Australia Day: 10 northern beaches residents named in honours list
An unlikely reality TV star and a veteran volunteer lifesaver are among 10 northern beaches residents to make the 2021 Australia Day Honours list.
Manly
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A woman who helps families of war veterans and became an unlikely reality TV star on the northern beaches features on the 2021 Australia Day Honours list released today.
The other nine recipients may not be so well recognised but they are also everyday heroes who have been recognised for their selfless services to the community.
They include a veteran volunteer lifesaver, a man who championed swimming for kids with a disability and two people who devote their spare time to saving and protecting our natural and built environment.
Another is the late Graeme Paul, of Forestville, who not only worked for the northern beaches community but helped improve the lives of people in Papua New Guinea.
Mr Paul, who died last year, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the community of the northern beaches and to chemical engineering.
Described by his wife Merilyn as a “good organiser”, the retired chemical engineer worked voluntarily with a wide range of organisations and for a large number of causes throughout his busy life.
He was well known locally for being the popular president and secretary of the Rotary Club of Frenchs Forest, where he established the Northern Beaches Police Officer of the Year Awards.
As well as being a volunteer Santa Claus at community events, Mr Paul was a member of the Davidson brigade of the NSW Rural Fire Service for 23 years, a volunteer surf lifesaver and beach inspector from 1967 to 1971 and a referee and first aid official with Manly Rugby Union Club in the 1970s.
Mr Paul also worked as a deputy Inner Division Controller for State Emergency Service and was a Red Cross volunteer.
His wife also highlighted his work in Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2008 – they lived in Lae for a period – where Mr Paul arranged for water tanks for up to 200 schools and villages in Morobe Province.
He was also involved in establishing libraries in schools and at the prison in Lae.
Mr Paul, who was brought up in Manly and Balgowlah, was also the president of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute in the mid-90s.
“He would have been delighted to receive this honour,” Mrs Paul said.
“He was happy last year when he received an award for outstanding community service from Northern Beaches Council.
“Graeme was a good organiser. He was a steady person who could always work around a problem and solve it.
“He is very sadly missed.”
SHIRLEY McLAREN:
The 88-year-old star of the ABC documentary Old People's Home for 4-year-olds was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to veterans and their families.
The bubbly great grandmother said it was “overwhelming to receive such an honour” and that she had kept it a secret from everyone.
“I’ve been counting down the days and the sleeps until I can call my family and tell them,” she said.
The resident of the ‘old vets’ RSL LifeCare home at Narrabeen said that before the COVID lockdown, she was busy seven days a week with her many roles, including her work as a patron of the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force and helping vets, Legacy women and ex-service women.
She is also officially an ‘Angel’ – the name given to those who are on the RSL War vets sub-branch.
“I’m an absolutely prolific supporter of Legacy, as well as the RSL,” she said, “but I don’t do it for the recognition, not at all.”
Last year she took a little time out of her official duties and many hobbies to take part in a documentary on the ABC that looked at how bringing young children into old people’s homes can improve the lives of the elderly and benefit the children.
The TV series was a hit.
Ms McLaren was recognised by strangers on the peninsula after the show.
At the end of next week, she will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the WRAAF. She was on the first WRAAF course, which launched on January 29, 1951.
She became a drill sergeant helping to turn those coming through into “wonderful exemplary women”.
After four-and-a-half years she was forced to leave the services when she married, as was the rule in those days.
She went on to have three children, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, who she said she loves dearly.
She said she can’t wait for the COVID restrictions to lift so she can see her family in person – she last saw them 10 months ago.
“I’m besotted with my great grandchildren and my adult grandchildren are my best friends,” she said.
KEN ALLEN:
Kenneth Allen, of Palm Beach, has been appointed an Officer of the order of Australia (AO) for distinguished services to international relations, particularly through global information sharing networks for expatriate Australian professionals.
Mr Allen, who was the Australian Consul-General in New York between August 2001 and March 2006, founded the Young Australian Professionals in America, now called Advance.
