Veteran community leader Chethicad Oommen Thomas has been honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List for his exceptional service to Victoria’s Indian community, marking more than five decades of dedication to community leadership, charity and faith-based initiatives.
Arriving in Victoria in 1969 shortly after the end of the White Australia Policy era, Mr Thomas has been instrumental in helping generations of Indian migrants settle and build new lives in Australia. Over the years, he has played a key role in establishing community organisations, cultural groups and charitable institutions that continue to benefit thousands of Indian Australians.
The 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List, announced by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, recognises 948 Australians for outstanding achievement across fields including community service, medicine, science, education, defence, sport and the arts.
Mr Thomas’s work has been central to strengthening multicultural ties in Victoria. In 1976, he founded the Malayalee Association of Victoria, serving as its first president and helping create a cultural and social support network for migrants from Kerala. The association became an important hub for preserving language and traditions while supporting integration into Australian society.
He also held senior roles in the Australia India Society of Victoria, where he worked to deepen relations between Australia and India and promote multicultural understanding. In 1986, he helped establish the Victorian Indian Community Charitable Trust, which continues to provide support to disadvantaged members of the community.
Beyond cultural and charitable work, Mr Thomas has been a leading figure in the growth of the Indian Orthodox Church in Victoria. He helped bring the church to the state and played a founding role in establishing St Mary’s Indian Orthodox Cathedral, later supporting the development of multiple congregations and church institutions across Victoria.
Community members describe him as a visionary leader whose work has combined compassion with long-term institution-building, helping transform early migrant networks into a strong and thriving community presence.
Recipients of the 2026 honours will be formally recognised at investiture ceremonies at Government House in their respective states and territories in the coming months.