The Hunter’s finest: 2020 Australia Day honours list
See two of the Hunter’s finest, who are recipients of the Order of Australia (OAM) medal; service to rugby league and service to the community of Newcastle.
Newcastle
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They’re Novocastrians through and through. True gentleman who love their city of Newcastle.
And their passion and dedication has shone through for decades.
Both have become part of Newcastle’s rich history, as they tirelessly worked to serve the community.
Aubrey Gordon Brooks from Tanilba Bay and Edward Leigh Maughan from Cameron Park are just two of this year’s Order of Australia Medal (OAM) recipients.
There’s no doubt, Mr Brooks has had a hand in keeping the region’s past alive.
He started at the BHP steelworks when he was just 15. His family etched in BHP history.
“My grandfather started there in 1915 and he worked there for 37 years, my dad worked there for 42 years, my brother worked there for 20 years, and I worked there for 38 years, Mr Brooks said.
“When the steelworks closed I was involved in trying my best to keep the history of the men and women of steel alive because they played a great part in building this city we love.
“You can’t have a tomorrow without a yesterday.”
A member of the Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association, Mr Brooks played a big part in getting former workers back together, as the BHP reunion organiser.
His other love was karate. A teacher at Cardiff Karate Club/Rembukan Karate since 1965, his craft allowing his to meet some stars along the way, most notably Chuck Norris and Princess Di.
“She was so sincere and down to earth,” he said.
His many years of dedication and hard work, were with one special person by his side.
“I couldn’t achieve what I have in my life without my lovely wife Peggy, we’ve been married for 50 years,” he said.
Another Newcastle Stalwart, Edward Maughan, played a big part in bringing the NRL to town.
He was an advocate for the Newcastle Knights’ inclusion in the NRL in the 1980s.
Currently the number one Knights ticket holder, Maughan is a life member of the club, and has loved the sport of rugby league through and through since he was a young boy playing for East Lambton.
“I was never a brilliant rugby league player, I loved the game and I got by playing with some good players,” Mr Maughan said.
“I wanted to improve things with rugby league in the area and started the Knights situation, the team was put together and took off.”
The 80-year-old is adamant immortal Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns was the best footballer the game has ever produced.
“He was the best footballer I have ever seen and I have seen them all from when I was a kid,” he said.
“Andrew is out of the box. I’ve got a jumper hanging on my wall and it’s Andrew John’s jumper.”
Mr Maughan has also played a big part in the development of the sport locally and nurturing home grown talent.
And then there were the days as a well-known broadcaster. He started calling rugby league on radio 2NX from the 1970s and was sports reporter, anchor and panellist for NBN TV.
“He’s not only called football, he’s done basketball and equestrian events, he’s commentated on many sports,” daughter Cathy said.
He said he was humbled and surprised by the great honour that had been bestowed upon him.
Australia Day Honours for the Hunter
AM - Thomas Boulton (Carrington) - Significant service to medical education and paediatric medicine
APM - Superintendent Daniel Sullivan (Lake Macquarie Police) - Outstanding service in the NSW Police Force
OAM - Julie Christine Ainsworth (Maryville) - Service to the community of Newcastle
OAM - Dianne Ball (Raymond Terrace) - Service to indigenous community of the Hunter
OAM - John Alan Cootes (Belmont) - Service to community of Newcastle, social welfare organisations
OAM - Gionni Di Gravio (Mayfield) - Service to community history, particularly as an archivist
OAM - Rosalind Kaye Murree-Allen (Newcastle) - Service to the community of Newcastle
OAM - Sandra Kimlin Navalli (Newcastle) - Service to international education