Queen’s Birthday Honours: James and Rae Doak honoured for years of service to the Illawarra

James and Rae Doak have been married more than 50 years and with a shared passion for giving back to the community they’ve made an indelible impact on the Illawarra and south coast. Today, they’ve been awarded an OAM for their service.

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During their 56 years of marriage, James and Rae Doak have dedicated themselves to helping others within their community.

Living in Gerroa for 20 years, the couple gained a reputation for their constant generosity and kindness both to members of the community and the environment.

Having volunteered for organisations including the Lions and Probus clubs for decades, Mr and Mrs Doak have this year been honoured in the Australia Day 2020 Honours List.

The couple have each been awarded Medals of the Order of Australia for their service to the Illawarra community.

Mr Doak said the honour was made that little bit better by the fact he was receiving it with his wife.

“We’ve always been a team and we’ve always done everything together,” he said.

“Whatever project one of us was working on the other one always supports, it’s a very special thrill for us.”

James and Rae Doak. Picture: supplied.

Mr Doak has been a member of the Lions Club for decades, originally joining in London in the 70s, before carrying on his membership when he returned to Australia several years later.

Both he and Mrs Doak have served in senior roles with the Nowra and Gerringong Lions Clubs, often times working closely with disabled and sick children.

Mr Doak said “the best job” he’s done in his time was working with the Australian Lions Children’s Mobility Foundation, which raised money to buy walking aids for children with cerebral palsy.

“In many cases I got to see the children walk for the very first time,” he said.

“It was something very special.”

Mrs Doak, who has been a health care worker for most of her life, has dedicated a lot of her time to helping those with hearing issues at aged care facilities.

“Hearing is very important and if you’re deaf it can be very isolating,” she said.

“My job entails helping people with their hearing, that involves helping them attach and detach them and identifying any problems … I like to try and make their lives a bit better.”

The pair were also instrumental in the formation of the Seven Mile Beach Landcare Group.

“When we lived in Gerroa we were straight across from the Seven Mile Beach bushland and it was in a dreadful state,” Mr Doak said.

“So we decided to do something about it.”

After talking with various authorities, the group was formed and four or five years later the bushland completely transformed.

“We had great success there and we were able to raise a lot of money for ongoing projects.”

Upon receiving the news of their OAMs, Mrs Doak said she felt “very privileged”, given she’s loved every minute of the work she and her husband have done for the community over the past several decades.

“I feel very privileged because I’ve only ever done what I wanted to do,” she said.

“That’s the thing with volunteering, you get as much out of it as you give.”

OTHER ILLAWARRA QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOREES:

OAM: Joseph Henry Davidson- for service to the community of the Illawarra

OAM: Mr Machiel Johan Berghuis- For service to the community through music.

OAM: Ms Christine Dunstan- For service to the performing arts as a producer and mentor.

OAM: Mrs Bede Parkes- For service to the community of Helensburgh.