Rugby Australia is proud to congratulate the recipients of King's Birthday Honours for services to the sport of Rugby, and with prominent connections to the game.
Former New South Wales Rugby Union Board Member Robert Millner was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Current Queensland Rugby Union Chair Brett Clark was named a Member of the Order of Australia.
Tim North KC, former President of Rugby Victoria and current Director of the Melbourne Rebels, and Graham Brown, current President of Wests Bulldogs Rugby Club, were both awarded Meals of the Order of Australia.
Officer of the Order of Australia
The Founding Captain and a Life Member of the Cowra Rugby Club, Robert Millner AO has dedicated his life to Rugby, alongside countless other business and personal interests. He was a Board Member of New South Wales Rugby Union from 2012 until 2016, occupying the role of President of Sydney Rugby Union over the same period. He has also been a Board Member and Patron of Eastwood Rugby Club since 2010.
Mr Millner's expansive business career has included roles as the Chairman of Washington H Soul Pattinson and Company since 1998 (and Non-Executive Director since 1984), Chairman of Brickworks since 1999, Non-Executive Director of Apex Healthcare Berhad since 2000, Director of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries since 2000, Chairman of New Hope Corporation since 1998, Non-Executive Director of TPG Telecom since 2000 (including eight years as Chairman until 2008), and Chairman of BKI Investment Company since 2003.
Member of the Order of Australia
Brett Clark AM is the current Chair of the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU), has been a Director since 2020, and also became Chair of the QRU Foundation in the same year. He has been a benefactor of the Mater Foundation since 2001, and became an Inaugural Patron in 2022. Mr Clark is a Member of both the Organising Committee and the Audit and Finance Committee of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A Life Member of the Queensland Ballet, Mr Clark served on its Board from 2008 until 2019, including five years as Chair. A prominent Brisbane business identity, Mr Clark has judged the Brisbane Lord Mayor's Business Award, and has won the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland's Alumni Excellence Award among other recognitions.
Medal of the Order of Australia
Tim North KC OAM was the President of Rugby Victoria from 2010 to 2020, and a Board Member from 2006 until 2020. He is currently in his second stint as a Director of the Melbourne Rebels - having initially occupied the role from 2011 to 2015, and most recently from 2017. He was the Chairman of the Rebels from 2019 to 2020, has been the Chair of the Weary Dunlop Foundation since 2012, is a Life Member of Victorian Schools Ruby Union, and was a Director of Australian Junior Rugby Union from 2007 until 2010.
Mr North has been a Barrister since 1983, advancing to Senior Counsel in 2002, Queens Counsel in 2014 and Kings Counsel in 2022. He is a former Chair of the Emerald Tourist Railway Board (Puffing Billy) and the Prevention of Family Violence Program (The Quilt Program).
Graham Brown OAM has been President of the Wests Bulldogs Rugby club in Brisbane since 2015, following a period as the club's Vice President. He was a Board Member from 2009 to 2013, and was the President of the Juniors Club between 2008 and 2010. A Life Member and former Treasurer of Wests, Mr Brown also coached at the club from 2005 to 2010.
An active member of his local community, Mr Brown has been a Member of the Toowong Sub-Branch of the Returned Services League of Australia, and is currently a Member of Brisbane City Council's ANZAC Day Organising Committee.
Rugby Australia CEO, Andy Marinos paid tribute to the honourees.
"On behalf of everyone at Rugby Australia - and the broader Rugby community - I want to congratulate Rob Millner, Brett Clark, Tim North and Graham Brown on their King's Birthday honours.
"Above all, we thank them for their momentous service to the sport that we all love - we greatly appreciate their contributions, and we are proud to see them represent Rugby in the Order of Australia."
