Prestigious award for deserving man

THE man behind one of the Whitsundays most successful sailing events has been awarded a medal of the order of Australia (OAM).

HONOURED: Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club founder Ken Thackeray has been awarded an OAM in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to charitable organisations, the Whitsunday VMR and veterans

THE man behind one of the Whitsundays most successful sailing events has been awarded a medal of the order of Australia (OAM) in the general division of this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Ken Thackeray is the founder of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club (SICYC) and one of its 2947 'vice commodores' from 14 nations.

The club, named after the Whitsunday destination of Shag Islet, was founded as a 'non-exclusive' collection of Australian and international sailors.

Since its inception in 2009, the SICYC has donated more than $82k to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Every year, fundraisers are conducted through the club, including the annual rendezvous at Gloucester Passage, which last year attracted more participants than Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island race weeks.

Mr Thackeray, a former president of the RAAF Association's 2 Squadron and former pensions officer for the South East District RSL at Greenslopes Hospital, has been recognised for his service to charitable organisations, the Whitsunday Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) club and to veterans.

Ever modest, Mr Thackeray said the honour did not belong to him alone.

"These things don't happen because of one person - in the SICYC there's so many people who do so many wonderful things - it's just a very unusual organisation," he said.

Abell Point Marina owner Paul Darrouzet said as a proud sponsor of the SICYC, he would like to personally congratulate Mr Thackery on this prestigious award, describing him as a hardworking and very deserving candidate.

"Ken has been a driving force in developing one of the largest cruising yachting networks in the country, a network dedicated to supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Abell Point Marina will continue to support such a great cause and an inspirational leader," he said.