), since 2007.
- Foundation President, Friends of the Colo, since 2000.
- Member, Blue Mountains Region Advisory Committee, National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Colin Watson OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 12th of June 1989.
Citation: For service to conservation and bushwalking.
Ian Brown OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 12th of June 2000
Citation: For service to the community, particularly as a member of the Spirit of Australia South Pole Expedition, and to Scouts Australia.
NEW ZEALAND 2014. Olivine Range, Aspiring National Park, Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. Photo: Grant Dixon.
Jean Edgecombe OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 12th of June 1995.
Citation: In recognition of service to conservation and the environment and to the Australian Red Cross Society.
Joan Morison OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 26th of January 1992
Citation: For service to canoeing and kayaking.
John Evans OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 25th of January 2021
Citation: For service to bushwalking, and to the community
Media Note: Canberra Bushwalking Club
- Various roles, since 2004.
- Bushwalk host, ongoing.
Bushwalking Other
- Publisher, Johnny Boy’s Walkabout Blog, current.
- Has documented every bushwalk (over 1200) he has undertaken in the ACT, since 2004.
- Involved with the identification and documentation of all ACT border markers, ongoing.
ACT Government
- Assists with kangaroo monitoring and other surveys, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, current.
Keith Maxwell
National Service Medal 21st of August 1989
National Medal 1st Clasp 8th of March 1993
National Medal 9th of May 2007
Photo: Brian Fox
Keith Muir OAM
Centenary Medal 1st of January 2001
Citation: For service to the environment
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 26th of January 2004
Citation: For service to nature conservation, particularly through the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.
Current member:
- Blue Mountains Conservation Society
- National Parks Association of NSW
Past member:
- Darwin Bushwalking Club.
Keith Williams OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 12th of June 2000
Citation: For service to the community as a member of the Spirit of Australia South Pole Expedition, and to the Scouting movement.
Member:
- Macquarie Uni Mountaineering Society
- Three Peaks Outdoor Society
- Wagga Wagga Wilderness Walkers
- National Parks Association
Margaret Covi OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 26th of January 2024.
Citation: For service to bushwalking
Bushwalking NSW
- Management Committee Member, since 2002.
- Public Officer, 2009, and since 2019.
- Risk Management Officer, since 2016.
- President, 2003-2008.
- Ex-Officio Delegate, Bushwalking Australia, 2003-2008.
- Vice-President, 2019-2021.
- Secretary, 2009-2016.
- Member, Risk Management Committee, 2009-2016.
Watagan Wanderers
- Secretary, since mid-1990s.
- Bushwalking Trips Leader, current.
- Club Representative, Bushwalking NSW, current.
- Co-Founding Member, 1993.
Michael Keats OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 26th of January 2016.
Citation:For service to bushwalking, and as an author.
Photo: Brain Fox
Myles Dunphy OBE
The Order of the British Empire – Officer (Civil) (Imperial), 31st of December 1976
Citation: In recognition of service to conservation
Ninian Melville BEM
The Order of the British Empire – Medal (Civil) / British Empire Medal (Civil) (Imperial) 1974
Ninian was a member of Coast & Mountain Walkers and received his award for service to Search and Rescue.
Frank Austin (Paddy) Pallin AM
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) 9th of June, 1975
Photo: Winifred Duncombe collection courtesy of Nancy and Robert Pallin.
Phillip Isaacs OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 14th of June 2001
Citation: For service to the community through a range of roles.
Media Notes:
Rotary International
- Member, Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise, since 2001.
- Director, Foundation Grants and International Activities, Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise, current.
- Former President and Member, Rotary Club of North Ryde.
- Former President and Member, Rotary Club of Macquarie Park.
- Former District Chair, Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC).
Sea Spurge Remote Area Teams (SPRATS)
- Honorary Treasurer, 2007-2014.
- Foundation Member, since 2007.
Community
- Supporter, The Smith Family, current.
- Volunteer, BlazeAid Tasmania, 2013.
- Volunteer, Friends of Colo, since circa 2000.
Genetic Signatures
- Non-Executive Director, 2003-2019
Peter Treseder OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 26th of January 1992.
Citation:for service to bushwalking.
Selby Alley OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 26th January 1987
Citation: In recognition of service to the community.
Selby George Alley died in 1990.
Former Member
- Newcastle Bushwalking Club
- National Parks Association – a prime activist in the campaign to declare Barrington Tops a national park, studied and recorded history of aboriginal occupation of the Hunter Valley
- Newcastle Regional Committee of Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme
- Flora and Fauna Preservation Society – foundation member
Photo with permission: Selby Alley Senior, Student Counsellor at Newcastle University, Newcastle Morning Herald Collection, Newcastle Libraries
Stan Cottier OAM
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 11th of June 1990.
Citation: In recognition of service to the conservation and the environment