Australia Day Honours 2026
MHSOBA warmly congratulates members of the MHS Old Boys community who have been recognised in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List for their outstanding contributions across their various fields.
A full list of recipients can be found here, and MSHOBA congratulates all who have been recognised this year.
Member of the Order of Australia
Graeme Rowland Base, Dip.A.
MHS 1974-1975
For significant service to children’s literature as an author and illustrator.
Born in the U.K., Graeme migrated to Australia at the age of 8. Attending Box Hill High School, he and his elder brother transferred to Melbourne High School in 1974. A skilled artist, he was awarded the Speech Night prize for Art in 1975. Four of his works were published in The Unicorn. Awarded an Education Department Scholarship, he studied Graphic Design at Prahran before working in advertising for two years. He began illustrating children’s books before writing as well as illustrating. In 1986, Animalia was published, which established his reputation as an outstanding creator of children’s books. A prolific author/illustrator, his other major success was in 1989 with The Eleventh Hour.
Medal of the Order of Australia
Dale Victor Allchin
MHS 1967-1970
For service to the community of Port Melbourne.
Dale grew up in Port Melbourne, where he has remained. He attended Nott Street State School (the same school as George Langley) and Middle Park Central School before attending MHS 1967-1970. A Justice of the Peace since 1996 and an Honorary Bail Justice for 22 years, Dale has been active with the Freemasons and the Port Philip Historical and Preservation Society.
Medal of the Order of Australia
Paul Jonathon Birch
MHS 1970-1973
For service to the community through a range of roles.
Paul attended Gardiner Central School before MHS and was a noted athlete. He played in the Under 15 A XVIII in 1970, as well as the School’s Athletics and Swimming teams.
Since 1975, Paul has been the clock winder at St Andrew’s (now) Uniting Church, at the corner of Burke and Malvern roads in Glen Iris, a role that was previously his father’s (who died in 1977). Every 8 days, it needs to be wound and greased.
A horticulturalist, he worked at the Maranoa Botanic Gardens in Balwyn 1999-2023, as well as being involved in a number of community groups: founding Member, Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species (formerly Earth Sanctuaries); Member, Trust for Nature; Vice-President, Southern Dandenong’s Community Nursery, since 1995; member, Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, since 1990; Contributor, Flora of Melbourne, 4th edition, 2014; Former Management Committee Member, Karwarra Native Australian Botanic Garden, Kalorama.
Medal of the Order of Australia
Julian Michael Lucas, LL.B.
MHS 1955-1956
For service to people who are deaf or hard of hearing
Julian’s connection with MHS started early, when his mother, Grace Fern, attended the School in 1927, the year of the split. Attending St Kilda CBC, he transferred to MHS in 1955 for leaving and Matric. With Honours in Modern History, he studied law, becoming a solicitor with his own firm.
Julian was a board member and chair at the John Pierce Centre for the deaf in Prahran, in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. He was also Chair, Board Member and legal advisor for a decade for Communication Rights Australia, of which he was made Honorary Life Member. He has also volunteered at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Julian has published a number of books on law and tax.
A mention must also be made of Paula Fox AC, who has received the highest honour, the Companion, for eminent services in philanthropy. Paula, the wife of Lindsay Fox (MHS 1952-1953), began her association with the Alfred hospital in the 1960’s, where her children were born, and she has raised substantial funds for the hospital since. Her most recent and notable project has been the Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre on St Kilda Road, which opened in 2024. Following her own diagnosis and treatment for melanoma, she initially wanted to build a new wing, though as the project developed, it evolved into a much more comprehensive centre. Paula has also been very active with the National Gallery of Victoria.
Our special thanks to Luke Savage, Honorary School Archivist, for his advice regarding these Honours.