From the National President – 2021 Australia Day Honours

Dear Members,

This year’s Australia Day Honours has recognised the paramount position of architecture in Australian communities, and the talented people who dedicate their life’s work to this endeavour.

On behalf of the Australian Institute of Architects, I am delighted to congratulate Life Fellows Professor Paul Christopher Memmott and Jillian Garner on their Australia Day awards.

University of Queensland professor Paul Memmott was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to ethno-architecture and anthropology, to Indigenous housing and cultural heritage, and to tertiary education.

Paul’s contribution to architecture, research and Indigenous housing is profound. He was the first architect anthropologist,  pioneered research into Australian Indigenous architecture – at that time an unchartered field – and in 1974 founded the Aboriginal Environments Research Centre. After almost a half century, he still remains the expert on Australian Indigenous architecture. Throughout the course of his career he has authored a plethora of books, 300 published papers and 100 technical reports. He became a Life Fellow of the Institute in 2012.

Victorian architect and co-founder of Garner Davis Architects, Jillian Garner, became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for her significant service to architecture, to professional associations, and to education.

Jillian’s contribution to architecture in Victoria, and Australia, is substantial. In addition to co-founding her award-winning private practice Garner Davis, she joined the Office of the Victorian Government Architect in 2010, became Chair of the Victorian Design Review Panel in 2012, and has been Victorian Government Architect since 2015. Her wider engagement roles include chairing the National Committee for the Venice Architecture Biennale; serving as a Board member of the IBA Melbourne Housing Expo; being a member of the Government Architects Network Australia; and  working as a Board Member and examiner in architectural practice for the Architects Registration Board of Victoria. She was appointed a Life Fellow of the Institute in 2018.

Paul and Jillian are among the 844 Australians recognised for their outstanding service and contributions in 2021. A list of Australia Day Honours recognising those in the design and broader built environment sector can be viewed below.

The Institute’s own awards attest to our profession’s inventiveness, imagination and multiplicity, coupled with a deep concern for the public interest: our quest for spaces and places imbued with greater beauty, amenity and humane qualities perspicuously improve our cities, towns and rural landscapes.

Australian civil honours are the public acclaim for the value we bring to the public and community in our quest for improvement. This recognition of individual members enhances our profession as a whole. Congratulations to all the recipients and our sincere thanks for your contribution to our profession and the community.

Of the many lessons the past year has taught us, one prevailing fact has remained – our role in conceiving spaces where people live their lives, and interact with each other and their environment, has a significant part to play in resilience, recovery, and people’s health and wellbeing.

The designs conceived through times such as this will, as all architecture does, stand as a testament to our place and moment in history. And as we celebrate and reflect on 90 years of the Institute, ours is a history to be proud of.

Yours in architecture,

Alice Hampson
National President

Australia day 2021 Honours list

The Australia Day 2021 Honours List, recognises 844 Australians.

Included in the list are:

  • 570 recipients of awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia (4 AC, 36 AO, 159 AM and 371 OAM)
  • 28 recipients of awards in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (2 AO, 11 AM and 15 OAM
  • 176 meritorious awards
  • 70 Distinguished and Conspicuous awards

Below is a summary of recipients involved in architecture, urban design, property development and construction. Those highlighted in blue have a direct link to architecture.


OFFICER (AO) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Professor Paul Christopher MEMMOTT St Lucia QLD 4072 For distinguished service to ethno-architecture and anthropology, to Indigenous housing and cultural heritage, and to tertiary education.

Ms Samantha Joy MOSTYN NSW For distinguished service to business and sustainability, and to the community, through seminal contributions to a range of organisations, and to women.


MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Mr Michael Raymond BUXTON Portsea VIC 3944 For significant service to the visual arts, and to the property development sector.

Mrs Radmila DESIC Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113 For significant service to women in the construction industry, and to unemployed youth.

Ms Jillian Meredith GARNER VIC For significant service to architecture, to professional associations, and to education.

Ms Catherine Maree KISS Camberwell VIC 3124 For significant service to the parks and recreation industry, and to children’s wellbeing.

Mr Hank Christiaan LAAN Cronulla NSW 2230 For significant service to the building and construction sectors.

Dr Ronald James WEBBER Mornington VIC 3931 For significant service to the building and construction sector.

The Honourable Patricia Lynne WHITE Leabrook SA 5068 For significant service to engineering, and to the people and Parliament of South Australia.


MEDAL (OAM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Ms Heather Maeve BARRETT Castlemaine VIC 3450 For service to sustainable urban design, and to environmental conservation.

Mr Neil Clifford BARRETT Castlemaine VIC 3450 For service to sustainable urban design, and to environmental conservation

Mr Richard Patrick CHADWICK Killarney Heights NSW 2087 For service to the building and construction industry.

Mr Geoffrey JOCHELSON Kensington NSW 2033 For service to the building and construction industry, particularly security of payment.

Mr Jeremy David MANSFIELD QLD For service to the building and construction industry.


PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM)

Mr Stephen Michael DURNFORD NSW For outstanding public service to building regulation in New South Wales.

 

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