2018 Australia Day honours recipients on Central Coast
As Australians celebrate our national day today, five Central Coast people been awarded the Order of Australia in the annual honours list.
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As Australians celebrate our national day today, five Central Coast people been awarded the Order of Australia in the annual honours list.
Governor-General and Chancellor of the Order of Australia, His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove, has approved a total of 895 awards which recognise a diverse range of contributions and service across many fields.
“To all recipients, I offer my deepest congratulations, admiration and respect for your contribution to our nation,” Sir Peter said.
“We are fortunate as a community to have so many outstanding people willing to dedicate themselves to the betterment of our nation and it is only fitting that they have today been recognised through the Australian Honours system,” he said.
“Since 1975 these awards have helped to define, encourage and reinforce Australian goals and values. They identify role models who give without thought of recognition or personal gain.
“Today’s recipients now join the company of many women and men whose meritorious and brave actions have enriched our community and our lives. Their qualities — compassion, dedication, generosity, selflessness, tolerance, and energetic ambition — inspire and motivate us.”
Local people awarded the OAM in the general division:
Tom Bagnat PSM
Long time National Parks and Wildlife Service officer and staunch conservationist Tom Bagnat has been awarded the OAM for service to public administration in New South Wales.
SERVICE:
■ New South Wales Government — National Parks and Wildlife Service:
■ Director, Metropolitan and Mountains Branch, 2013-2016.
■ Inaugural Chair, Fire Management Advisory Committee, 2001-2016.
■ Served as Incident Controller or Deputy Incident Controller during multiple major campaign fires since 1980, including the Blue Mountains fires in 2013.
■ Central Coast and Hunter Regional Manager, 2000-2013.
■ Upper Hunter District Manager, 1995-2000.
■ Senior Ranger, 1984-1995.
■ Ranger, 1980-1984.
■ New South Wales Rural Fire Service:
■ Incident Controller on numerous major fires for 36 years.
■ Member, Central Coast Rural Fire Service, current.
■ Member, Belrose Brigade, 1986-1996.
■ Volunteer, since 1972.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:
■ Recipient, Public Service Medal, 2011.
■ Recipient, National Medal, 1996 and First Clasp, 2003 and Second Clasp, 2013.
Kevin Best
Years of service to football in NSW, including to Central Coast Clubs at Wyoming and Kincumber has culminated in Kevin Best being awarded an OAM in the general division.
SERVICE:
Wyoming Football Club (formerly Wyoming Soccer Club):
■ Chairman, Executive Advisory Committee, current.
■ President, 1978-1987.
■ Established, Junior Football Program, 2007.
■ Development Coach, since 2007.
■ Coach, Junior Teams, 1998-2000 and 1984-1986.
■ Coach, First Grade Team, 1987-1989 and 1983.
■ Player, 1975-1986.
■ Life Member, 1979.
■ Historian, since 2006.
■ Inductee, Hall of Fame, 2010.
■ Awarded, Medal for continuing long service to the Club, 2011.
■ Awarded Senior Player of the Year, 1986 and 1975.
Central Coast Football Association:
■ President, Representative Teams 1982.
■ Board Member, 1988-1997.
■ Coach, Junior Representative Teams, 1990-1997.
■ Director of Marketing, 1988-1997.
■ Publicity Officer, 1985-1997.
■ Representative Player, 1982.
■ Life Member, 1992.
■ Historian, since 2010.
Other service:
■ Awarded Trophy, Services to the Game, 1979.
■ Hurlstone Park Wanderers Football Club:
Player, 1958-1974.
■ Secretary, 50th Anniversary Celebrations, 1970-1973.
■ Life Member, 1974.
Kincumber Football Club:
■ Coach, Women’s First Grade, 2001-2002.
East Bankstown Soccer Club:
■ Player, 1987.
Leslie Dell
Leslie Dell of East Gosford has been awarded the OAM for service to business, to education, and to the community.
SERVICE
Direct Selling Association of Australia:
■ Consultant, 2009-2011.
■ Executive Director, 2003-2009.
■ Honorary Chairman, Government and Public Relations Committee, 1975-1994.
■ Inductee, Hall of Fame, 1988.
■ Life Member, 1995.
■ Director of Finance, Nutrimetics International, 1968-1988.
Education:
■ Association of independent Schools of New South Wales:
■ Director, 1998-2017 and 1977-1978.
■ Honorary Treasurer, 2004-2017.
■ Chairman, Finance Committee, 2004-2017.
■ Director, Block Grant Authority, 2002-2017.
■ Member, Schools Grant Committee, 2002-2014.
■ Member, Schools Grants Review Committee, 2014-2017.
■ Liaison Officer, 2008-2011.
Community:
■ Volunteer, Coast Shelter Gosford, since 2015.
■ St Vincent de Paul:
■ Member, Mater Dei Blakehurst Conference, 1996-2006.
■ Member, Mary Immaculate Waverley Conference, 1986-1988.
■ Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Wyoming:
■ Member, current.
■ Pastoral Council Member, since 2015.
■ St Clare’s College Waverley:
■ Member, College Council, 1968-2007.
■ Chairman, 1968-1988.
■ President, P & F Association, 1972-1980 and 1983-1987.
■ Life Member, 1987.
■ Order of St Clare Associate Member, since 1988.
Stephen Emerson
Stephen Emerson of Long Jetty has been awarded the OAM in the general division for his many years of service to veterans and their families.
SERVICE
Vietnam Veterans Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Association of Australia:
■ New South Wales Branch Committee Member, since 2002.
■ Volunteer, Country Outreach Programs, since 2001.
■ Pension Officer, since 2001.
■ Volunteer, since 2000.
Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Veterans’ Association of NSW:
■ Director, since 2005.
■ Member, since 1999.
Returned and Services League of Australia:
■ City of Fairfield Sub-Branch:
■ Member and VVPPAA Representative, current.
■ Parade Marshall and Master of Ceremonies, ANZAC and Remembrance Day commemorations.
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service:
■ Volunteer and VVPPAA Representative, since 2002.
■ Assisted with foundation of the Operation Life suicide prevention program.
Neville Glover
Services to Rugby league and the community have resulted in Neville Glover of Chain Valley Bay being awarded an OAM in the general division.
SERVICE
Parramatta Eels Rugby League Club:
■ Player, 1975-1981.
■ Named in the ‘Team of the Century’, 2001.
■ Player, Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club, 1983.
■ Represented Australia, 1978.
■ Represented New South Wales, 1978.
Men of League Foundation:
■ Member, since 2008.
■ Active Member, Tuggerah Lakes Committee, ongoing.
■ Coach, Wyong Rugby League Football Club, for many years.
■ Supporter, Duri Harbour Longyard Charity Golf Day, ongoing.
■ Active supporter and fundraiser for a number of charities including:
■ Ronald McDonald House Charities.
■ Cystic Fibrosis.
■ Camp Quality.
■ Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
■ Make-A-Wish Australia.
■ Senior Sergeant, Prosecuting Branch, New South Wales Police Force, until 2017.
Officer, 1981-2017.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
■ Recipient, New South Wales Police Medal, 2013.
■ Recipient, Police Prosecutor of the Year, 2008.