Two Member Association Presidents lead the list of nine Australian Athletics Family Members recognised yesterday for the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours.
Queensland Athletics’ Yvonne (Mullins) Papadimos AM (pictured) who is acknowledged for her roles in international sports administration and athletics.
Yvonne’s contribution to athletics has been long and diverse including as executive director of Oceania Athletics since 2005 and as a board member of Queensland Athletics from 2010 – and as its president since 2022.
She also serves in a variety of positions within World Athletics, the Organisation of Sports Federations of Oceania and the Pacific Games Council.
“It’s quite overwhelming and very humbling” Papadimos said of the Honour.
Papadimos has either volunteered or worked in athletics and other sports such as surf life saving in Queensland, for nearly 40 years
“I think the thing I’m most proud of is that I’ve been able to work with and help a lot of people who didn’t always have the same opportunities that we have here,” she said.
“Working across the Pacific, and being able to make opportunities happen in these small countries or communities is something very special for me.”
Papadimos and a small team recently ran a very successful Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin.
The Honour recognises her incredible work, but what really makes it worth it is when she sees the smiles on the faces of the athletes she has helped make a path in the sport, especially across the Pacific.
“I can’t even tell you the amount of young athletes, or administrators, coaches and officials who thought it was just incredible,” she said of the recently Oceania Athletics Championships.
“I talk about opportunities all the time, because I think that’s what we do.
“We make opportunities happen and that’s what we’ve been able to do in Oceania which is so rewarding.”
Papadimos and her staff yesterday toasted the award with some celebratory cake.
Former Hobart Lord Mayor, Damon Thomas AM has led Athletics Tasmania since 2021 and is cited for his significant contributions to local government, the law and to the Tasmanian community.
Thomas has re-imagined the governance of the sport in Tasmania including the merging of the administrative arms of AT and Little Athletics Tasmania.
In broader public life he has also been Tasmania’s Crown Solicitor and Ombudsman and serves as the Honorary Consul, South Korea in addition to his 13 years as an alderman.
Joining them as a Member of the Order of Australia is World Athletics Gold Referee, Kim Owens AM whose is awarded for her significant service to athletics as an official and administrator.
Like Papadimos, Owens is a Life Member of Australian Athletics.
She has quietly but effectively risen to the highest levels of the officiating ranks of both WA and World Para Athletics and has been appointed by both to major international events.
An educator by profession, Kim has widely respected throughout the sport as a trainer and mentor.
Also recognised as Members of the Order are former ACT Athletics board member and AA Tribunal member, Bronwyn Fagan AM and WPA classifier since 1998 and renowned researcher Professor Sean Tweedy AM.
Fagan is acknowledged for her significant service to sports administration across many disciplines, to broadcast media and the community including as a director of the Canberra Raiders.
Tweedy receives his award for significant service to para sport, adapted physical activity and tertiary education including for his roles as Scientific Advisor to WPA and member of its Classification Advisory Group from 2011 to 2025.
The Medal of the Order has been conferred on 1968 Olympian Peter Watson OAM.
The 1500m runner who also competed at the 1974 Commonwealth Games and was three times a national champion was awarded for his service to the people and Parliament of Western Australia in which he made his mark as the member for Albany for two decades and as Speaker of the House from 2017 to 2020.
Among those recognised for service to their local communities are Deslee Daley OAM (Longreach QLD), Feona Henness OAM(the Hills District NSW) and Susan Springfield OAM (Mulgrave and Springfield North VIC).
Daley engages with athletics through the Longreach Club, whilst her award acknowledges principally her roles with Rotary and the Scouting Movement.
Heannes has taken on diverse tasks with Hills District Little Athletics since 2010 whilst also engaging with fund-raising and support for those with cancer.
Susan’s involvement with both Little Athletics and netball, among other organisations, in her communities of St John Vianney School and Springvale extended from 1968 to the 2000s.
Australian Athletics President Jane Flemming celebrated the breadth of the contributions of those recognised in this year’s List.
“From our leaders to those who deliver so much at grassroots level and those who provide their specialist expertise when we call upon them, we can be immensely proud of those members of the great Australian Athletics who have been bestowed with well-deserved awards today,,” Flemming said.
By Brian Roe
Posted 9/6/2026
