Jean helps out everywhere

JEAN Young has always tried to help out, no matter where she has been throughout her life.

The 30-year Torquay resident was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) yesterday (Thursday, January 26) for service to community of the Surf Coast region as part of this year’s Australia Day Honours List.

She said she was “a bit embarrassed” at the plaudits for her efforts, including with the Surfcoast Parish of St Luke’s Anglican Church for more than 30 years and as a foundation member of The Outpost Geelong in about 1990, and historically with the Bendigo Region Alcohol and Drug Service in the 1980s and a range of volunteering roles in Papua New Guinea in the 1970s.

“I don’t need it… you don’t do things to get accolades,” she said.

“My husband was a bank manager, and we moved a lot. So what you can do in one town, you can’t do in another, so each time we moved, I had to find something else to do, which I did.

“I’ve done some great things.”

Speaking just before making another batch of jam for the coming St Luke’s Easter fete, Ms Young said she was particularly proud of her 11 years in the Grannies Group at the church.

“For many years we had a Monday morning mother’s group. A lot of them were English girls whose husbands came out with Ford, and they didn’t know anybody, so they brought their littlies and they all played and we oldies provided the morning tea.

“That was fantastic – I still see the mothers now, and the kids have grown up.”

Anton Leen, of Geelong West, for service to conservation and the environment, including with the Geelong branch of Field and Game Australia

The others awarded OAMs across the Geelong region were:

Joy Leggo, of Lara, for service to the community through a range of organisations, including Cultura and Aged and Community Services Australia

Colin Mockett, of Hamlyn Heights, for service to the arts, and to local history, including Drop Of A Hat Productions and the Geelong Theatre Awards

Kenneth Mansfield, of Highton, for service to the community of Geelong, including with the Rotary Club of Highton and the Geelong and Surfcoast Cycling Club

Sheila Mansfield, of Highton, for service to the community of Geelong, including with Samaritan House Geelong and St Bernard’s Catholic Church

John McCarthy, of Armstrong Creek, for service to veterans, including the Geelong and District Vietnam Veterans Association and the Torquay RSL

Sarah Foley, of Point Lonsdale, for service to community health, including with Kids Plus Foundation and Australian Bobath Neurodevelopmental Therapy Association, and

The late John McDonald, formerly of Torquay, for service to the community through a range of roles and organisations, including the Rotary Club of Torquay and Barwon Water.

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

Ms Young has lived in Torquay for about 30 years.