2025 year marks the 50th year since the establishment of the Australian Honours system, replacing the British Honours phased out in the 1980s.

Thanks to the dedication of Alumni Council member Marc Tennant, along with former Wardens of Convocation Joan Pope and Warren Kerr, the remarkable achievements of UWA graduates are being brought to light. The team has meticulously verified over 6,000 whose official citations rarely mention UWA.

In the first five years, 23 UWA graduates were honoured. Today, that number has risen to well over 1,200. This includes 1 Dame, 46 Companions (AC), 190 Officers (AO), 496 Members (AM), 401 Medals of the Order (OAM).

Among the earliest was Alexandra Hasluck, a distinguished author and historian who in 1978 became the only woman in the first five years to be appointed a Dame. Knights and Dames were not included in the inaugural Australian Honours, but on two occasions have been introduced and then removed. In 1975, ‘Nugget’ Coombs (1931 Guild President) was the first UWA graduate appointed, but he later resigned his honour when Knights were admitted.

Looking ahead, the Alumni Council is planning to make these achievements accessible to all, through a public listing on the Convocation website. A dedicated committee also assists with nominations—a process that can take up to four years through the Governor General’s Secretariat.

The story of UWA’s connection to the Australian Honours system is not only about accolades—it’s about an inspirational community that continues to shape Australia’s future.