Top row (L-R) Rob Kerin, Lucinda Corrigan, Bryce Camm. Bottom row (L-R) Howard Hobbs, Patricia Hamilton and Phil Patterson.
AMONG the more than 700 people recognised in the Order of Australia General Division announced this morning as part of the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours are industry leaders and contributors with strong connections to Australia’s cattle, sheep and cropping sectors.
BEEF / CATTLE
Prominent stud cattle breeder and former Meat & Livestock Australia director (2007-2016) Lucinda Corrigan, from Rennylea Angus, has been recognised for her significant contributions to Australia’s meat and livestock industry, sustainability and climate action, being named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division.
Lucinda Corrigan
Mrs Corrigan has an extensive record of service to Australia’s agricultural sector through leadership, research, innovation and industry advocacy. She is a former chair of the MLA Donor Company (2014-2016), the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (2009-2016), Farmers for Climate Action (2015-2020) and the Sheep Sustainability Framework (2019-2023), and served as a director of Meat & Livestock Australia, in addition to many other roles focused on advancing climate adaptation, agricultural research and producer-led innovation.
Queensland beef producer and industry leader Bryce Camm has also been recognised for his outstanding contribution to Australia’s beef cattle industry through leadership, innovation and advocacy.
Bryce Camm
As chief executive officer of Camm Agricultural Group since 2015, he has helped grow one of Queensland’s leading cattle enterprises while simultaneously serving in numerous high-profile industry leadership roles, including as the youngest-ever president of the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (2018-2021), chair of Beef Australia (2018-2024), chair of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (2016-2018), and director of Cattle Australia (since 2022) and the Red Meat Advisory Council (2018-2022).
In 2014, Mr Camm received Rabobank’s Emerging Agribusiness Leadership Award.
GRAINS / CROPPING
Philip Patterson, of Gnowangerup, WA, who played an active role in changing the pricing structure of farm chemicals in Australia, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to primary industry.
Phil Patterson
4Farmers was established in 1994 due to concerns among WA farmers about the high cost of farm chemicals supplied by large companies.
Mr Patterson, a wheat and sheep farmer, decided to see if he could find a solution and discovered he could import farm inputs from overseas at a fraction of the cost. More than 30 years later, 4Farmers has built its own range of farm chemicals to 150 registrations, many of which are manufactured in its own plant, and has developed a network of more than 20 local agents and distribution locations throughout Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.
Co-founder and director of organic grain company Four Leaf Milling, Gavin Dunn, of Tarlee, South Australia, has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to the grain-growing sector and to biodynamic and organic agriculture.
Emerita Professor Lynette Abbott, from the University of Western Australia, whose career has spanned a broad area of soil biology with links to agriculture, horticulture, mine-site rehabilitation and forest ecology, has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to soil sciences, primary industry, agricultural management and the community.
SHEEP / WOOL
WA sheep producer and former president of the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA (2008-2014), Rob Gillam, has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to primary industry, local government and the community.
In addition to serving in executive positions with the PGA from 2000 onwards, Mr Gillam has held numerous industry committee roles, including chair of the Geraldton Port Authority (1995-1997) and board member of the Australian Wool Research and Promotional Organisation (1995-1998), the International Wool Secretariat (1995-1998), The Woolmark Company (1995-1998) and Wool International (stockpile reduction) (1995-1999).
He has also served in local government, holding the positions of deputy president of the Shire of Irwin from 1989-1995 and deputy president of the Shire of Yalgoo from 1979-1981.
The late Robert Eric Mason, of Stirling, South Australia, has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the wool-growing industry and the community.
Mr Mason, a former sheep farmer and wool broker from Burra, South Australia, served as a steward at the Royal Adelaide Show from 1956 and as deputy supervisor of the Sheep Pavilion from 1972-2009.
Former managing director of The Woolmark Company (1995-1999), Adrian Kloeden, Victoria, has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to business and commerce, and to the tertiary education sector.
Mr Kloeden is an independent director and chairman and is the immediate past president of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, chair of the Aquasure group of companies and a director of The Smith Family.
His management experience has covered a wide range of industries, including forestry, agribusiness, manufacturing, distribution, retail, research and development, brand management, technology, e-commerce, defence, tourism and transport.
PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE
Several long-serving state parliamentarians with strong ties to the agricultural sector were also recognised in this morning’s announcement.
Rob Kerin
They include former South Australian Premier (2001-2002) and Minister for Primary Industries (1999-2001) Rob Kerin, who was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division for distinguished service to the people and Parliament of South Australia, particularly as Premier, to regional and economic development, and to primary industry.
Howard Hobbs
Also recognised were former Member for Warrego (1986-2015) and Queensland Minister for Natural Resources (1996-1998) Howard Hobbs, who was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to the people and Parliament of Queensland, and to the community; and former WA Nationals leader (2005-2013 and 2016-2017) and Minister for Regional Development and Lands (2008-2013) Brendan Grylls, who was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to the people and Parliament of Western Australia, and to the community.
WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
Dr Patricia Hamilton, of South Australia, has been a strong advocate for rural, remote and regional communities through her experiences as a teacher, secondary school principal and sheep farmer.
Dr Patricia Hamilton
She has also been a driving force on the boards of several state and national rural women’s and regional organisations, including Australian Women in Agriculture Ltd, National Rural Women’s Coalition Ltd, Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid North, Women Together Learning, and Country to Canberra.
Dr Hamilton has been named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to women in rural and remote Australia, and to the agricultural industry.
A near 40-year dedication to agricultural shows, rural achiever programs and the Miss Showgirl competition sector has seen Dubbo Show Society secretary Sue Hood recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to regional agricultural shows and youth.
Well done to all those recognized. Thank you.
However, I don’t think we should be using this system to award publicly elected people (politicians) for doing their job.