The Victorian Pride Centre wishes to acknowledge and congratulate Stuart Kollmorgen, Deputy Board Chair on receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia.

In the Australian honours system, appointments to the Order of Australia confer recognition for outstanding achievement and service. The Medal of the Order of Australia has been awarded to Mr Kollmorgen for his service to the LGBTIQ community and sporting organisations.

Jude Munro AO, Chair of the Victorian Pride Centre said, “I congratulate Stuart on behalf of the Victorian Pride Centre Board for this significant and well deserved recognition.

Stuart is a committed and tenacious individual who has worked tirelessly to create a more equal and understanding society.”

Ms Munro added, “Stuart’s contribution to the realisation of Australia’s first LGBTIQ Pride Centre has been invaluable. As Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Stuart has, as always, taken on the biggest challenges, so he can realise a vision for all.”

Mr Kollmorgen’s work within the LGBTIQ community commenced over 25 years ago as the inaugural volunteer lawyer at the HV/AIDS Legal Centre.

He served as a director of the Midsumma Festival for 5 years, was part of the team that brought the Outgames to Melbourne, initiated the first pride group at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright and was Chair of LIVOut, the first LGBT pride group of the Australian state law society.

When asked about the award, Mr Kollmorgen said, “If you asked me what I would prefer – the award, or to get the things done in the community that we set out to achieve, it would be to get things done. There is so much more we can do.”

Of Mr Kollmorgen’s work as Deputy Chair and what motivates him to volunteer for the Victorian Pride Centre the answer is simple, “For the first time, our LGBTIQ community will own land, operate a Pride Centre, and control our destiny.”

Mr Kollmorgen has been the architect of the Pride Centre’s Founders Fund, an innovative investment product for individuals and organisations to own a stake in the Centre and share in its success. The Founders Fund is one of a range of fundraising strategies that allow members of the LGBTIQ community and allies to contribute to the building of the Victorian Pride Centre.