10/06/2026
We are so very proud of our Honorary Secretary Elizabeth Sampson who was awarded the Public Service Medal on the King’s Birthday Honours list.
Ms Elizabeth Sampson is recognised for her outstanding leadership in public land management reform in Victoria, delivering landmark legislation that protects significant natural landscapes including the Birrarung (Yarra River) and the Great Ocean Road. She played a key role in developing the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017 and the Great Ocean Road and Environs Protection Act 2020, which recognised these landscapes as living, integrated natural entities and established holistic management approaches balancing environmental, cultural, community and economic interests.
A strong advocate for Traditional Owner self-determination, Ms Sampson championed legislative recognition of Traditional Owners’ connection to Country, leading to Victoria’s first Acts with bilingual preambles and long-term governance arrangements. Through her systems-thinking approach, she developed evidence-based frameworks, led complex advisory processes, and managed extensive consultation to build broad support for reform. Her work has created enduring environmental, cultural, social and economic benefits and set new standards for public land management in Victoria.
Although not related to Surf Lifesaving, Libby has given countless hours to the association in many different roles over many years.
A huge congratulations from all of us Libby 💙💛🩵
