Melbourne staff, students and alumni have been recognised for their contributions to the community across a broad range of fields.

“These honours are a great acknowledgement of the outstanding contribution by the recipients to the University and the broader community,” Professor Davis said.

“They have worked tirelessly to serve the public and it is wonderful to see that commitment rewarded.”

Leading the awards for the University was engineering student Marita Cheng who has been named The Young Australian of the Year.

Marita, who wants to encourage girls to pursue engineering studies and careers, founded Robogals Global, which uses fun activities to teach secondary school girls about science and technology. Robogals now has 17 branches across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Among the many other members of the University community recognised on Australia Day were:

• The former Chancellor - and now Governor - Mr Alex Chernov and Australia’s former top public servant and member of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board Mr Terry Moran who were named Companion of the Order of Australia.

• The former Vice-Chancellor, Kwong Lee Dow, businessman and University adviser Sir Rod Eddington, the Ernest Scott Professor of History at the University, Professor Stuart MacIntyre, and the Rector of the University’s Newman College, Fr Bill Uren, who were named Officer of the Order of Australia.

• Those named Member of the Order of Australia included: the former Chancellor, Mr Ian Renard, former Provost Professor Peter McPhee, former Dean of Veterinary Science Professor Ivan Caple, former IBM Managing Director Mr Glen Boreham, the chair of the Venice Biennale, Mr Simon Mordant, and Emeritus Professor in Dentistry, Professor Louise Brearley Messer.

• Winners of the Medal of the Order of Australia included Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society Director Professor Rod Tucker, Honorary Senior Fellow in the Faculty of Veterinary Science Dr Michael Harrison, and a former Head of Psychology, Professor Warren Bartlett.

• And Mr Blair Comley, the Commonwealth member on Carlton Connect reference group, was given a Public Service Medal.

Professor Davis congratulated all award recipients and said they set an example for others to follow.