Conservationist awarded OAM in King’s Birthday Honours List

A DEVOTED servant to the Landcare movement across the Geelong region said her inclusion in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List was testament to the power of people working together.

Dr Kaye Rodden was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to conservation.

Dr Rodden has been working to protect the environment for decades, including as chair of the Otway Agroforestry Network, three years as president of Friends of the Barwon, on the management committee of both the Geelong Landcare Network and Australian Landcare International, the Victorian Rabbit Action Network, and a founding member of the Barrabool Hills Landcare Group in 1995.

“I was extraordinarily surprised, to be honest,” Dr Rodden said of learning she would be awarded an OAM.

“I had no idea I was in that sort of category of person.

“It doesn’t say a lot about me, but it says an awful lot about the community I lived in, worked with and was part of.”

She said she felt humbled to be singled out, as there were many community champions that she knew and admired.

“I think [the OAM] says a lot about how valued community Landcare is now in the country, and what an important role it plays in trying to conserve and reinstate our natural landscape and the world that we live in.

“It’s wonderful that this award can be shared by all the community Landcarers; not just me.”

The two highest honours in Geelong this year went to Gareth Andrews and Dr James Mullins, who were appointed as Members of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the AFL as an administrator, to men’s health, and to the community; and significant service to science, and to the community through an emergency response organisation, respectively.

Awardees of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) include:

• Michelle Challis, for significant service to science, and to the community through an emergency response organisation, including with the Lions Club of Geelong and the St John of God Geelong Hospital Auxiliary
• The late John Devine, for service to Australian rules football, and to the community of Tasmania, including a time as both a player and a coach for the Cats, and
• Robert Gartland, for service to the community of Geelong, including with the Cats, where he is a life member and former vice-president; his long interest in the history of Kardinia Park; and with Anam Cara House.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at gg.gov.au