The face of Port Douglas’s Great Barrier Reef Marathon has been honoured with an induction into the Order of Australia. 

Steve Moneghetti, from Ballarat, received the award during the Queen’s Birthday Honours over the weekend. 

A veteran and well-respected marathon runner, Steve is also the official Ambassador of the Port Douglas-based Great Barrier Reef Marathon. 

He’s also a Commonwealth Gold medalist and the current Chef De Mission for Australia’s current Commonwealth Games team, placing him in charge of 400 athletes and 200 support staff. 

Steve received the Order of Australia Medal for significant service to athletics as a marathon runner, administrator and mentor to young athletes throughout his long career.

He said he was ‘obviously very humbled and proud to receive this recognition’ and looked forward to returning to Port Douglas for a friend’s wedding in August and the Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival in November.

“I love coming up to Port Douglas, especially for the Great Barrier Reef Marathon,” he said. 

“Last year I won my own race which was really embarrassing - I ran past a big sign of myself that had my ugly mug plastered all over it, and let me tell you, it’s a bit surreal when you find yourself running from your own giant face.”

Although having taken on a vast range of gruelling long-distance runs and beaten them, he said that the Douglas event was no pushover.

“It’s definitely still a challenge, particularly on the Bump Track,” he said. 

“Last year was brilliant perfect weather but the humidity can still be a bit of a problem for guys like me from down south. 

“It’s a challenging event, a very tough event.”

Although keen to return for the Great Barrier Reef Marathon, Steve’s got plenty on his plate.

Aside from the Commonwealth Games in late July, he will be participating in the Gold Coast Marathon, the Sydney City2Surf, the Adelaide Marathon, the Port Macquarie City2Surf, the Coffs Harbour Running Festival, the Sydney Marathon and the Melbourne Marathon - all before coming back up to Douglas for the Great Barrier Reef Marathon. 

Despite his chockers schedule the 51-year-old said he had no plans on stopping soon. 

“I love it,” he said.

“When it comes to events like the Great Barrier Reef Marathon it’s not just about the race, we’re also keen on raising some awareness about the Reef and the kind of trouble it’s in.

“I have a view that it’s a combined effort - if someone can raise awareness or raise funds they should do what they can to protect what is one of Australia’s greatest assets.”