MALCOLM McCusker, Noel Ashcroft and Jeanette Hacket were among the prominent Western Australians honoured for their achievements and contributions with an Order of Australia last week.
Mr McCusker, who became the governor of WA last year, was honoured as a companion in the general division for service to the people of WA, particularly through the provision of equitable access to legal representation, as an advocate for sustainable development and education, and through significant philanthropic support.
Appointed as a Queens Counsel in 1982, Mr McCusker has appeared as counsel in the supreme, federal and high courts, and in front of the Privy Council. Prior to that, he worked with his father, the late Sir James McCusker, to start the Town & Country Building Society, which ANZ Bank bought in 1990 after it grew into a major WA financial institution.
He is chair of his family’s McCusker Charitable Foundation, which has donated more than $20 million over the years to various charities and not-for-profits.
Noel Ashcroft has been made a member in the general division, for service to the WA public sector and for promoting trade and industry links between Australia, Britain and Europe. Mr Ashcroft’s most recent role was as chief executive government relations and marketing of The Griffin Group, which he joined in 2008. He was previously the WA agent-general for Europe and has extensive senior executive experience across a number of government portfolios, including as deputy director general, investment services of the WA Department of Industry and Resources.
Former Maritime Museum director Graeme Henderson was also made a member, for service to maritime archaeology through the documentation and preservation of Australia’s underwater cultural heritage, to international professional associations, and to the community.
Curtin University vice-chancellor Jeanette Hacket was honoured for service to tertiary education administration, fostering links with overseas institutions, and promoting equitable educational services for regional communities.
Three UWA educators: UWA Business School emeritus professor in accounting Philip Brown; School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering Winthrop professor Lorenzo Faraone; and School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Winthrop professor Peter Hartmann were also honoured as members.
Other recipients of this year’s Australia Day honours include WA Football Commission director and former WA Road Safety Council chair Grant Dorrington, and City of Melville CEO Shayne Silcox.
