At its meeting of April 1994, the Executive Committee of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand passed the following motion:

  • That the Society honour the memory of Owen Oxenham as the founding President of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand by instituting the Owen Oxenham Memorial Award.
  • That the Owen Oxenham Memorial Award be given to a member of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand in recognition of outstanding service of that member to the Society.
  • That the Owen Oxenham Memorial Award not necessarily be given annually.
  • That the Owen Oxenham Memorial Award be given at the time of the Annual Conference and during the Conference Dinner.

The award recognises outstanding service to the Society and its objects; that is in summary, commitment to the study and application of the law of the Catholic Church at the service of its mission. It is the highest award for members of the Society.

Recipient

Year
Reverend Francis Harman

1994
Bishop Geoffrey Robinson

2008
Monsignor David Price

2011
Reverend Doctor Ian Waters

2016
Doctor Rodger Austin

2018