The Order of Australia is the principal means of recognising outstanding members of the community at a national level. Anyone can nominate a member of the community for recognition through the Order. The Order of Australia was established in 1975 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The Order of Australia is awarded at four levels:
Optometrists have received an award within the Order of Australia for service to either academia, clinical practice, the optical industry or professional leadership. A few have been recognised for services other than to optometry and some, who are not optometrists, have been recognised for services to optometry. All awards that we are aware of, are tabulated below, ranked by level of award, and chronologically within each level.
This listing has been based on exhaustive research, but it may be incomplete; if you are aware of any omissions, please notify Optometry Australia and the record will be put right.
RECIPIENT YEAR (a) CITATION CAREER (b) STATE (c)
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
EFRON, Nathan 2015 Q For eminent service to medicine in the field of clinical optometry, particularly to vision correction and corneal physiology, as an academic, researcher and author, to the treatment of juvenile diabetes, and through executive roles with national and international professional organisations Professor, QUT QLD
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
COLE, Barry Leighton 1987 A In recognition of service to medicine, particularly in the field of optometry Professor, UoM VIC
GLASSON, William John (d) 2008 A For service to medicine through contributions to people in rural and remote areas, to the eye health of Indigenous people, and to professional medical organisations Optometrist and ophthalmologist QLD
STAPLETON, Fiona 2023 K For distinguished service to optometry as a researcher, mentor and role model, to tertiary education, and to national and international organisations. Scientia Professor, UNSW NSW
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
WRIGHT, Charles Frederick 1977 Q For service to optometry, especially as the official historian of the Australian Optometrical Association, and for his civic involvement in Adelaide Historian, OA SA
PANK, David Leon 1980 Q For service to industry Optometrist and ophthalmic lens manufacturer SA
TREVAKS, Gadd (d) 1994 Q For services to health care administration and to medicine Optometrist and medical practitioner VIC
SMITH, Damien Patrick 1995 A For service to optometry particularly through the promotion of eye care in the Asia-Pacific region President, World Optometry Council VIC
EZEKIEL, Donald Frederick 1997 A In recognition of service to the optometrical profession and to the development of the scleral contact lens Contact lens manufacturer WA
JOHNSTON, Alan William 1997 A For service to people with visual impairment particularly in the field of optometric rehabilitation Associate Professor, UoM VIC
COLLIN, Hermann Barry 1997 Q For service to optometric research and education in the Asia-Pacific region Professor, UNSW NSW
BOWMAN, Kenneth John 1999 A For service to education and to optometry, particularly through the Queensland University of Technology Professor, QUT QLD
WATKINS, Rodney Dennis 2005 Q For service to optics and optometry through the development and manufacture of ophthalmic equipment designed for use in remote locations throughout the world Ophthalmic instruments entrepreneur SA
SIMS, Norman Brian 2006 A For service to medicine, particularly through the establishment of the Lions Low Vision Clinic, and to people with a visual impairment Optometrist in practice TAS
WESTHEIMER, Gerald 2009 Q For service to vision science as a researcher, through optometric education and as a mentor Professor, UC Berkeley USA
ANJOU, Mitchell David 2013 A For significant service to optometry and public health, particularly in the Indigenous community, as a researcher, clinician and educator Optometry researcher and administrator VIC
CHAKMAN, Joseph (e) 2014 A For significant service to optometry and public health, particularly through policy reform Executive Director, OA VIC
KNIPE, Michael George 2015 A For significant service to optometry through executive roles with professional organisations, and to the community of Timor-Leste Optometrist in practice TAS
ISAACS, Alan 2015 Q For significant service to medical education, particularly in the field of ophthalmology, and to professional organisations Optometrist and ophthalmologist VIC
BOOTH, Jason Mathew 2016 Q For significant service to optometry as a clinical educator, to professional organisations, and to international humanitarian eye care programs Optometrist in practice SA
AUGUSTEYN, Robert Cornelis (e) 2019 A For significant service to vision science and eye health research Director, NVRI VIC
McKINNON, Timothy James 2019 A For significant service to the community of Moss Vale, and to international health programs Optometrist in practice NSW
PHILLIPS, Anthony John 2021 Q For significant service to optometry, and to professional optical societies Optometrist in practice SA
FITZPARICK, Geoffrey Noel 2022 Q For significant service to optometry, and to the community Optometrist in practice QLD
HO, Arthur 2023 K For significant service to optometry as a researcher, designer and educator. Conjoint Professor, UNSW NSW
