OAHRG

2025 WELCOME UPDATE

ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

HUNTER REGIONAL GROUP

The Hunter Regional Group Committee of The Order of Australia Association welcomes you to this update on activities planned for 2025. The committee has been busy organising the 2025 celebration events for recipients of Order of Australia awards. These events allow you to meet up with fellow honoursâ recipients and to meet new awardees, to be announced in January and June. We hope to see many of you at the Morning Teas.

Membership of the Hunter Regional Group is free and open to any recipient of an award in the Order of Australia honours system who resides within the Hunter Region. You do not need to be a member of the National Order of Australia Association to attend our events. The events are also open to family, friends and Order of Australia recipients who are visiting the region.

The Hunter Regional Group updated the membership list in 2024, and email is the now the most common mode of communication with you. However, for those who do not have internet access the postal invitations will continue. Invitations will be issued prior to events.

Important changes to the Order of Australia

Two significant changes occurred to the Order of Australia during 2024. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, King Charles assumed the role of Head of the Order of Australia Awards. The awards announced in June each year are now referred to as the Kingâs Birthday Awards. The Australia Day awards remain the same.

On the 1^st of July 2024, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC assumed the office of Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Governor-General accepted to continue the role as Patron of the Order of Australia. In her inaugural speech, the Governor-General set the principles for her Governorship as: kindness, care, respect and generosity.

National Conference Sydney 2025

2025 is the 50^th anniversary of the Order of Australia. A National Conference is held each year, rotating around Australian States and Territories. This year the National Conference of the Order of Australia Association will be held in Sydney between 1-5 May. You may wish to attend this event to learn more about the Association and Order of Australia awards.

Hunter Regional Group Committee

I have assumed an interim role as Acting Convenor of the Hunter Regional Group while our Convenor, Mr Peter Corcoran AM, is on extended leave. We encourage you to keep in touch and if you have any suggestions for the Committee we welcome hearing from you.

Professor Maree Gleeson OAM

Acting Hunter Regional Group Convenor