Australia Day
Australia Day Awards
Australia Day Policy(PDF, 112KB)
Complete the online nomination form or download a printable version(PDF, 1MB). During the nomination process you will be asked to provide a couple of paragraphs explaining why you are nominating this person, we would suggest that you have this text ready in advance prior to commencing the form as the form will time out after around 10 minutes. Nominations close 28 November 2025.
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
Meet our 2025 Australia Day Ambassadors Douglas Millican (Goondiwindi) and Richard Lewandowski (Inglewood/Texas) as we reflect, respect and celebrate together. We’re all part of the story australiaday.org.au
Douglas Millican
Douglas Millican is a respected veteran from Townsville who served in the RAAF from 1967 to 1975.
Douglas has been an integral part of Northern Queensland Legacy for the past ten years and, in his time as President,
introduced new policies to move the club forward. During this
period, he has mentored many legatees and has supported many beneficiaries ranging from 4 to 102 years of age.
Douglas is currently the Vice President of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Association Townsville and works tirelessly in his
community, volunteering countless hours to the cause. Douglas also
attends the local defence force resettlement seminars providing
advice on life in Townsville post separation from the Australian
Defence Force.
Douglas was the Townsville City Council 2022 Australia Day Citizen of the Year.
Richard Lewandowski
Associate Professor Richard Lewandowski graduated from the University of Queensland Medical School in 1981 and completed his specialty training in both general surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1990 and 1993.
He founded and is the Chair of the Board of Operation Smile Australia, for which he received a Queensland Great Award in 2004.
He is a plastic surgeon at Mater Health, Queensland Children’s, Greenslopes Private, Gold Coast Private and Cairns Hospitals, as well as being an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine at the University of Queensland.
His numerous leadership roles have included Director of Medical Services (Surgery), Mater Adult’s Hospital and Chair of the Ramsay Health Ethics Committee.
NOMINEES
Congratulations to the community members and organisations nominated across five categories for our 2025 Australia Day Awards!
WINNERS 2025
PAST RECIPIENTS
Click on the headings below for a printable version of previous winners.
Goondiwindi(PDF, 58KB)
Inglewood Texas(PDF, 57KB)