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An Award for Old Michaelians

We are excited to announce that the nominations for the Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Awards program, designed to recognise the outstanding achievements of our Old Michaelians and the contributions they make to the wider world, are open for 2025. For 130 years, Old Michaelians have been making a difference, and we want to celebrate and acknowledge their work. Shine a light on an Old Michaelian you know by nominating them for an Award today.

An Award for Old Michaelians

St Michael’s Grammar School is renowned for our exceptional wellbeing and academic programs and our commitment to innovative and holistic approaches to teaching, learning and caring. We empower our students to approach their lifelong learning journey with courage, confidence and a strong sense of social justice so that they leave us with the skills, knowledge and character to be contributing citizens of the world.

Our graduates leave with the determination to follow their passions, the confidence to lead and the wisdom to live balanced and meaningful lives inspired by a commitment to making the world a better place.

The Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Awards formally recognise and celebrate Old Michaelians who are making, or have made, a significant contribution to the community, and in doing so, inspire our students to strive to do the same.

Nominate an Old Michaelian

If you know an Old Michaelian who is making an exceptional contribution to the world, we would love to hear their story. We encourage you to nominate Old Michaelians who you believe are deserving of an Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Award as they have demonstrated:

1. A Positive impact on, and contribution to, the local, state, national or international community and/or the St Michael’s Grammar School community above and beyond employment duties or formal responsibilities.

2. A Positive impact in one or more of the following: Leadership, Volunteerism, Innovation, Sustainability, Advocacy, Social Change or Education.

3. Adherence to high ethical standards, integrity, transparency and the St Michael’s values of Dignity, Respect, Care and Compassion.

Award Categories

We are seeking nominations in the following three categories:

1. Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Award

2. Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Young Achiever Award for Old Michaelians under 35 years old.

3. Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Legacy Award to be awarded posthumously.

How to nominate

To make a nomination for the 2025 Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Awards please complete the online or the printable nomination form below and return it to the Engagement Marketing Manager, St Michael’s Grammar School.

All the information you need to make a nomination including the current Selection Criteria and Terms and Conditions are included in the Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Awards Guidelines and can be downloaded here:

2024 Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Awards

On Thursday 24 October, it was with great excitement that we held our inaugural Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Awards presentation – a celebration of the outstanding achievements of our Award recipients.

A callout to our community for nominations earlier this year was rewarded with a diverse list of nominees who have made outstanding contributions to the wider world in many and varied ways.  The calibre of the nominees was very impressive and the Judging Panel deliberated for some time to choose our inaugural recipients.

We are delighted to announce the following recipients:

 

Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Award

Slava Grigoryan
OM 1994

For his inspiration as an internationally renowned virtuoso guitarist, his contribution to the performing arts through his promotion of the guitar as an instrument, including as Artistic Director of the Adelaide Guitar Festival, and his significant and longtime support of the Hush Foundation, an organisation which aims to transform the culture of healthcare through kindness and the arts.

Mandy McCracken
OM 1991

For her extensive volunteer work advocating, and seeking social change, for people living with disabilities. As a quadruple amputee herself, Mandy volunteers for a number of organisations and is on the Board of Yooralla and TOM Melbourne, which partners people with a disability with a diverse group of professionals who design and build products to assist them. Most recently she has established Get Started Disability Support Australia.

Professor Jo Salmon
OM 1980

For her globally recognised work and expertise in the field of physical activity and sedentary behaviour. She is a past President and Fellow of the International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity; and was a Member of the Strategic Advisory Network for the Development of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity, World Health Organisation (WHO). She developed the award-winning evidence-based program, TransformUs, a world-first program to promote children’s physical activity and reduce prolonged sitting in school classrooms.

 

Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Young Achiever Award

Isabel Huntington
OM 2017

For her extensive leadership and advocacy in the field of women’s sport, most notably with the AFLW, where she has been a Board member of the AFL Players’ Association since 2022 and has been a driving force in negotiating better conditions for AFLW players. She also volunteers with a range of organisations, including Footy for Climate, and participates in mentoring, Working Action Groups and coaching and is involved in cutting-edge research in the development of new robotic surgical techniques.

 

Old Michaelian Contributing Citizen Legacy Award

Shirley Andrews
OM 1933

For her work as a biochemist, researcher and Aboriginal rights activist.  As a senior biochemist she played a significant role researching lithium as a treatment for manic depression. She was a founding member of the Council for Aboriginal Rights in Victoria, which was instrumental in establishing a national body to seek economic and civil rights for Indigenous Australians and played a key role in leading the National Petition Campaign which led to a successful push for a ‘Yes’ vote in the 1967 referendum.

Dame Marie Breen DBE
OM 1919

For her significant contribution to Australian society throughout her adult life including her distinguished service in the Senate from 1962 until 1968. She was an active campaigner for women’s and family rights and was a state delegate to the National Council of Women of Australia Federal conferences in 1948, 1954 and 1957. Her sustained and wide-ranging advocacy for family welfare including infant health, civil rights, family payments and the care of overseas students, was demonstrated through her many official and voluntary roles.

Dr Jan Gordon-Clark
OM 1952

For her significant contribution to St Michael’s Grammar School over a period of 81 years, including as a student, a parent, foundation member of the School Council (now the Board of Directors), membership of the Old Michaelians Association Committee for 23 years (as President from 1969 to 1981) and member of the Facilities, Infrastructure and Technology (FIAT) Sub Committee of the Board of Directors, up until May 2021.

Faith Leech
OM 1958

For her determination and courage in overcoming significant health challenges to win a gold and a bronze medal in swimming at the 1956 Olympic Games held in Melbourne, for her sustained work in teaching disabled children to swim and her volunteering with the Victorian Paralympics and the Special Olympics, now the Paralympic Games, along with her role as an active volunteer for the Cancer Council.

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