Recipient focus on team effort

BARRY Fitzgerald used two words to sum up his reaction to discovering he was awarded Medal of the Order of Australia: proud and embarrassed.

“I’m proud to live in a great community such as Buninyong and proud to have been able to help with quite a few projects in the community over the years” he said.

“I am embarrassed, because when you take on work in your local area you do it to help the community, not for rewards or awards.

“I’m also embarrassed because my wife Gayle Adams has been heavily involved in most of these community projects, led the Community Association as president and as secretary for many years, and currently is handling the business side of the local cemetery as well.”

Mr Fitzgerald was awarded the honour for his service to the Buninyong Community, where he was editor of the local newspaper for seven years, worked on various projects such as the restoration of the avenue of honour, and in leadership positions for the community association.

“I had some time, I was retired, and I could see the exciting possibilities of putting together a quality hard sheet,” he said.

“The fact we continually received very positive feedback about the newspaper kept us going.”

Currently, he is the president of the Buninyong Cemetery Trust where he is working on restoring the Chinese grave section.

Mr Fitzgerald said that while these projects have been a team effort, it is great to see his involvement has made a difference.

“I get a bit of a buzz when I walk around the town and know I have made a small contribution,” he said.