A number of Sydney Anglicans have been acknowledged for their contributions to church and community in the Australia Day honours list, which expanded by 200 places this year.
Among the 2026 honourees was Emeritus Professor Christopher Bellenger, who was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
Professor Bellenger has given significant service to veterinary science, to tertiary education, and to the Anglican Church of Australia.
A long-time professor of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney, Professor Bellenger was a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Sydney, from 1998-2004 and also chaired the Anglican Education Committee for seven years until 2020.
He was a a long time member of the Executive, of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students.
After retirement, Professor Bellenger Chris Bellenger served as Master of Robert Menzies College for six years until 2011.
In local church involvement, he served as a warden of St Thomas Church, North Sydney and currently is a church warden and synod representative for St Luke's Clovelly.
Other Sydney church members honoured include John Bicknell of Bargo, honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community though a range of organisations. Mr Bicknell has been a parishioner and Volunteer of Wollondilly Anglican churches for over 30 years, serving as treasurer for Picton, Thirlmere and Tahmoor congregations.
Also awarded an OAM was John Weeks of Thirroul, for service to secondary education.
Mr Weeks was Principal of Illawarra Grammar from 1997-2003. And former Chair of the Heads of Combined Associated Schools.
He was Church Warden of Austinmer Anglican Church from 1996-2002 and is a member of St Michael's, Wollongong.
Adrian Read of Pitt Town was honoured with an OAM for service to gymnastics, and to the community.
He was a director of Gymnastics Australia from 1993 to 2001 and a former President of Gymnastics NSW. He also served on the parish council of St Andrew's Church, Wahroonga for ten years.
High-profile Christians honoured include kidnapped medical missionary Dr Ken Elliot and his wife Jocelyn.
The Elliots, who served in Africa since the 1970s, were appointed as Officers of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to international relations through humanitarian medical care in remote regions of Burkina Faso.
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Feature photo: Professor Bellenger during his time as Master of Robert Menzies College. Photo credit:RMC
