Two Manly locals have been celebrated for their outstanding contributions to surf lifesaving and publishing among ten Northern Beaches honourees in the 2024 King’s Birthday list.
Honour Roll Highlights
The King’s Birthday honours have recognised a broad spectrum of contributions from the Northern Beaches community. The late Kevin Ernest Weldon AM from Manly has been posthumously awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service in various fields including surf lifesaving and publishing. Alongside him, Mr. William Clifford Gee also from Manly received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to surf lifesaving.
Contributions Across the Northern Beaches
Other notable recipients include Anita Keelan from Fairlight and Lynn Kraus from North Balgowlah, who were both acknowledged as Members of the Order of Australia (AM) for their significant services in sports administration and business, respectively. Pamela Pritchard from Belrose and Michael Smith from Collaroy Plateau also received AMs for their contributions to community service and geological sciences.
AO (Officer of the Order of Australia): This is a higher level of recognition than the AM and is awarded for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large. The recipients of this award have had a significant impact through their contributions and leadership.
Here are the 10 Northern Beaches awardees from the 2024 King’s Birthday honours list:
| Name | Suburb | Award | Contribution |
| Mrs Lindsay Claire DAVIS | Freshwater | OAM | Service to surf lifesaving with Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club and Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches. |
| Mr William Clifford GEE | Manly | OAM | Service to surf lifesaving with Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club, and to the community. |
| Mrs Anita Blanche KEELAN | Fairlight | AM | Significant service to netball as a coach and administrator. |
| Ms Lynn Smith KRAUS | North Balgowlah | AM | Significant service to business and commerce, and to gender equality. |
| Mr Ian Kevin MATTHEWSON | Avalon Beach | OAM | Service to the community of Brisbane with Freemasons Queensland. |
| Ms Pamela Muriel PRITCHARD | Belrose | AM | Significant service to the community with Rotary, and to social welfare and education. |
| Mrs Maureen Anne RUTLIDGE | Elanora Heights | OAM | Service to the community of the Northern Beaches, including Special Needs education and community sport. |
| Mr Michael John SMITH | Collaroy Plateau | AM | Significant service to geological and earth sciences. |
| Dr Laurence John UPFOLD | Narrabeen | OAM | Service to people who are deaf or hard of hearing as an audiologist. |
| Mr Kevin Ernest WELDON AM | Manly (late) | AO | Distinguished service to surf lifesaving, publishing, animal welfare, and philanthropy. |
AM (Member of the Order of Australia): This award is given for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group. It is lower than the AO but still recognizes significant achievement or meritorious service.
OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia): This is awarded for service worthy of particular recognition. Recipients of the OAM are usually those who have made valuable contributions at a local community level or whose achievements have a significant local impact.
Commemorative Services and Events
As the Commonwealth marks this significant occasion, an extra public holiday has been granted to most states on June 10, with varying dates across regions to ensure a spread of public holidays throughout the year. This weekend aligns with the UK’s annual Trooping the Colour parade, which commemorates the monarch’s official birthday, a tradition maintained for over 260 years.
Why Celebrate in June?
The timing for the King’s Birthday public holiday, widely observed in June despite the King’s actual birthday in November, is historically aligned with the UK due to the favourable weather conditions for public ceremonies. This tradition ensures that the celebrations and the associated honours list can be part of a grander, well-attended event.
Local Impact and Recognition
This year’s honours not only highlight the significant achievements of individuals from the Northern Beaches but also bring attention to the diverse ways in which these citizens have positively impacted their community and beyond. Their recognition serves as a beacon of inspiration and pride for the locals, showcasing the rich tapestry of dedication and service within the community.
Published 13-June-2024