The group, which has 17,000 community members in 83 countries and has been described as “the world’s leading network of Australian professionals and entrepreneurs abroad”, operates a range of programs, summits and events, including the Advance Global Australian Awards and Advance Global Australian Summit.
Mr Allen was a director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra from 2006 and 2011 and initiated the orchestra’s Instrument Fund. He is also a major contributor to, and benefactor of, the Garvin Institute for Medical Research.
ROBERT LLOYD:
Rob Lloyd, of Terrey Hills, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to children with a disability.
Mr Lloyd has been the vice-president of Rainbow Club Australia – a network of social swimming clubs for children with a disability – for 10 years and a board member since 2009.
He was also co-founder and the chairman of the organising committee for the Murray Rose Malabar Magic fundraising ocean swim and the event director since 2009.
All the funds raised from the Malabar Magic Ocean Swim go to the Rainbow Club, which provides subsidised and individualised swimming lessons for children with disabilities.
Mr Lloyd is also on the board of the LBW (Learning for a Better World) Trust, which partners with non-government organisations and educational institutions in cricket-playing, developing nations that gives impoverished students the opportunity to receive a tertiary or vocational education.
RICHARD CHADWICK:
For his dedicated service to the building and construction industry, Richard Chadwick, of Killarney Heights, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
As well as being on the Board of Directors of the NSW Chamber of Commerce for 10 years until 1997, Mr Chadwick was also a Governor and Chairman – he is now a honorary life member – of the University of Sydney’s Civil Engineering and Mining Foundation.
He is also a life member of the Metal Roofing and Cladding Association of Australia, as well as being a Fellow of Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Management.
An arts lover, Mr Chadwick was also president of the Northside Ballet Company and Sydney City Ballet Company in the 1970s.
SUSAN MARTIN:
A dedicated volunteer who has a deep love for the natural and built environment on the northern end of the peninsula, Sue Martin has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the Pittwater community.
Ms Martin, of Avalon, has been honoured for, among other things, having various roles, including secretary, with the Avalon Preservation Association over more than 30 years until 2018.
She was also on the management committee of the Careel Bay Pittwater Protection Association for eight years, as well as being the current honorary secretary of the Friends of Currawong and the Save Mona Vale Hospital Community Action Group.
Ms Martin, who was named joint Volunteer of the Year by Pittwater Council in 2009, also founded the Pittwater Ramblers in 1996 and has been a trainer with Avalon Computer Pals since 2016.
DAVID PALMER:
David Palmer has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to conservation and the environment.
The Mona Vale resident has a long history of supporting the environment as a member of numerous organisations and committees including the Pittwater Natural Heritage Association and the Ingleside Landcare Group, to name just two.
One of the areas of which he has also been concerned is Narrabeen Lagoon.
Mr Palmer has also written books on creeks and the impacts on biodiversity.
It’s not just local issues that concern him, he’s also been a supporter and fundraiser for the East Timor Project.
Dr. SUSAN ROWLEY:
The Queenscliff resident has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to medicine and to emergency rescue organisations.
Dr Rowley is a GP at The Mosman Practice and was a doctor with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service from 1976 to 1985.
ROGER SAYERS:
Roger Sayers has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to surf lifesaving.
He’s the former and the longest-serving club captain of Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
He became a member in 1985.
Mr Sayers was previously a patrol captain.
He is still involved in the club and is currently publicity officer, chairman of the Heritage Committee and a member of the Life Members and Service Honours Awards Committee.
Outside the club, he is also involved with the Avalon Preservation Society.
WILLIAM SHERMAN:
William Sherman has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to public relations to sport and the community.
The Bayview resident has been involved with the Public Relations Institute of Australia, as well as the Public Relations Institute of New South Wales, where he was a former president, for many years.
Mr Sherman is also a former president of both the Pittwater Probus Club and the Mona Vale Probus Club.
His other interests including shooting and he has held positions at various organisations, including Southern Highlands Branch, Sporting Shooters Association, Buffalo Rifle Association of Australia and Bowral Pistol Club.
He’s also been heavily involved in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
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