Graeme Prior named in King’s Birthday list

Long-serving Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group chief executive Graeme Prior has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division for significant service to the aged care sector, and to Alzheimer’s disease research.

Mr Prior said he was honoured to receive the unexpected appointment.

“I didn’t expect this,” Mr Prior told Australian Ageing Agenda. “I’m deeply humbled by it, really. And the fight goes on for better outcomes for an ageing Australia.”

After co-founding the West Australian organisation in 1994, Mr Prior has been CEO since 1996. He has been president of the International Federation on Ageing and chairman of Alzheimer’s Research Australia since 2020. The year before Mr Prior became a founding member of the Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Care in Western Australia. He is also a current member of the World Health Organisation Global Network on Long Term Care.

Previously, Mr Prior was president and board member of then state provider peak association Aged Care Association of WA, deputy chair of the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council, a member of the Commonwealth Aged Care Sector Committee and chair of council of the now defunct Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council.

Mr Prior also held advisory roles in the Western Australia Government including as a member of the Committee to Reform Licencing for Nursing Homes and Private Hospitals and the Aged Care Strategic Advisory Group. He was once also deputy chairman of the Commonwealth Cooperative Research Centre for Mental Health.

Announced by the Governor-General on Sunday, the King’s Birthday 2025 Honours List named 830 Australians. Of the 581 recipients of awards in the general division, 14 were appointed Companion (AC), 31 Officer (AO) and 123 Member (AM) while 413 people were awarded a Medal of the Order (OAM).

Also appointed an AM is Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care chair Millie Ingram for significant service to the Indigenous community of New South Wales.

Ms Ingram became chair of the home and community care organisation in 2018. She was CEO from 2003-2013. She is also a founding director and current treasurer of the organisation.

Ms Ingram’s Indigenous advocacy includes being a campaigner for the Australian Indigenous Voice Referendum, board member of Inner City Empowered Communities, champion of Just Reinvest NSW and co-founder of the Mac Silva Centre, Eora Centre and Jawun Program.

She’s also sat on multiple committees and associations in the New South Wales government

Marita June Walker was also appointed an AM, in her case for significant service to people with disability, and to aged care.

Several aged care stakeholders have been awarded an OAM including:

• Feros Aged Care Village advisor, fundraiser and benefactor John Christopher Bennett for service to the community of the Northern Rivers in NSW
• Former Bupa aged csare medical officer, the late Dr John Charles Dyson-Berry, for service to medicine as a general practitioner
• Former BaptistCare Carey Gardens Centre Aged Care Home volunteer retired Brigadier Peter John Evans for service to veterans, and to the community of Canberra
• Emmy Monash Aged Care board member Thomas Robert Gorog for service to the community through a range of roles
• Resthaven Residential Aged Care volunteer Nadine Olafsen for service to community health
• Leslie Angus Peterkin – a current volunteer entertainer at Mayfield Aged Care, Calvary Tanilba Shores and Uniting Lindsay Gardens Hamilton – for service to the creative arts.

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