CASS academics and alumni receive Queen's Birthday Honours

11 June, 2014

High profile members of the College of Arts and Social Sciences community have been honoured for their contribution to Australia in the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Order of Australia Honours.

Historian Professor Tom Griffiths and women’s health advocate Dr Gwen Gray Jamieson were both appointed Officers in the Order of Australia (AO) for their contribution to Australia.

Professor Tom Griffiths on fieldwork in Antarctica

Professor Tom Griffiths, AO, from the School of History, received the award for distinguished service to tertiary education, particularly social, cultural and environmental history, and through popular and academic contributions to Australian literature.

“I’m personally thrilled about the honour, and see it as recognition for history’s crucial role in Australia’s public life and conversation and for its place in our national literature,” said Professor Griffiths.

“History is not only a scholarly discipline; it is also an instinctive expression of our humanity – historians therefore find themselves engaging constantly with a lively general audience. Environmental history – the relations between people and nature over time – is a new and important way to make sense of our past and to guide our future, and Australians are doing some of the most original work in this field.”

Dr Gwen Gray Jamieson, AO was awarded for her distinguished service to the community, particularly through better women’s health outcomes, advocacy, and the development of public policy.

Dr Jamieson said it was “very pleasing” to have her public policy work recognised by such a high honour.

“Just as importantly, the award recognises the important contribution that the non-government sector makes to Australian political discussions and public policy. Without the work of non-government organisations, the views of hundreds of thousands of ordinary Australians would not be heard in policy discussions and Australian democracy would be poorer,” she said.

Emeritus Professor William (‘Bill’) Hawkey was awarded a Medal (OAM) of The Order Of Australia in the General Division the recognition of his contribution to music. He was acknowledged for his services to music, and to the communities of Canberra and the South Coast region of New South Wales.

Among other responsibilities, Bill was Director and Professor of Music at ANU School of Music (1996-1998); Deputy Director (1979-1995) and Founding Music Director of the Canberra School of Music Community Choir, now The Llewellyn Choir, (1980-1992).

A number of CASS alumni were also honoured over the long weekend:

Mr Thomas Baker OAM – GradDipArts (Hons) (1994)

For service to conservation of the environment in the Queanbeyan region.

Ms Kerry Flanagan PSM – Bachelor of Arts (1976)

For outstanding public service leading to better health and hospital services, especially through the Commonwealth Medical Internship program and the publication of national data on hospitals.

Dr Stephen Jiggins AM – LittB (Hons) (1982)

For significant service to the community of the Australian Capital Territory, particularly as an advocate for improved road safety.

The Hon Dr Barry Jones AC - HonLittD (2004)

For significant service to business, particularly the property sector, and to the community of Canberra.