Australia Day Honours for locals

COMMUNITY champions from a range of backgrounds across the Geelong region have been lauded in this year’s Australia Day Honours.

Announced on January 26, the local honours were among 895 approved by Governor-General of Australia Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Queenscliff resident Dr Paul Hemming was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to higher education administration, to medicine through contributions to a range of professional medical associations, and to the community of central Victoria, particularly as a general practitioner. Dr Hemming has been chancellor of Federation University Australia since 2012, and is a former president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Victorian branch of the Australian Medical Association.

Lara firefighter Glenn Jennings received the Australian Fire Service Medal (ASFM) for his outstanding commitment to emergency services in Victoria.

A 40-year CFA veteran who has established himself as one of Australia’s most respected experts in emergency vehicle driver education and also as an accident investigator, he said he was humbled to have received the ASFM.

“I love my job – CFA has been my life. We often use the term ‘family’, but the amount of time you spend on shift does really see your colleagues become your close friends and family.”

A number of people across the region received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). These include:

• Highton’s Janice Kinloch, for service to women, and to the community of Geelong
• Highton’s Dr Peter Mansfield, for service to community history and heritage preservation
• Point Lonsdale’s Diana Allen, for service to jazz music
• The Bellarine’s Therese McKenney, for service to the community through social welfare organisations
• Manifold Heights’ Roger Allen, for service to cricket
• Point Lonsale’s Barrie Provan, for service to the community of Queenscliff
• Winchelsea’s Major Robert Charles (retired), for service to the community through a range of roles
• Winchelsea’s Patricia Collins, for service to the community through the preservation of historical sites, and
• Barongarook’s Lynette Harris, for service to women in Victoria.