Top Australia Day honour for Kerry Betros
Australia’s Governor-general has recognised Kerry Betros’ lifetime of service to Toowoomba, as a banker, a business leader and a volunteer.
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TOOWOOMBA businessman Kerry Betros will today be given one of the nation’s highest honours when he is awarded the Member of the Order of Australia.
Mr Betros received the award for his lifetime of service with the Heritage Bank and his family’s grocery business, Betros Brothers, while also advising countless charities and community groups.
“It’s very humbling,” he said.
“I feel like I am representing a number of people.
“There are those at the bank but more especially the Betros family and my brothers.”
Mr Betros got his start in finance after completing a bachelor’s degree in accounting at the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education.
He later received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business from the University of Southern Queensland.
Mr Betros took on a role on the Heritage Bank board in 1991, when it was still called the Heritage Building Society and rose through the ranks to become chairman in 2012.
As a respected business leader, Mr Betros is known to give advice and mentor not-for-profit groups and charities on everything from finance to gauging community response to a proposed project.
“I had the ability to be able to contribute, and I get a great reward from just doing it, from helping the community,” he said.
Mr Betros has known for weeks that he would receive the nod, but kept it a secret.
Not that it will change much for him.
Like many people, Mr Betros is hoping for a casual Australia Day.
“I think I will do a little bit of work in the morning and then spend the afternoon relaxing,” he said.
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