The Queen's Birthday Honours celebrate the remarkable contributions and services of Australian people. The awardees list is published each year on the Queen's official birthday in June.
“On behalf of all Australians, I congratulate the Australians recognised in today’s Honours List," Governor-General David Hurley said while announcing the awards this year.
Highlights:
- The Governor-General has announced the Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours List and there are several Indian Australians on the list
- "They’re from different backgrounds, their stories are each unique, and each has served in different ways," the GG said
- Nearly 46 per cent of awardees in the General Division are women
“Recipients share some common traits – including selflessness, excellence and a commitment to service. They’re from different backgrounds, their stories are each unique, and each has served in different ways. This diversity is a strength and each has impacted their community and made it better," he said, adding, “For that, we thank them and, today, we celebrate them."
“Collectively the recipients, whose achievements span community service, science and research, industry, sport, the arts and more, represent the very best of Australia," the Governor-General said.
Here are the Indian Australians who have been recognised this year:
Kersi Meher-Homji
Kersi Meher-Homji, 83, is a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) (General Division). He has been honoured for his contribution made in the field of cricket literature. He is the author of 15 cricket books including 'The Waugh Twins', 'Cricket’s Great Families', 'Cricket's Great All-rounders', 'Six Appeal', 'Nervous Nineties', 'Cricket's Conflicts and Controversies' with a foreword by Greg Chappell, and 'From Bradman to Kohli' with forewords by Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar. An expert in Virology (poliomyelitis and related viruses), Mr Meher-Homji migrated to Australia in 1970 and has also been one of the pioneers in the formation of the Australian Zoroastrian Association (AZA) in New South Wales.
Kersi Meher-Homji (R) with with Australian cricketer Allan Border (L) Source: Supplied by Kersi Meher-Homji
Asha Bhat
Asha has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) (General Division). She is the CEO of the regional Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC), which provides services and programs that address the Noongar peoples' needs and aspirations in cooperation with other community and business organisations. Under her leadership, SAC has won awards for demonstrating its impact on the community, including the Community Business Award of the Year 2016 and the 2018 Community Services Excellence Award which recognises excellent leadership and services to the Noongar community.
Asha Bhat, CEO of Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC). Source: Supplied by Asha Bhat
Dr Smita Shah
Dr Smita Shah has been awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) Medal in General Division. Her work has been recognised in the field of community health. Currently, she is the senior community medical officer at Western Sydney Local Health District and is also the director of the Prevention Education and Research Unit (Research and Education Network) since 1995. In the past, she has received several accolades including the Excellence in Healthcare Award from Australian Medical Association in 2015 and the Community Choice Award, Partnership Award and Board Award in 2014.
Dr Smita Shah is currently Senior Community Medical Officer at Western Sydney Local Health District. Source: Supplied by Dr Smita Shah
Dr Sameer Bhole
Clinical Professor Dr Sameer Bhole is the recipient of the Member of the Order (AM). The inaugural fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons in the specialty stream of dental public health, Dr Bhole has made a significant contribution to the field of dentistry with a focus on improving access to safe and quality oral health care for those at-risk and those who are the most vulnerable members of our community.
Dr Sameer Bhole is currently Clinical Director at the Sydney Dental Hospital and Oral Health Services (NSW Health). Source: Supplied by Dr Sameer Bhole
Prof Suresh Bhargava
Prof Suresh Bhargava is a recipient of Member of the Order (AM). He is the first researcher to receive the RMIT University Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award twice. He was also honoured in 2014 with the P.C. Ray Chair by the Indian National Science Academy. Through advisory roles with Australian prime ministers, premiers and governors on Indo-Australian relations, he has been also a founding architect of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund. Recently, he developed an award-winning Global PhD program connecting RMIT with 39 national CSIR research laboratories of India, providing a platform for nurturing PhD students through collaborative research and international engagement.
Prof Suresh Bhargava Source: Prof Suresh Bhargava
[Disclaimer: SBS Hindi has compiled this article after speaking to a few of the awardees of the Queen's Birthday Honour. More Indian Australians have been recognised this year.]
