Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon has been made a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his service to the community.
Gordon has been recognised for his contributions through Australian Rules Football, health promotion, youth social welfare and the law.
“It is a great honour to receive this award,” Gordon said.
“I feel fortunate to have been offered the opportunities I’ve had throughout my career to date. And when I look back on how far the Bulldogs have come in 30 years since the first gatherings of the Save the Dogs group in the then condemned John Gent stand, I have to just shake my head.
“I hope everyone else who worked hard to help the club survive and prosper feels the same kind of pride. To have the chance to commit to an important cause is itself the best reward.”
Growing up in West Footscray, Gordon is best known for his role as a two-time president of the Bulldogs, where he was instrumental in preventing an enforced merger with the Fitzroy Football Club in 1989, and delivering the Club’s second ever premiership in 2016.
But Gordon’s legacy extends well beyond football. His pioneering efforts in mass tort and consumer class action litigation include claims for victims of asbestos cancer, medically-acquired AIDS, sex abuse related to the Catholic Church, faulty breast implants and more, have resulted in thousands of men and women who otherwise would have lacked the resources gain financial compensation.
At the Bulldogs, Gordon was the driving force of what has become Australia’s biggest men’s health program, Sons of the West, impacting thousands of lives across Melbourne’s west since 2014, and companion program, Daughters of the West, was made possible through the financial support of Gordon Legal as the program’s major sponsor. Gordon Legal pledged $200,000 to make the launch of the womens’ health program possible in 2017.
“On behalf of everyone at the Western Bulldogs, I’d like to congratulate Peter on this great honour,” said Bulldogs’ CEO Ameet Bains.
“Peter has not only made an outstanding contribution to the Western Bulldogs, but in his legal career, and in the community through each organisation he has been involved in.”
Gordon also served on the Board of VicHealth (including a period as Deputy Chair and Acting Chair) for almost ten years, was also inaugural Chair of Victoria Walks, and joint inaugural co-Chair of the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer.
He currently serves on the Board of the homeless youth charity of the AFL Players’ Association, Ladder and was also Chair of the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation for five years following his return to the club in late 2012.
In 2017, Gordon was awarded an honorary doctorate at Victoria University, in recognition of more than 30 years of distinguished service to traditionally disadvantaged clients who would otherwise have been unable to pursue their rightful claims.
