South Australian Women’s Honour Roll

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — please be aware this website may contain names, images and voices of deceased persons.

The South Australian Women's Honour Roll is an important part of an ongoing strategy to increase formal recognition of women who contribute to the South Australian community. Held every two years, the Honour Roll acknowledges and celebrates the diversity of women in our community and their commitment to effecting change to ensure that we live in a safer and more inclusive society.

All women nominated are included on the ongoing list of nominees on the Office for Women website. Through a panel process, twenty women were selected for making an exceptional contribution and included in the 2023 South Australian Women’s Honour Roll publication. The outstanding nominees were honoured at a reception at Government House in November 2023.

Nominations are assessed by a panel of community members, who recommended which women should be inducted to the Honour Roll.

2023 Honour Roll Nominees

• 2023 SA Women's Honour Roll (PDF 869.8 KB)

Previous Honour Roll nominees

• 2021 SA Women's Honour Roll (PDF 330.7 KB)
• 2019 SA Women's Honour Roll (PDF 809.2 KB)
• 2017 SA Women's Honour Roll (PDF 226.2 KB)
• 2015 SA Women's Honour Roll (PDF 270.5 KB)
• 2013 SA Women's Honour Roll (PDF 181.7 KB)
• 2011 SA Women's Honour Roll (PDF 442.5 KB)
• 2009 SA Women's Honour Roll (PDF 3.5 MB)
• 2008 SA Women's Honour Roll (PDF 5.5 MB)

SA Australian of the Year

Outstanding women included in the SA Women's Honour Roll are nominated for the Australian of the Year Awards each year to provide national recognition for the contribution they make to the community.

• Emmah Evans was awarded the 2020 SA Local Hero Award and was included in the Honour Roll in 2019. Emmah was recognised for her work to raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis and funds for research into a cure.
• Vicky Welgraven, was a finalist in the SA Australian of the Year 2019 category and was included in the Honour Roll in 2015. Vicky was recognised for her advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and activism to end domestic and family violence.
• Patricia Buckskin PSM, was awarded the 2017 SA Senior Australian of the Year award and was included in the Honour Roll in 2015. Patricia was recognised for her lifelong passion for Aboriginal education and her instrumental role in setting up the Kaurna Plains Aboriginal School.
• Lavene Ngatokorua, a Davenport community champion inducted into the SA Women's Honour Roll in 2015, was a finalist in the South Australian Australia's Local Hero 2016 category.
• Dr Gill Hicks MBE, was awarded the 2015 SA Australian of the Year award and added to the Honour Roll in the same year. Gill was recognised for her work as founder of M.A.D. for Peace and her work to end violent extremism.
• Dr Felicity-ann Lewis, winner of South Australia's Australian of the Year Award 2014, was included in the SA Women's Honour Roll in 2008. Felicity-ann won the 2014 award in recognition of her passion for creating a better, healthier and more inclusive Australia.

Women's Roll of Honour for the 20th Century

The International Women's Day Committee (SA) Inc developed an Honour Roll for South Australian Women (PDF 5.0 MB) in 2001. This Roll lists outstanding women who made a positive impact on South Australian life from 1900 to 1999.