INVERLOCH resident and former Mirboo North High School student Gaye Lorraine Hamilton has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to tertiary education and to the community.
A former board member of the Western Bulldogs and Co-Chancellor of Victoria University Ms Gaye Hamilton AM grew up on a dairy farm at Mardan.
Formerly a director of the Footscray Football Club and Chair of the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation Ms Hamilton has for the past three years been Secretary of the Inverloch Jazz Festival.
“Blown away with surprise,” was how Gaye Hamilton AM described her Australia Day Honour.
“I’m incredibly honoured. It’s not something you expect.”
Ms Hamilton’s parents were sharefarmers on a dairy farm at Mardan where Ms Hamilton first went to school completing her secondary education at Mirboo North High School.
Director and CEO of the Werribee Zoo and Scienceworks in Spotswood Ms Hamilton forged a close relationship with the Western Bulldogs Football Club.
“From research we did at the zoo we found that when the Bulldogs won, the local economy spiked and visits to the doctor went down,” said Ms Hamilton.
“People felt good about themselves.
“Winning was not everything but it’s really important to an elite sporting club.”
Gaye Hamilton AM was made a director of the Footscray Football Club.
Trained as a teacher, Ms Hamilton joined Melbourne Zoo in 1985.
“Best classroom you’d ever have."
Ms Hamilton said she learned a lot from role models at the zoo including Patricia Feilman who was integral to the commissioning of Melbourne Zoo's butterfly house and bringing giant pandas from China.
Made inaugural Director of Werribee Zoo in the 90s Gaye Hamilton AM said people would come to the Werribee Open Range Zoo and have a good day out.
“They could have safaris through African, Asian and Australian grasslands.
“Conservation was first and foremost."
Ms Hamilton became Co-Chancellor of Victoria University during COVID when the pandemic completely shut down the university’s on-campus activities.
“Victoria University would find a place for any student who wanted to make the effort,” said Ms Hamilton.
“We would find a pathway through University or TAFE.
“That’s the advantage of a dual-sector university.
“(During the pandemic) we couldn’t accept new international students and tutorials were held online.”
Making way for former Premier Steve Bracks AC to take on the role of Chancellor of Victoria University in 2021, Gaye Hamilton AM retired with her husband Roy Hamilton to Inverloch where she accepted the role of Secretary of the Inverloch Jazz Festival.
“It was the first winter festival in 2022,” said Ms Hamilton.
“2022 was good, 2023 and 2024 were fantastic. It proved you can have a jazz festival in the middle of winter in Inverloch.
“It was a team effort."
Finishing three years as Secretary of the Jazz Festival Gaye Hamilton AM is looking for something other than the garden.
“I’m not a gardener,” said Ms Hamilton.
“Perhaps a volunteer educator in Zimbabwe.
“I also want to learn how to play bridge.”
Open to the prospect of travel Ms Hamilton said she had been so lucky.
“Presiding over graduations is the most fun.
“Pomp and circumstance is important for students to have respect for how important getting their qualification is.
“I’ve been really fortunate.
“The biggest honour is to have someone put in the time and effort for the nomination.”
Gaye Hamilton’s husband Roy grew up in Wonthaggi and would spend Christmas to Easter camping on the family block at Inverloch.
“He was also a teacher, and I miss him greatly,” said Gaye.
Gaye Hamilton’s Order of Australia will be presented at Government House in Melbourne recognising her work as former Director of the State Sports Centres Trust, Western Chances, People and Parks Foundation, Co-Chancellor, Deputy Chancellor and former Council Member of Victoria University, Director of Operations Museums Victoria, Director and Chief Executive Officer Scienceworks Museum, Director and Chief Executive Officer Werribee Open Range Zoo, former Assistant Director Melbourne Zoo, teacher at Gladstone Park High School, and Maths, Science and Biology teacher at Braybrook High School.
Gaye Hamilton AM won a community award for her work with the Western Bulldogs and was awarded Victorian Senior Australian of the Year in 2022 and Telstra Businesswoman of the Year in 2003.
Australia Day Honours
This year 732 outstanding and inspirational Australians have been recognised in the Australia Day 2025 Honours List. The youngest 14 years old and the oldest 98 years old.
In the Order of Australia Honours, 243 are male and 214 are female with six appointed Companion of the Order, 23 appointed Officer of the Order, 108 appointed Member of the Order and 320 awarded Medal of the Order. This coincides with 25 Military Division of the Order of Australia awards, 196 Meritorious awards and 54 Distinguished and Conspicious awards (military)
The full Australia Day Honours list can be found at honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/search.
