Australia Day Awards: South coast heroes recognised in Australia Day 2023 Honours List
Six south coast heroes have been recognised with Order of Australia Medals. See who was awarded here.
The South Coast News
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Heroes from Cobargo to Nowra have been awarded Order of Australia Medals (OAM) for their contributions to the community.
This year’s honours list recognised 1047 outstanding Australians, with six being from the south coast.
From foster carers to a dermatologist, here are the six local legends making a difference in their communities:
Barbara Rugendyke and David Rugendyke (OAM)
For service to children as a foster carer and for service to the community, and to children
Barbara and David Rugendyke have been foster carers in Cobargo for 30 years, and throughout that time, have cared for more than 400 children.
While they are both being awarded OAMs for their service as foster carers, Mr Rugendyke is also being awarded an OAM for his service to the community.
A former member of the police force, Mr Rugendyke participated in many charity events as a police officer, from ‘Crop a Cop’ which saw his head shaved bald to raise money for needy kids, to walking around shopping malls collecting funding and toys for disadvantaged children.
“I’ve done a few things, but foster caring is the big thing for us,” he said.
However, sometimes bad things happen to good people, as seen in the 2019/2020 Black Summer Fires.
“We lost absolutely everything,” Mr Rugendyke said.
Despite efforts from Mr Rugendyke and his son, their house burnt down.
However, their children decided to help the couple who have helped so many others.
After raising money for the couple, the pair were able to rebuild their Cobargo home.
They are now winding back their foster caring efforts after the 30 years of service.
“It’s hard to say what’s going to happen in the future,” she said.
“If there’s something we can do to help, we will. We will always answer that call.”
Janet Hughes (OAM)
For service to the community of Nowra
Janet Hughes from Nowra has been involved in organisations around the Shoalhaven since 1967.
She said being one of the founders and first female president of Nowra disability school ‘Havenlee’ was one of her greatest achievements.
“That’s probably the thing I most proud of,” she said.
After founding Havenlee, Mrs Hughes joined other charities in the area, and she and husband Ian owned two popular stores in Nowra.
They owned ‘Teens to Tots’ and a craft shop on the main strip in Nowra.
“We ran those shops for 35 years before we sold them,” she said.
Now, Mrs Hughes lives in the Nowra IRT and, despite living in a retirement home, still finds ways to help people where she can.
“I run a walking group once a week in the retirement village to get the residents out and about,” she said.
“Getting this award means so much to me, I feel like it should go to someone else, but to have years of work and help recognised is something I am so grateful for.”
Dr Phillip Holmes (OAM)
For service to the livestock industry
Dr Phillip Holmes from Huskisson has spent 40 years redefining the livestock industry.
His work started when he came up with a which program to help farmers in NSW maximise their profitability.
Dr Holmes would speak to farmers to see what they’re doing wrong and work with them for three years to fix it.
The work has seen him travel right around the country.
“I kept Qantas in the air for a while there,” he said.
However, despite living in the Shoalhaven, he has done little work there.
“There isn’t any livestock in Huskisson,” he said.
While his business has been successful, Dr Holmes described his philosophy as “controversial”.
“Some farmers don’t like me telling them what to do,” he said.
Dr Holmes would also preach his philosophies about profitising farming in lectures, both at universities and other public spaces.
“Not everyone agreed with me in the room, but some understood,” he said.
Despite this, enough people had listened to Dr Holmes’ ideas for him to be working in the industry for 40 years and be awarded an OAM.
“It feels great to be recognised,” he said.
Dr Ian McCrossin (OAM)
For service to dermatology
Dr Ian McCrossin from Yatte Yattah has spent 40 years of his life as a dermatologist.
While helping patients, Dr McCrossin said he is proud of his work training aboriginal individuals to be specialists.
“I set up a training scheme which works to have aboriginals go from doctors to specialists,” he said.
The training scheme has now seen three aboriginal doctors become specialists.
“No one else has done this,” he said.
Along with the training scheme, Dr McCrossin worked at the Liverpool Hospital and was a member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service for 25 years.
The dermatologist is now starting to wind back a bit, however he is still busy.
“I’m still a dermatologist and a sexual health worker,” he said.
“I still see patients in Nowra, I also often travel to Merimbula to see patients.”
Despite his work around New South Wales, Dr McCrossin is unsure who nominated him for an OAM.
“When I found out, I was pleasantly surprised,” he said.
“I’m not sure how it came about, I’m not sure who did it, but I’m very happy it’s happened.”
Patricia Ellis (OAM)
For service to the indigenous community of the Eurobodalla Shire
Patricia Ellis worked as a part-time teacher at TAFE NSW for more than 30 years, making a profound contribution to the education of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people through cultural awareness training.
In 2022, she was nominated for the Eurobodalla Shire Council Local Hero Award.
She has now been awarded an OAM for her service in the community.
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