Athletics community members recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Athletics Australia CEO Peter Bromley has congratulated seven members of the Australian athletics community who have been named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List by His Excellency General, David Hurley.

Athletes, coaches and officials were among those honoured, with Professor Kay Crossley AM  being named a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to athletics as a long term physiotherapist contracted to many Australian representative teams.

Sydney 2000 Olympian and former AA board member Lee Naylor OAM was awarded with a Medal of the Order of Australia, while Paralympian Paul Nunnari PSM was acknowledged for his public service to diversity and inclusion.

Other Australian athletics community members recognised were esteemed para sprints coach Iryna Dvoskina, who has contributed to a total of 67 medals at the Paralympics, Commonwealth Games and World Para Athletics Championships, as well AA life members Bruce Wilson OAM, Heather Mitchell OAM and Tasmanian Frank Atkins OAM for their service to the sport.  

“Our community is proud of its commendable history, and the recognition of these seven individuals within our Australian athletics family on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List today is wonderful,” Bromley said.

“Our success on and off the field of play is a consequence of the hard work of so many of these people. Their commitment displayed by each of them and their continued service to our sport and the wider Australian community is something worthy of recognition. We’re proud that this has been acknowledged today.”

A complete list of members of the athletics community recognised on the Queen's Birthday Honours List is available below.

Public Service Medal

Paul Nunnari PSM – Paralympian, acknowledged for his public service to diversity and inclusion

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

Frank Atkins OAM – life member of North West Athletics Club in Tasmania, acknowledged for his broad community service

Iryna Dvoskina OAM – master coach and national team official

Heather Mitchell OAM – AA life member and international race walking judge

Lee Naylor OAM – Olympian and former AA board member

Bruce Wilson OAM – AA life member and national technical official

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

Professor Kay Crossley AM – long term official on Australian representative teams as a physiotherapist

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
13/6/2022