Burleigh Heads Rotary Volunteers awarded Order of Australia medals

A pair of Gold Coast volunteers have been awarded the country’s highest honour in recognition of their tireless efforts to help others. THEIR ACHIEVMENTS >>>

TWO Gold Coast volunteers and friends have been awarded the country’s highest honour in recognition of their tireless efforts to help others.

Ken Clark, 64 and Bren Milson, 78, received their Order of Australia medals last month from Queensland Governor-General Paul de Jersey AC.

Mr Clark was honoured for his almost 40-year contribution to surf lifesaving.

Ken Clark on the beach at Burleigh. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“I moved to Cairns with my wife in 1982 after a career in the air force,” the Elanora resident said. “My brother-in-law took me to a surf lifesaving carnival as part of introducing me to the town and next thing I know I’m doing my bronze medallion three weeks later.”

Notable achievements include acting as superintendent of the North Queensland branch, becoming an proficiency examiner for future lifesavers and director of lifesaving for Gold Coast’s Point Danger branch.

Mr Clark’s passion for teaching CPR even prompted the launch of his own education program: “We do it because we enjoy doing it, all lifesavers do. I’ve said I’d always do (lifesaving) for a free T-shirt. To be awarded this is pretty special and unexpected.”

Mr Clark met fellow volunteer and friend Mr Milson at the Burleigh Heads Rotary Club.

Mr Milson, a volunteer for 25 years, regularly ships containers of repurposed medical and education equipment to disadvantaged communities in East Timor.

“We’re such a rich and privileged country,” he said. “There are hospitals over there without beds, schools without desks and chairs.

Bren Milsom on the beach at Burleigh. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“Rotary has been a good fit for me. It’s given me the opportunity to do a lot of things. Those containers can cost between $12,000 to $15,000 so we have to fundraise all that money.”

The two friends each found out about their nomination via letter in March.

“I thought ‘gee, why me?’,” Mr Milson said. “I was humbled. As a volunteer, you don’t do it for the accolades or to bring credit to yourself.

“I see it really as representative of the work of our parishioners and our volunteers. It belongs to everybody. I meet such fantastic volunteers everywhere I go. Our country couldn’t survive without volunteers.”

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