General News
26 January, 2026
Two Wimmera leaders honoured in Australia Day awards
From regional volunteers to national leaders, this year’s Honours List highlights service, commitment and care. Values shared strongly across the Wimmera and Mallee.
Donald’s Leo Tellefson’s services to the Buloke Shire has seen him recognised with an Order of Australia Medal.
Mr Tellefson was mayor of the Buloke Shire Council from 2009-2011, and served as a councillor from 2000-2016.
He served on numerous boards for the past three decades, including the Donald and District Racing Club, East Wimmera Health Service, Buloke Community Enterprises Board, and the North West Community Advisory Council.
Currently, he serves as chairman of Johnson Goodwin Homes, having been a director since 2012.
Still the part-owner of Donald’s Family Butcher, Mr Tellefson might be best known for his 40 years as a band member of Blend.
Former West Wimmera Water director Sonia Petering was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her services to law and to the finance and business sectors.
Ms Petering’s storied career has seen her hold a plethora of roles, including as a director of Rup Min Finance Group Ltd from 1998-2003, a director of the Transport Accident Commission from 2007-2006, and as chair of the Rural Finance Corporation of Victoria from 2009-2016.
More recently, the former Horsham identity was the director of TAL Dai-ichi Life Australia Pty Ltd (2015-2025), the chair of Qantm Intellectual Property Pty Ltd (2022-2024), and the chair of Virtus Health Limited (2019-2022).
Awards up by 200 nationally
The Governor-General recognised 949 Australians in this year’s Australia Day Honours List.
These honours include the Order of Australia awards, comprising both General and Military Divisions, as well as separate meritorious awards and awards for distinguished and conspicuous service, each with specific criteria and purposes.
Recipients included Olympic champion Cathy Freeman (AC), eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant (Public Service Medal), former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (OAM), and former WA senator Mathias Cormann (AC).
“The qualities and accomplishments of this year’s honourees reflect Australia’s values for service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity, and care,” The Governor-General said.
“Congratulations to everyone recognised in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List.
“So many Australians continue to give the best of themselves across many endeavours, in the interest of others.
“It is rewarding to see an increase in the number of awards, which reflects more nominations and recognition of the many Australians who inspire the best in all of us.”
Overall, 680 people were recognised in the General Division, including 10 Companions of the Order (AC), 38 Officers of the Order (AO), 160 Members of the Order (AM) and 472 awarded Medals of the Order.
The youngest recipient was Nicholas Alexander Pearce at 32, and the oldest living recipients were Janina Archabuz and Derrick Hammon, both 99.
