Two Australian representatives have been named on the 2025 Australia Day Honours List, with Olympic champion Nina Kennedy and Commonwealth Games representative Julie Charlton both awarded with the Medal of the Order of Australia this weekend.
Kennedy’s career soared to incredible heights in 2024, when she became Australia’s ninth woman to win Olympic gold in athletics, and the first ever Australian gold medallist in the women’s pole vault. Now a three-time global medallist and a dual Commonwealth Games medallist, Kennedy will receive her medal for her service to sport as one of the nation’s newest Olympic champions.
For her service to sport and to people with a disability, Sydney’s Julie Charlton was also recognised in the celebrations. The Birmingham 2022 representative most recently won a full suite of medals at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Fiji, including gold in the Javelin F57. In addition to her efforts in stadia, Charlton is an ambassador for Wheelchair Sports NSW, encouraging children with disabilities to get active, and holds an Athletics Australia Level 2 Coaching Accreditation. She is also member of Disability Council NSW.
Additionally, amongst the 732-strong list, the late Kevin Andrews was one of 108 Australians to be awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM). Once secretary of Melbourne University AC and a board member of the former Victorian Athletics Association, now Athletics Victoria, Andrews received the posthumous honour for significant service to the people and Parliament of Australia, to the Catholic Church and to the Community.
Athletics Australia CEO Simon Hollingsworth said:
“The contribution of these two extraordinary athletes and individuals to our sport cannot be overstated. From the global stage to the grassroots, Nina and Julie embody everything that makes our sport special.
“Today, we celebrate them and thank them for their dedication to Australian athletics.”
Recipients announced in the list will be invested with their awards in the coming months, either by the Governor-General at Government House in Canberra, or by their respective State Governors.
By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 27/1/2025
