Community servants honoured on Australia Day

LONG-TIME Torquay RSL and Torquay Lions Club member Kevin Egan is among those from the Geelong region on this year’s Australia Day Honours List.

Mr Egan, who received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), has repeatedly served as president of both organisations (Torquay RSL three times and the Torquay Lions twice) and was made a life member of the Torquay RSL in 2017.

Eastern View resident Professor Daryl Le Grew was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to education, to research infrastructure development, and to architecture.

Geelong dentist Dr Werner Bischof was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to dentistry, and to professional dental organisations, as did Torquay SLSC member Dr Bill Johnson for services to medical, teaching and surf life saving work.

Other people in the region to receive an OAM were:

• The late Mieczyslaw (Michael) Waldemar Parks, for service to the community of Geelong,
including as a founding member of the Bell Park Sports Club

• Ruth Christian, for service to the community of Geelong, including with Anglican Christ Church

• Warwick Hadfield, for service to broadcast media as a journalist, including with the ABC and The Australian

• Dr Bernard Jenner, for service to the community of the Barwon region, including with Gateway Support Services, Hope Bereavement Care and Barwon Health

• Neil Lamond, for service to tennis, including with Tennis Geelong

• Geelong Art Gallery president and CEO Institute president Terence Cooke, for service to the community

• Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary owner and director Tehree Gordon, for service to conservation and the environment, and

• Wye River CFA captain Roy Moriarty, for service to the community through emergency response organisations.

John Callahan of Barwon Downs was presented with the Australian Fire Service Medal for providing exceptional service to the CFA in Victoria as an outstanding volunteer operational leader and mentor for more than 55 years.

Jan Juc’s Gregory Baeck received the Emergency Services Medal for his instrumental role in the establishment and development of Torquay Marine Rescue Service, where has been a member of the service since its formation in 1984.

The 2019 Australia Day Honours List has 1,127 recipients of awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia and 273 meritorious and military awards.

The list includes the most ever awards for outstanding service or achievement in the
community (516).