Order of Australia recipients presented with medals

SOME of the Surf Coast and Bellarine’s most dedicated locals received their Order of Australia medals from Greater Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood at the City’s Civic Reception last week.

Among them was Kevin Egan, who attended the presentations with his wife and daughter.

“It’s an honour to receive the award,” Mr Egan said. “We put a lot of work into the community, but we don’t necessarily expect such an honour.”

Though he now lives in Geelong, Mr Egan had a profound impact on the Torquay community.

He served as president of both the Torquay RSL and Torquay Lions on various occasions, volunteered at the local SES for over a decade, was part of Relay for Life for several years and also served as a welfare officer for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

While at 80 years of age, Mr Egan is no longer as strongly involved in various community groups, but his selfless mindset is still clear in what he says the award provides.

“It encourages other people who are semi-retired and retired to work in their community and put life back into the community.”

Mr Egan was one of 18 people from the Barwon region to be presented the Order of Australia medals on the night.

The others were Dr Werner Hans Bischof, Mrs Ruth Christian, Mrs Tehree Alice Gordon, Mr Neil Malcolm Lamond, Dr Kerry Ann Peart, Mr Terence Sidney Wills Cooke, Mr Alwyn Robert Backwell, Mr Frank De Rosso, Mr Robert Henry Flynn, Mrs Clare Norma Gray, Mr Peter Francis Maishman, Ms Patti Manolis, Mrs Elizabeth North, Mr John Olsen, Mr Lynden Smith, Mr Kevin Stone and Mr Anthony Strahan.