On Thursday October 30 2025 husbands Gregory Storer and Michael Barnett were jointly awarded the 2025 Sir John Monash Award for LGBTIQA+ Community Leadership by the City of Monash,
The award recognises outstanding achievement by an individual, organisation, agency service provider, group or business who has strengthened the representation and inclusion of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer/questioning and asexual communities (LGBTIQA+) within Monash.
Gregory is a current co-convenor of the Victorian Pride Lobby and committee member of Australia Post’s Post Pride employee group. He recently completed a two-year term on the Monash LGBTIQA+ Reference Group.
Michael is a long-standing co-convenor of Aleph Melbourne, the social, support and advocacy group for LGBTIQA+ people in Melbourne’s Jewish community. He has also sat on the Glen Eira Rainbow Pride Advisory Group since 2023 where he represents the interests of the Jewish community. In 2023 he was awarded an Order of Australia for Service to the LGBTQI community.
Both Gregory and Michael have dedicated themselves to strengthening the lives of LGBTIQA+ people in Melbourne’s Jewish community for many years. In addition to their contributions to Aleph Melbourne, both public and behind-the-scenes, they have been instrumental in running the annual Jews of Pride contingent at Pride March and stall at In One Voice for many years.
Gregory and Michael are passionate about standing up for the rights of vulnerable and marginalised communities, whether it’s LGBTIQA+ people, combating antisemitism, women’s rights, Indigenous rights, or protections for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Photo by Artificial Studios.
