Australia Day honours: Blacktown residents named in annual honours list

Two dedicated rugby club members and a pioneering Rotary Club volunteer are among the five Blacktown residents to make the 2023 Australia Day Honours list. Meet them all here.

Two dedicated rugby club members and pioneering Rotary Club volunteer Melvin Gray (pictured) are among the five Blacktown residents to make the 2023 Australia Day Honours list. Meet them all here.

A husband-and-wife power dedicated to helping young footy hopefuls at a western Sydney rugby club are among the five Blacktown region residents to feature in the 2023 Australia Day Honours list.

Although they may not be widely known, this year’s honorees have worked tirelessly to make their community a better place, and have been recognised for their selfless service and unwavering dedication.

Meet the award winners here.

MELVIN GRAY

Melvin Gray has been recognised in the honour’s list.

After almost three decades with the Rotary Club of Blacktown, former club president Melvin Gray said his Medal of the Order of Australia is not just a reflection of his own tireless work, but a recognition for the whole community.

Mr Gray first launched his volunteer career with the Rotary Club in 1983, before serving as president four times and pioneering a number of projects, including with the local Blacktown Council. Those included the Adopt-A-Road program and S.T.E.M Project.

In 2005, Mr Gray helped found the Gray’s Bike Rides program, which sought to raise funds for PhD research.

The 74-year-old said he came to bike riding later on in life.

“I suffer badly from arthritis and have had both my knees replaced,” Mr Gray said.

“I thought to myself, I need to do something. I need to set myself a goal.”

Mr Gray said he hoped riding would also help with his arthritis, which it did.

More recently, he has had both his ankles fused.

The procedure forced him to “reteach” himself how to walk – but, it has not stopped him from riding.

“Although I can’t walk, I find it very comfortable on the bike,” he said.

“The constant peddling with my legs helps with muscle memory, and I get to move my feet properly again.”

Mr Gray said he would not have been able to have helped the community they way he did without the Rotary Club.

“The award is not just an award for me, Melvin Gray,” he said.

“It’s an award for our Rotary Club. Because if I hadn’t belonged to Rotary, and hadn’t belonged to the Rotary Club of Blacktown City, I wouldn’t have probably been put in such a way where people could recognise what’s gone on over the last nearly 30 years.

“To me, the award is as much for the community, because it’s through the community, through Rotary, and through the council, that we have been able to do these things.”

EMMANUEL (BILL) AND KARYN BORG

Long-time St Clair Junior Rugby League Club supporter Bill Borg was “embarrassed” to learn of his nomination for a Medal of the Order of Australia, and said his tireless work over decades was for the love of the game and to support the kids involved.

Mr Borg served as the Western Sydney club’s secretary for more than three decades, from 1989 until 2021.

During that time, he served a number of other roles with the club, including grounds and fundraising committee member.

In 1898, Mr Borg said the club had 18 sides. When he stepped down as secretary in 2021, there were 58.

“The club is a big part of the Penrith district and junior rugby league,” Mr Borg said.

“Its something my wife and I are very proud of.”

Wife Karym Borg has also been a long-time supporter of the club, including its Ladies Auxiliary.

She began as a team manager when the couple’s son started playing with the team in 1986, and went on to serve on the St Clair Rugby League Club Committee in roles including treasurer.

Emmanuel (Bill) Borg, left, and wife Karyn Borg.

In 1990, Ms Borg – who also received a Medal of the Order of Australia – became a vice president at the Penrith Junior League Club and was working as a volunteer four to five days a week for seven years, including as zone controller and district registrar.

In 1998, she returned to the club level as assistant secretary and “A” grade manager, as well as magazine editor, for the next 10 years.

“Our time with the club has been rewarding,” she said.

“One of the things that we get to see quite often is watching the players who come in at under six, going all the way through to eighth grade, and then coming back with their children.

“We see lots of lots of second and third generation players now, and you just feel like they wouldn’t be playing with the club if we hadn’t been doing the job correctly.”

MARK HARRIS

Mark Harris was recognised in the honour’s list.

Auburn North Public School principal Mark Harris has received a Public Service Medal for outstanding service in education.

Serving as principal for more than 20 years, Mr Harris now leads a team of 60 staff and 650 students, with a focus on a “whole-school approach” to literacy and numeracy – deepening teachers‘ curriculum and assessment knowledge and enhancing evidence-based practices.

Mr Harris supports and leads some of NSW‘s most disadvantaged students, including from low socio-economic, non-English-speaking, and refugee backgrounds, and has developed award-winning programs such as harmony house and homework clubs for parents.

Under his leadership, Auburn North Public School has become one NSW‘s most successful schools in terms of student educational growth.

Mr Harris’ vision is for NSW to have the best education system in Australia and to be one of the finest in the world.

BARRY WADEMAN

Barry Wademan was recognised for his work with the SES.

Barry Wademan, of Kings Langley, was honoured with an Emergency Services Medal following his long-term service with the SES.

Mr Wademan joined the New South Wales State Emergency Service as a cadet in 1977, and has been an active volunteer in the Blacktown Unit for over 44 years. He has held many roles during that time, including unit commander, duty officer and course administrator.

In the mid-90s, Mr Wademan helped to pioneer “Swift Water Rescue” for the New South Wales SES and has been at the forefront of developing Standard Operating Procedures for the Blacktown Unit, helping them to operate more effectively and efficiently.

He has been deployed to numerous high profile critical incidents over his career with the SES, including the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake, the 1997 Thredbo Landslide, and the 1999 Sydney Hailstorms.

He also provided assistance to bushfire ravaged communities by managing the recovery centre in Ulladulla and Narooma during the Black Summer bushfires, and during the flooding last year during which time he filled the role of operations officer leading the operations team.