There are five local recipients of national 2025 Australia Day honours – the 50th anniversary of the awards.
Annamaria Wood, who ran Disability Macarthur for 26 years, has received an honorary Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to people with disability.
Pam Valentine, the City of Liverpool and District Historical Society public officer since 2015, has also received an OAM for service to the community of Liverpool.
Catherine Field resident David Stuart-Watt has received an AM – Member of the Order of Australia – for significant service to the civil infrastructure and transport industry.
Mrs Joan Pellegrino receives a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Italian community of South Western Sydney.
And Campbelltown City Council CEO Lindy Deitz has received a Public Service Medal (PSM) in the 2025 awards “for outstanding public service to NSW local government in the city of Campbelltown and surrounding region’’.
Annamaria Wood, an Ingleburn resident, was the chief executive officer of Disability Macarthur from 1996 to 2022.
As a community area nurse before that she held various roles, including project officer at the NSW Department of Community Services from 1980 to 1997.
Pam Valentine has been a member of Liverpool and District Historical Society since 2014, and held various roles.
She was the president of the NSW and ACT Association of Family History Societies from 2001 to 2010.
David Stuart-Watt has held a raft of roles in the road and transport industry, including Roads Australia President, 2010-2019, current chair of the Fellowship Mentoring Program, he was a civil engineer, 1975-1991.
He is currently the president of Club Maserati Australia, and a past committee member of the Tow Truck Authority of NSW.
Joan Pellegrino has been the president of the Club Marconi Ladies Auxiliary since 2011.
She has also been the vice president and secretary of the Sicilian Federation Australia since 2022.
“Lindy Deitz has been a tireless advocate for equity and fairness for the Western Sydney community, addressing the entrenched inequity which disproportionately affects this region of metropolitan Sydney,’’ says the citation for the honour bestowed on the CEO of Campbelltown City Council.
“One of her key achievements has been her involvement in bringing together all three tiers of government across eight council areas for the Western Sydney City Deal.
“This deal aims to lay the foundations for the Western Parkland City to become a thriving future-focused city that is highly connected, innovative and liveable in the next 20 years.
“Mrs Deitz has nurtured relationships with key stakeholders and regional leaders to influence decisions to ensure the efficient and effective coordination of infrastructure and service delivery in the Western Parkland City for the benefit of the community.
“A key focus for Mrs Deitz has been to ensure the investment in the new Western Sydney Airport benefits the broader region so that this once-in-a-lifetime investment will have generational benefits and improve the liveability of the Western Sydney community.
“Mrs Deitz’s contributions and impact over her 30- year career is exemplary. She is regularly called upon across all levels of government to provide insight and advice on policy development and solutions to complex problems,’’ the citation said.
Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at www.gg.gov.au
