17 peninsula residents named in Australia Day honours

An international surfboard mogul and an astronomer with a galaxy named after him are among 17 northern peninsula residents to make this year’s Australia Day Honours.

Barry Bennett is being honoured on Australia Day. Picture: (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

AN international surfboard mogul and an astronomer with a galaxy named after him are among 17 northern peninsula residents to make this year’s Australia Day Honours.

One of six Brookvale manufacturers credited with surfing’s 1960s launch into the heart of Australian culture, Fairlight’s Barry Bennett has received the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Astronomer Professor David Malin at his Bayview home.

A northern peninsula resident of over 60 years, the Bennett Surfboards founder, 87, still puts in a full week’s work at the Harbord Rd shop alongside sons Greg, 56 and John, 52.

Enjoying international business successes far grander than the humble shopfront might suggest, Mr Bennett also founded Dion Chemicals, Australia’s biggest supplier of surfboard “blanks”.

The Australian Surfing Hall of Fame inductee said he spotted a commercial opportunity in 1956 after seeing the American surf team on-tour for the Melbourne Olympics, riding lightweight balsa surfboards with fins.

“The (timber) long boards served their purpose as a lifesaving tool but the new balsa boards made surf board riding into a fun thing,” Mr Bennett said. “They could cut across unbroken waves rather than just ride the white-water.”

With the advent of polyurethane boards by 1960, the Fairlight entrepreneur said demand for surfboards exploded.

“We were making 40 to 50 boards per week, and there was an eight-week waiting list.”

The Manly Life Saving Club life member was surprised at his award. “I felt pretty good that someone should know that I even existed!” he said.

“I didn’t think that I would have the credentials to warrant something like this.”

Northern peninsula honours list beneficiaries also include Southern Cross Wildlife Care Service and Sanctuary founder Howard Ralph.

Dr Howard Ralph.

The Mona Vale veterinary surgeon began the volunteer-run service with his wife Glenda Ralph in 2002, treating sick and orphaned wildlife.

A former consultant to the Jakarta Government, advising on the redevelopment of a wildlife hospital and upgrades to its anaesthetic services, Dr Ralph treated injured wildlife during the Victorian bushfires in 2009 and has assisted as patron in the establishment of a Kangaroo Orphanage.

Awarded a University of Sydney and Taranga Zoo scholarship to study wildlife medicine in 1992, Dr Ralph was a 2017 recipient of the university’s Service to Humanity Alumni Award.

Notable honourees for 2019 include Cameron Edgar, who has been awarded the Ambulance Service Medal, Anita Jacoby for service to broadcast and print media, and to mental health groups.

Professor David Harris was nominated for service to medicine, and to medical education in nephrology; Timothy Sims for service to the community through philanthropic initiatives. Edward Waters was nominated for community service and Eileen Thompson for service to basketball. Geoffrey Searl was awarded for service to the community of Avalon Beach; Gregory Roberts for community service and Gregor Millson for service to people with a disability.

Geoffrey Luck was awarded for service to veterans and their families; Rex Harding for community service; Margaret Dengate for service to aged welfare and Tuan Bendixsen for service to animal welfare in South East Asia.