Community & Business
10 June, 2026
Congratulations to 2026 King’s Birthday honours recipients
Federal Member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, has congratulated members of the Parkes community who have been named in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours list.
Included on the 2026 King's Birthday Honours List are:
Juley Clarke, of Forbes, who has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to primary education. Mrs Clarke has been a teacher since 1988 and is the founder of the Forbes North Wiradjuri Choir, as well as the chief steward of the Forbes School Artwork Show Society.
Susan Hood, of Dubbo, who has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to regional agricultural shows, and to youth. Mrs Hood has been a board member of the Agricultural Societies Council of NSW (AgShows NSW) since 2014, and a stalwart of the Dubbo Show Society, as well as being a foundation member of the Wongarbon Girl Guides Group and president and secretary of the Dubbo branch of the American Field Service.
Susan Lyle, of Gunnedah, who has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Gunnedah. Mrs Lyle has been president of the Gunnedah branch of the Red Cross since 2024, and a volunteer since 1984. She was the chairperson and a board member of Gunnedah Nursing Home between 1990 and 1997, and has been active in the Caroona Coal Action Group, including time as chair and facilitator.
Michael Lynch, of Parkes, who has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Parkes. Mr Lynch has been an important part of the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, the Parkes Prostate Cancer Support Group and the Parkes Veterans Golf Club. He was Parkes’ Citizen of the Year in 2021 and is a life member of the St Vincent de Paul Society.
AdvertisementKenneth Harrison, of Dubbo, who has been recognised with a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to emergency response and management in NSW. Mr Harrison has dedicated more than 30 years of service in roles including director of Central West Orana and the Far West Regional Delivery Team at the NSW Reconstruction Authority. As the Regional Recovery Coordinator, he has contributed to recovery and response efforts across 22 declared natural disasters in the region over the past three years.
“The recognition of these community members with a Medal of the Order of Australia shows just how much they have given to their community,” Mr Chaffey said.
“I applaud them for their efforts and congratulate them on being among the 949 outstanding Australians on this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List recognising those who have made an exceptional contribution to Australia.
“The electorate of Parkes is fortunate to have many people who volunteer their time and their skills freely to make this a great place to live.”
The list includes people who were nominated by the Australian community and then recommended to the Governor-General by the independent Council for the Order of Australian. It also includes people put forward by organisations responsible for recommending meritorious and conspicuous honours.
