Governor of South Australia

Professor Peter Buckskin OAM PSM FACE and Legh Davis OAM were both recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for exceptional service to the community, but passed away before they could be invested.

A proud Narungga man from Guuranda (Yorke Peninsula), Professor Peter Buckskin was one of Australia's most influential Aboriginal education leaders.

Over more than four decades, he worked to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, serving as a teacher, senior public servant, Ministerial Adviser and university leader.

As inaugural Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation, he helped shape national education policy from early childhood through to higher education, while his leadership of major initiatives to increase the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teaching workforce strengthened opportunities for future generations.
�Professor Buckskin also served for many years as Co-Chair of Reconciliation South Australia and was a familiar and respected figure at Adelaide's National Reconciliation Breakfast, the largest event of its kind in Australia.

Legh Davis dedicated much of his life to public service, political leadership and community philanthropy.

He served in the South Australian Legislative Council for more than two decades, including as Deputy Leader in the Upper House, and later as State President of the Liberal Party of South Australia.

Beyond politics, he was a passionate advocate for the arts and charitable causes.

As Chair of the Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation, he played a leading role in supporting the redevelopment of Her Majesty's Theatre, helping secure a lasting cultural asset for South Australia.

He also devoted many years to organisations including the Bow Tie Club, Australia Day Council and Flinders University, contributing to the civic and cultural life of the State.��Recognition through the Order of Australia honours the significant contribution Professor Buckskin and Mr Davis made to the educational, cultural, civic and community life of South Australia.

Congratulations to all Australians recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List, and especially to the South Australian women and men for their achievements and inspiring service to our community.

Among the 88 South Australian recipients are:
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC): Ms Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja AO for eminent service to the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence, to gender equity, and to the promotion of human rights and global systemic change.

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO):
Professor Jozef Gecz for distinguished service to human translational genetic science, to genomic research, to child health, and to neurodevelopmental disability.

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Professor Konrad Pesudovs for significant service to optometry and ophthalmology research, and to clinical education and training.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) – General Division
Mr Salvatore Ciccarello forsignificant service to sports administration, and to the community of South Australia.

Public Service Medal (PSM) – Federal
Mrs Janice Ann Silby for outstanding public service as South Australian Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Public Service Medal (PSM) – South Australia
Mrs Dianne Mary Simmons for outstanding public service as a nurse and midwife consultant in perinatal mental health.

Recipients will be formally presented with the insignia of their awards at Investiture Ceremonies at Government House, to be held at a later date.

Visit gg.gov.au to view the full list of honours.



australianhonoursandawards

“I love that phrase, 'to travel is better than to arrive'. If we have enjoyed this process, and we have developed relationships; if we have built something day by day, week by week, year by year; if we've wrestled with some really tough stuff, but we've called each other into the conversation, and we've come up with solutions that feel good to us, then I think we can be proud." - Dr Kiera Lindsey, South Australia’s History Advocate.

Thank you to Dr Kiera Lindsey for joining Her Excellency this afternoon to reflect on the stories that have shaped South Australia’s past, and the legacy the state is building ahead of its 200th anniversary.

We also thank everyone who joined us in the Government House Ballroom and via the livestream, and for the thoughtful questions shared throughout the discussion.

Bookings will open on Monday, 15 June at 9am for the next session in the series, to be held on Friday, 3 July 2026, from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

The Governor will engage in a conversation with award-winning chef, author, and television presenter Adam Liaw and Nicola Palmer of the Watervale Hotel on ‘The Future of Food and Dining in South Australia’, examining the changing face of the State’s culinary landscape, from local produce to hospitality experiences.

Visit governor.sa.gov.au to reserve your place.

Today, Her Excellency the Governor and Mr Bunten hosted a reception at Government House Adelaide to mark the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan.

Signed in 1976, the treaty established a lasting framework for friendship, cooperation and mutual respect between the two nations, recognising the close ties, shared interests and growing interdependence that continue to shape the relationship today.

In attendance were Mr Tokuro Furuya, Consul-General of Japan for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, and Mr Adam Wynn, Honorary Consul-General of Japan in South Australia, alongside representatives from government, business, education, cultural and community organisations.

A lasting legacy.

Today, the Governor and Mr Bunten visited Tarntanya Wama (Elder Park) to view the newly unveiled statue honouring Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG, the Yankunytjatjara leader whose life was defined by courage, leadership and service.

A trailblazer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Dr O’Donoghue was the first Aboriginal person to train as a nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the inaugural Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, and the first Aboriginal Australian to address the United Nations General Assembly.

As a young diplomat in New York in 1992, Her Excellency attended Dr O’Donoghue’s historic address, delivered during the United Nations International Year of the World's Indigenous People, in which Dr O’Donoghue spoke powerfully about the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the need for constitutional recognition.

Dr O’Donoghue, who passed away on 4 February 2024 at the age of 91, was recognised throughout her life for advancing Aboriginal rights, including being named Australian of the Year in 1984, an Australian National Living Treasure in 1998, and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1999.

Created by South Australian artist Robert Hannaford - who also sculpted the statue of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Government House – the statue is the first of six planned sculptures at Tarntanya Wama honouring Aboriginal leaders whose contributions have helped shape South Australia and the nation.

Future sculptures will commemorate inventor David Unaipon, whose image appears on Australia's $50 note, community leader Gladys Elphick, Aboriginal Lands Trust pioneer Garnett Wilson, educator Dr Alice Alitya Rigney, the first Aboriginal woman to become a school principal in Australia, and anti-nuclear advocate Yami Lester.

This morning, Her Excellency the Governor and Mr Bunten hosted a morning tea for South Australia’s First Nations Voice to Parliament, the representative elected body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia.

The event brought together 46 elected members from across the state, including both returning and newly elected representatives, as part of a two-day induction program and the first opportunity for the new cohort to meet together.

Her Excellency and Mr Bunten acknowledged the dedication of members who have put themselves forward to represent their communities and help shape the future of First Nations South Australians.

They also heard about the work undertaken by the SA Voice since its establishment in 2024, including regional and State Voice meetings and community engagement activities held across South Australia to help inform discussions on policies, laws and issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Over lunch this afternoon, the Governor brought together leaders, advocates and representatives working to advance gender equality across South Australia.

Guests included individuals and organisations with whom Her Excellency has engaged throughout her term in support of gender equality initiatives and advocacy.

The event forms part of a broader series of Governor’s luncheons focused on Her Excellency’s six priority areas: leadership; civics and citizenship; international engagement; gender equality; support for Reconciliation; and business, to encourage collaboration, and deepen understanding of key challenges and opportunities.

As South Australia’s oldest children’s charity, the Can:Do Group continues the legacy begun by William Townsend in 1874, supporting children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, have low vision and/or developmental delays through early intervention therapies, peer programs and specialist education services.

As patrons of Can:Do 4Kids, the Governor and Mr Bunten welcomed children and families to Government House to celebrate the life-changing impact of Can:Do 4Kids and Can:Do Hearing, which support children with hearing loss to develop their listening and spoken language skills. This is achieved through a combination of listening devices and intensive language coaching, conducted by Can:Do language specialists and the children’s families.

Well done to students Liam Marotti, Morgan Yap, Max Loi and Amelia Paspaliaris who spoke at the reception about their experiences, the challenges they’ve overcome and their goals for the future.