Warrigal is delighted to share that our Deputy Chairman, Roger Downs, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours.

Only 949 Australians received honours this year, with recipients selected by the independent Council for the Order of Australia following rigorous evaluation. Roger’s OAM recognises decades of voluntary service to the Illawarra community – a region he’s proudly called home since settling here with his family in 1979.

Throughout his 40-year legal career with Kells Lawyers in Wollongong, Roger has volunteered his professional expertise to support a wide range of community organisations. He has provided legal counsel, governance guidance, and board oversight to charities and organisations serving our region’s most vulnerable members, including the NSW Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, the Law Society of NSW, and the Illawarra Credit Union.

This same commitment has defined Roger’s service to Warrigal for nearly three decades. He became a company member on 28 January 1997, joined our Board of Directors on 28 July 1997, and was appointed Vice Chairman on 28 October 1998. He chaired our Board Risk and Audit Committee (BRAC) from 13 September 2023 to 1 July 2025, providing critical oversight during substantial aged care reform, and continues to serve on both the BRAC and the Nominations and Remuneration Committees.

Roger’s stewardship has directly contributed to Warrigal’s achievements in governance and quality, including our 100% compliance across all Aged Care Quality Standards. His dedication exemplifies the calibre of volunteer leadership our founders envisioned.

On receiving the honour, Roger said: “I came here in 1979, I established my family and children here and the Illawarra is such a wonderful, welcoming area. It’s very humbling to think that someone went to the trouble of nominating me.”

Roger was one of 13 Illawarra residents recognised for their decades of service to the local community. See Roger’s story in the Illawarra Mercury here, as well as other OAM recipients from the Illawarra.

This award is a significant national recognition, and we are thrilled that Roger is being recognised and celebrated for his extraordinary service to our community.

Congratulations Roger!