IVERS, Rebecca (d) 2023 K For significant service to community health through injury prevention research and education. Scientia Professor, UNSW NSW
AYTON, Lauren 2025 A For significant service to optometry, to ophthalmology,
and to public health as a clinician and researcher.Professor UoM VIC
Order of Australia Medal (OAM)
LANE, Richard George (d) 1980 Q For service to the sport of scuba diving Optometrist in practice TAS
ELLIOTT, John Fletcher 1981 Q In recognition of service to medicine, particularly in the field of optometry Optometrist in practice QLD
BYRNE, Eugene Allan Norbert (d) 1982 Q In recognition of service to the sport of Rugby Union Optometrist in practice QLD
COCKBURN, David Michael 1982 Q In recognition of service to optometry Optometrist in practice VIC
LAYLAND, Brian 1982 Q For service to optometry National President, OA NSW
SWEET, James William Fletcher (d) 1982 Q For service to the sport of rifle shooting Optometrist in practice NSW
HEWETT, John Lloyd 1989 Q For service to optometry Editor, CXO NSW
LAWSON, Geoffrey Francis (d) 1990 Q For service to cricket Optometrist and international cricketer NSW
HOLDEN, Brien Anthony 1997 A For service to optometry, for contact lens research and education Professor, UNSW NSW
GIBSON, Anthony John 2004 Q For service to optometry, particularly through the eye clinic at Royal Melbourne Hospital, and to the community of Park Orchards Optometrist in practice VIC
HILL, Graham Ormond 2005 A For service to optometry through the Victorian College of Optometry and through the establishment of regional eye care services, and to the community President, ACO VIC
BANKS, Margaret McNeill 2005 Q For service to children with vision impairments through contributions in the specialised field of behavioural optometry Optometrist in practice VIC
KIRKWOOD, Rodney Arthur (d) 2006 A For service to medicine as an ophthalmologist and to the community of Mackay Optometrist and ophthalmologist QLD
DWYER, Peter Stanway 2007 Q For service to optometry through executive roles in professional organisations, the establishment of a nationally consistent competency-based approach to the registration of practitioners and as a researcher in the field of paediatrics Foundation Chairman, OCANZ VIC
GALLOWAY, John Athol (d) 2008 A For service to the community of Tamworth through a range of youth, service and church organisations Optometrist in practice NSW
COSANDEY, Dorothy May (d) 2010 A For service to people with a disability through voluntary roles with the Teralba Association, and to the community of Mapleton Optometrist in practice QLD
HANKS, Anthony John 2010 Q For service to optometry, and to the community of Port Macquarie Optometrist in practice NSW
WALDRON, Heather Esme 2012 Q For service to community health in the field of optometry, and to the community Optometrist in practice QLD
NATHAN, Jonathan 2013 Q For service to medical education, particularly in the field of optometry President, ACO VIC
DUFFY, Jane Francis 2014 Q For service to community health, particularly through optometry services Foundation Managing Director, OCANZ VIC
LEWIS, Peter Wayne 2014 Q For service to optometry, particularly eye care in Indonesia and Timor-Leste Optometrist in practice VIC
STEWART, Peter Duthie 2014 Q For service to the international community through the provision of eye health programs Optometrist in practice VIC
WALTON, Susan Kathleen 2014 Q For service to community health, and to people with a disability Optometrist in practice NSW
CHU, Shu-Nam Samuel (d) 2016 A For service to the community through a range of organisations Optometrist in practice NSW
FARMER, John William 2017 A For service to optometry, and to the community Optometrist in practice VIC
ROTH, Mark 2017 A For service to therapeutic optometry, and to professional bodies Optometrist in practice VIC
CUNEO, John Bruce (d) 2018 Q For service to sailing Optometrist in practice QLD
HERBERT, Kenneth Cyril (d) 2019 A For service to sailing Optometrist in practice NSW
TRINH, William Huyliem 2020 Q For service to international humanitarian medical programs, and to optometry Optometrist in practice NSW
AITKEN, Michael John 2024 A For service to optometry Honorary archivist, ACO VIC
SUMMERS, Helen Christine 2024 K For service to the community of the Northern Territory, and to optometry Optometrist in practice NT
a) A, Australia Day honours list; Q, Queen’s Birthday honours list; K, King’s Birthday honours list
b) Primary career activity at the time of the award. ACO, Australian College of Optometry; CXO, Clinical and Experimental Optometry; NVRI, National Vision Research Institute of Australia; OA, Optometry Australia; OCANZ, Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand; QUT, Queensland University of Technology; UC, University of California; UNSW, University of New South Wales; UoM, University of Melbourne
c) State/country of residence at the time of the award. NSW, New South Wales; NT, Northern Territory; QLD, Queensland; SA, South Australia; TAS, Tasmania; USA, United States of America; VIC, Victoria; WA, Western Australia.
d) Optometrist, but recognised for services other than to optometry
e) Not an optometrist, but recognised for services to optometry
More information on the history of the award can be found here.
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In the spirit of reconciliation Optometry Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.