On 3rd November, 2019 , the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2019 Autumn Imperial Decorations.
Mr Ross McKinnon AM is among this year’s foreign recipients in recognition of his contributions towards introducing Japanese culture and promoting the understanding of Japan in Australia. He will receive The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.
As Curator-in-Charge of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Mr McKinnon recognised the cultural significance of the Japanese Gardens in the Japanese Pavilion at the World Expo 1988 in Brisbane, and played an important role in its preservation and relocation to the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.
Since the relocation, Mr McKinnon has continued to support Japanese cultural groups and events through the use of the gardens, and made great contributions to introducing Japanese culture and promoting the understanding of Japan in Australia.