Among them was Aunty Lynette Warren who received an OAM for service to the Indigenous community of Bendigo.

Aunty Lyn said the award was "a shock to the system".

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"I'm very very proud," she said of the honour.

"I do what I do for the love of it. Never in a million years did I think I would receive something like this.

"It's like, 'wow!'."

Aunty Lyn has been a board member of the Centre for Non-Violence for many years and is the Cultural Adviser to the CNV's Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group.

For the past four years she has working with the indigenous community in the prison system to connect them to family as part of a cultural journey program.

"The past few years because of COVID I've had to do it on Zoom, I can't actually go to the Loddon (Middleton) prison," Aunty Lyn said.

"But it's been a fantastic journey and helped make a lot of people feel good."

Aunty Lyn Warren has also served as chairperson and director of the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative and is the NAIDOC Bendigo Committee chairperson.

In 2019 she was inducted into Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

She said the OAM was a great honour.

"To have what you're doing recognised Australia-wide is fabulous," she said.

"It might be a good omen for some other people to step up.

"I'd like to thank whoever nominated me. It's just a bit of a shock."

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The late Mr Kenneth Charles Heddle, formerly of California Gully, was also honoured with an OAM for service to the community through emergency response organisations.

He served with the Werribee Fire Brigade and was made an honorary life member of the CFA in 1991.

He also served with the Eaglehawk Fire Brigade from 2018-2020 and was a member and secretary of the Fire Service Museum Victoria for a combined period of 25 years.

Mr Heddle was also a volunteer with Ambulance Victoria for 22 years.

Margaret Allan received a Public Service Medal for her support of emerging leaders, particularly women, by providing advice, guidance and coaching to ensure they are provided with every opportunity to succeed.

During her more than 30-year career, Ms Allan has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to advocacy and relationship building at both local and state government levels in the Loddon Mallee region.

This includes supporting urban growth and renewable energy, protecting native vegetation and wildlife, and managing water solutions and Crown land.

She currently serves as regional director, Loddon Mallee at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

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