More than 900 Australians have been recognised in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours List. Among the recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia are self-defence instructor Dr Anne Pang, victims of crime advocate Mechelle Turvey, author Panagiotis Andrinopoulos who highlights the achievements of Greek women, and aged welfare advocate Bijinder Dugul.
Dr Anne Pang, a 68-year-old martial arts instructor who migrated from Taiwan in the 1970s, has spent more than 30 years teaching free self-defence classes for women. She says through her work, she wants to help women become more empowered and independent.
Mechelle Turvey, a senior Noongar and Yamatji woman, was honoured for her service to Indigenous communities in Western Australia. After her 15-year-old son Cassius was killed in 2022, Ms Turvey has worked to train police officers to handle victims of crime with empathy and to recognise signs of trauma.
Panagiotis Andrinopoulos wrote a bilingual book highlighting the work of 400 influential women of Greek background. He wants to address imbalances in whose voices are heard and remembered in history — an imbalance also reflected in the Honours List itself, where only 32 per cent of award recipients are women.
Bijinder Dugul was recognised for her service to aged welfare in the Indian community. She emphasises that behind each award is not only a rich story, but also a community.
