Australia Day 26th January 2011

John and Margaret were each awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division within the Australian Honours System.

For service to the community through social justice associations and to the Uniting Church, including:

• Co-Founders and members of Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, (PFLAG-Perth), since 1989.
• Lobbied Government to bring about changes to the laws/legislation relating to gay and lesbian rights.
• Members, Social Justice Committee, Uniting Church for a number of years.
• Members, Metropolitan Community Church from its inception until its closure in 1999.
• Members and volunteers of Communicare WA, from its inception till 1990.

John and Margaret, together with June Smythe, initiated the first meeting of PFLAG in Australia (PFLAG-Perth) on 2nd Dec 1989.

In November 2010, all three were honoured by the Committee with certificates of ‘Life Membership’ of PFLAG Perth, and they still try to remain as active as they can.

The Australia Day honours received by Margaret and John were for all the above reasons but, in our hearts, we feel PFLAG is where it should be, at the top of the list.