Betty Butterworth honoured with OAM

ONE of the longest serving Lions in Anglesea has been recognised for her service in this year’s Australia Day Honours List.

Elizabeth “Betty” Butterworth was awarded the Medal of the Order of the Australia (OAM) for service to the community through a range of organisations.

The 94-year-old’s service and ties with the Lions are particularly strong, as she was a founding member of the Anglesea Lions Club in 1968 and then a founding member of the Anglesea Lioness Club in 1979, later serving in roles including as president, secretary and treasurer.

She has been a member of the Surfcoast Country Women’s Association since about 1949 and has also served in roles including as president, secretary and treasurer, and was made a life member of the organisation in 1988.

Mrs Butterworth has also been a member of the local branch of the Red Cross since 1949, serving as treasurer from 1963-1978; has held leadership roles at the Anglesea sub-branch of the RSL, Legacy and Lions Village Anglesea, and has been a member of the Anglesea and District Historical Society for 40 years.

There are two local appointees as Members of the Order of Australia (AM) this year:

• Geelong’s Helene Bender, For significant service to the community through health, education, not-for-profit and sporting organisations, including with Barwon Health Foundation, Deakin University, Geelong Grammar School, Tourism Victoria, Geelong Cemeteries Trust and St John of God Geelong Hospital, and
• Barwon Heads’ Tony Walker for significant service to the media as a journalist and to the community, including with the Australian Financial Review, the Financial Times of London, The Conversation, the CEW Bean Foundation, and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education.

Awardees of the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the Geelong region are:

• Lara’s Lynne Folster for service to the community through a range of organisations
• Grovedale’s David Kelly for service to cricket and to education.
• Geelong’s Graham Gibson for service to cycling and to the community
• Newtown’s Frank Herd for service to the meat processing industry and to the community
• Newtown’s Robert Riordan for service to the community through a range of organisations
• Drysdale’s Helen Trigg for service to the community through a range of roles
• Portarlington’s Jennifer Wills for service to local government, to gender equality, and to the community
• Leopold’s William Pratt for service to the community of Geelong, and
• The late David Renton of Ocean Grove for service to surf lifesaving.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at the Governor-General of Australia’s website.