Royal honour for Logan's 'formal fairy godmother'
‘Australia’s Kindest Person’ Tammy Robinson now has the letters ‘OAM’ after her name for recognition of her service to the community and to youth in Logan.
Tammy was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2026, with the happy news spreading quickly across the City of Logan and beyond.
Television journalists such as Aislin Kriukelis from Channel Nine News interviewed Tammy about her reaction to the honour, introducing her as ‘Logan’s real life fairy godmother’ for founding the Formally Ever After organisation which is now based in Beenleigh.
For Tammy, who was named ‘Australia’s Kindest Person 2025’, finding out she was on the King’s list felt surreal.
‘It’s just such an honour. It is the cherry on top of the cake for the work we do,’ Tammy says.
That work began in 2019, when Tammy set out to help just one student attend their school formal. Today, her organisation has grown into a movement powered by kindness, to allow students and individuals to dress in style for milestone moments they may otherwise have missed.
‘Since 2019 we’ve helped over 10,000 students,’ Tammy says.
ABOVE: Tammy Robinson OAM, front row in front of the banner with Mayor Jon Raven by her side, with supporters of Formally Ever After who took part in this year’s Beenleigh Cane Parade.
Fuelled entirely by donations, Formally Ever After provides free dresses, suits and accessories to anyone who needs them — whether it’s for a Year 12 formal, a graduation or another special occasion.
Tammy knows it also makes a world of difference to people’s level of confidence, and she understands first-hand how important that is.
‘My earliest childhood memory was at 5 years old, growing up in Woodridge, in a housing commission house … life wasn’t always easy,’ she says. ‘I grew up often not feeling like I fit anywhere … I always felt like I wasn’t enough.’
Those experiences now drive her mission to show Logan’s youth that they do deserve to feel special for their special occasion.
‘I guess that’s why I love doing Formally Ever After … I can do my bit to show our young people how amazing they are, how they are enough, how their community has them,’ Tammy says.
ABOVE: Logan Mayoress Ali Raven with Tammy Robinson OAM at the City of Logan Charitable Trust event in March.
She says the honour belongs just as much to those who’ve supported her along the way. ‘This OAM isn’t mine alone, this is for us all.
‘If people want to help they can just get in touch through the Facebook page. We’re always after donations, especially plus size dresses.’
The recognition has been deeply personal for Tammy and her husband Athol as well.
‘When I got the letter I was speechless … I showed Athol and he cried and cried and told me he was so proud of me. He is my absolute rock.’
Next up for Tammy is to keep on keeping on.
‘A friend of mine said to me “giving is living” and she’s right … showing that kindness is free, helping people when we can.
‘The more you give the more you live … it enriches my life too and it enriches the life of people around me.’
‘Why wouldn’t we do it as long as we can — which is hopefully forever.’
For information about Formally Ever After visit Formally Ever After Qld Inc.| Facebook.
PHOTO AT TOP: Tammy Robinson OAM with her ‘rock’, husband Athol.