June 13, 2026
A former Cherbourg and Murgon teacher, a Life Member of the Murgon Golf Club and a Bowenville grazier are among local people recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours list.
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Dr Hope Gertrude O’Chin, from Kings Beach, was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to the Indigenous community as an artist and educator.
Ms O’Chin, who was born in Cherbourg and worked as a teacher at Cherbourg and Murgon State schools in 2000, co-founded The Hope Dreaming Centre in Caloundra in 2025.
Her involvement in education has included senior roles with Education Queensland, Brisbane Catholic Education and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
As an artist, she has held many solo exhibitions at major galleries as well as taking part in group exhibitions at The Ration Shed in Cherbourg.
She has authored many books and received several art commissions, with her works shown at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and adopted for use by the Sunshine Coast Lightning netball team in 2020-21.
- Related article: Author Shares Hope With Art
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Carmel Desley Smith, from Buderim, was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to golf through governance roles and as a player and administrator.
Ms Smith was named Sports Administrator of the Year at the 2008 Murgon Shire Council Australia Day Awards, just one of many awards and recognition she has received over the years.
She served as secretary of the South Burnett Amalgamated Zone (Women’s Golf) from 1972-92 and was president from 1993-96.
She became a Life Member of the Murgon Golf Club in 1994.
Outside the South Burnett, Ms Smith has held senior roles at Golf Australia and Golf Queensland.
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Bryce David Camm, from Bowenville, was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to the beef cattle industry, to horse sports and to the community.
Mr Camm was chair of Beef Australia from 2018-24, a Director of Cattle Australia since 2022, president of the Lot Feeders Association from 2018-21 and a Director of the Red Meat Advisory Council from 2018-2022.
He has been a committee member of the Dalby Race Club since 2015 and has sponsored the Brymaroo Campdraft and Rodeo.
