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Twelve graduates and one staff member from The University of Western Australia have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours List.

Philanthropist and UWA graduate Dr Andrew Forrest and Professor Leon Flicker from UWA’s Centre for Medical Research were among 727 Australians across the country to be recognised in the prestigious list.

Andrew Forrest was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the mining sector, development of employment and business opportunities, as a supporter of sustainable foreign investment, and to philanthropy. In recent years, Andrew Forrest and his wife Dr Nicola Forrest founded the Forrest Research Foundation and made the largest philathropic donation in Australian history of $65 million towards advancing research and innovation in Western Australia.  This included establishing Forrest Research Foundation Scholarships that are awarded annually to the best and brightest young minds from around the world. His donation also made possible Forrest Hall – a building under construction at UWA that will provide accomodation for scholarship and fellowship recipients. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by UWA in 2014 in recognition of his outstanding service to the community of Western Australia.

UWA Professor Leon Flicker was also appointed AO for distinguished service to medicine and medical education in the field of geriatrics, as an academic and researcher, and through contributions to improved dementia prevention and care. Professor Flicker has implemented major research outcomes into clinical guidelines regarding functional decline, delirium, redesign of the hospital environment (the Aged Friendly Hospital), dementia and many others. He has been working closely with remote Indigenous Australian communities in the Kimberley and Pilbara region for last decade, and until 2013 led the DCRC-ABC Rural and Remote Dementia node.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater congratuated the Australia Day Honours List recipients for their significant achievements and contribution to society.

"We are delighted to have the outstanding contribution of our scientists, staff and graduates recognised in the prestigious honours list," Professor Freshwater said.

"Not only have these people made a significant impact in the fields of research, education and industry, they are community leaders, inspiring students and researchers to make a signficant difference in their fields."

A full list of UWA recipients in the 2017 Australia Day Honours List is below:

UWA Australia Day 2017 Honours List recipients

Awarded Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

Appointments made for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large. Excluding honorary appointments, no more than 140 Officers shall be appointed in any calendar year.

• Dr Fred Affleck , AO (Adjunct Professor & Chair of the Advisory Board for WA’s Planning and Transport Research Centre (PATREC) at UWA)
• Professor Leon Flicker, AO (Winthrop Professor of Geriatric Medicine, and Director of Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing)
• Dr Andrew Forrest, AO, CitWA   (BA 1983; HonDLitt 2014)
• Professor Colin Masters, AO (BMedSc 1968; MB BS 1971; MD 1978; HonDLitt 2008)
• Emeritus Professor Tracey Horton, AO (BEc (Hons) 1986)

Awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

Appointment made for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group. Excluding honorary appointments, no more than 340 Members shall be appointed in any calendar year.

• Mrs Alison Doley, AM (BEc 1965)
• Mr Bruce Maslin, AM (BSc 1968;  MSc 1977)
• Mr Christopher Pye, AM (LLB (Hons) 1973)
• The Hon Eric Ripper, AM (BA 1974; DipEd 1975)
• Mr David Stanton, AM (BEc 1971)

Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

Awarded for service worthy of particular recognition. There is no quota limit on awards of the Medal of the Order.

• Mrs Jennifer Aramini, OAM (BSc 1974; DipEd 1975)
• Mr William Bunbury, OAM (DipEd 1972)
• Dr David Hough, OAM (BA 1975; MBA 1984; PhD 2013)

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Media and Public Relations Manager) (+61 8) 6488 3229/ (+61 4) 32 637 716