King's Birthday Honours: Meet the youngest and oldest awardees this year

Governor-General Sam Mostyn announced honours and awards for 830 Australians, acknowledging their "passion, generosity, energy, and resolve" in their respective fields.

A split image. On the left, a young man in a black and orange polo shirt stands with his arms folded. On the right, an older man plays tennis on a blue court.

Scott Guerini (left) and Henry Young are the youngest and oldest recipients of an OAM this year. Credit: City of Stirling/Getty

The achievements and service of 830 remarkable Australians have been recognised in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List.

The list includes climate change researchers, businesswomen, activists, former police officers, Indigenous Elders and musicians.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn announced the honourees on Sunday night, acknowledging their "passion, generosity, energy, and resolve" in their respective fields.

Young fundraiser honoured

One of those being awarded this year is 19-year-old Scott Michael Guerini, who has received a medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through charitable organisations.

The West Australian teenager is the youngest recipient of an OAM this year, which honours his fundraising efforts for sick children and infants.
Guerini has been raising money for children's charities for most of his life.

"It was in kindy, we were learning about charity and helping others in fundraising, and I decided that I really wanted to do something to help others at the young age of four," he told SBS News.

"And the hardest thing that I could think of to do at the time was walking from my family farm to the nearest town of Southern Cross [370km east of Perth].

"And after some convincing, my parents finally decided to let me have a go at it."

Guerini then walked the 25km to raise money for Telethon, a charity that supports medical research into childhood diseases and provides equipment and critical services for sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

He's been walking for donations ever since and went on to found the annual Scott's Great Walk for Telethon.

His advice for others? Don't worry about what you can't offer; simply give what you can, however small.

"I'd say definitely don't sweat the big things. It's not about us doing as much as possible or a big grand thing. It's about doing those little things every day to really make an impact on other people's lives," he said.
Guerini's goal is to raise $1 million before he turns 90.

"I'm going to keep walking for as long as my body allows me — as long as possible," he said.

World War Two veteran acknowledged

One recipient with decades of service under his belt is Henry Samuel Young.

The 101-year-old has been honoured with a medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterans as well as to tennis.

The centenarian served in several military posts during World War Two and is a long-time member of the Memorial Drive Tennis Club in South Australia.

"I'm particularly proud of being a navy pilot. I was in school when the war started," he told SBS News.

"Every schoolboy's dream is to be a fighter pilot, and I achieved it. So I've been lucky. I've been very lucky in that."
Young is also a tennis player and still competes in tournaments across the country, surprising his younger competitors.

"I think I'm a competitive person, and every game you play is win or lose," he said.

"It's very nice to be able to go to the net and say you had to work for it."

Young will be travelling to Croatia later this year for a tennis tournament.

"I'm looking forward to that, very much, to go away overseas. It's a good excuse for a holiday."


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By Cameron Carr, Christopher Tan, Hannah Kwon
Source: SBS News


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King's Birthday Honours: Meet the youngest and oldest awardees this year | SBS News