Uniting Edinglassie resident Richard Turner honoured with Order of Australia

If you visit Richard Turner at the aged care village in Emu Plains, there’s a good chance you’ll find him enjoying the garden just outside his room or watching birds flit among the trees.
At 93 years old, Richard has been recognised in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his lifelong dedication to conservation and the environment.
Richard’s love of nature goes back more than 70 years. He started his career in 1951 with the NSW Forestry Commission, where he worked on restoring forests that had been cleared. Since then, he has been involved in numerous projects aimed at protecting native plants and wildlife for future generations.
Even now, Richard keeps busy volunteering at the Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve – a role he has held since 1984. He also served as a member of the Crown Land Trust and has been deeply involved with the Australian Plants Society NSW for decades.
His commitment includes many leadership roles with the Society’s Blue Mountains Group, such as president, secretary, and publicity officer, reflecting his passion for protecting Australia’s natural heritage.
Richard is also a founding member of BirdLife Australia’s Capertee Valley Regent Honeyeater Recovery Project, which has been working since 1993 to save this endangered bird.
From his early days as a forester to his ongoing volunteer work, Richard Turner’s life is a shining example of how one person’s dedication can make a lasting difference for the environment we all cherish.