King’s Birthday awards 2024: Agricultural leaders recognised
Firefighters, farmers, council veterans and charity champions have all been listed in the 2024 round of national honours.
Agricultural advocates and community crusaders have been given the royal seal of approval in a lengthy list of King’s Birthday honours for 2024.
Foodbank chief executive Brianna Casey, former Murray-Darling Basin commissioner Peter Millington and the late Labor grandee Simon Crean were all awarded gongs in the biannual round of national honours, timed to coincide with the June holiday.
Rural Councils Victoria chairwomanMary-Ann Brown was recognised with an Order of Australia medal.
The Dunkeld resident has served as Southern Grampians mayor, president of Western District Health Service and Dunkeld Progress Association.
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One of best things about voluntary work is the people you meet along the way. I’ve met so many wonderful people achieving great things at it’s been an honour to work alongside them,” Mrs Brown said.
“Through Rural Councils Victoria, we raise awareness that we are more than roads, rates and rubbish. We want to dispel the myth that living in a rural area is a second-best option, in the past few years, people have got a better understanding of the upsides of living in the country.”
Strathalbyn’s David ‘Doc’ Cunningham received an Order of Australia for his services to the beef cattle industry.
The South Australian was also a former president of the Centralian n Beef Breeders Association, a veteran of the Central Australian Show Society and longstanding Justice of the Peace.
“It’s a big honour for a bloke who started off at 15 years old as a jackaroo,” Mr Cunningham said. “I spent 45 years working in central Australia and it’s a fantastic community, it really is the heart of Australia.”
Yerong Creek’s Ross Edwards was recognised for nearly six decades of service to the Henty Machinery Field Days, most notably as its chairman from 2007 to 2019.
Mr Edwards also served as a councillor with the Lockhart Shire Council·and is a past president of Yerong’s bowling club, parks and gardens committee as well as the town’s Parents and Citizens Association.
Lockington’s Phillip Collins was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to primary industries as well as to his local community in northern Victoria.
Mr Collins has been a member of the Australian Angus Society — now known as Angus Australia — for more than five decades, serving as a board member and chairman of the peak
Camperdown’s Bernie Sinnott received an Order of Australia medal for his five decades of service to the southwest Victorian town’s CFA brigade, holding a number of leadership positions.
Mr Sinnott also served as president of the Camperdown Golf Club, Camperdown Football Netball Club and treasurer of Sunnyside House and the Camperdown Cycle Club.
Mallee community veteran Robert Dean was an active firefighter with the Red Cliffs Brigade for more than four decades, also serving as the local CFA secretary.
Mr Dean also had leadership roles with the Red Cliffs Golf Club, Red Cliffs Benevolent Society, Red Cliffs Anniversary Celebrations, Red Cliffs Apex Club and was a longstanding Meals on Wheels driver.
Cohuna’s Alan Fry held many roles with Lions International over four decades and also served as president of the Cohuna District Hospital as well as volunteer work with Cohuna Neighbourhood House, Leitchville Swimming Pool as well as the Leitchville and District Progress Association.
Shepparton’s Lisa McKenzie was honoured for her work establishing the city’s Lighthouse Project as well as chairing the regional advisory Board at La Trobe University’s Shepparton campus.
Geelong’s Bob Gartland was recognised for his services to the city’s AFL team as well as his work with Kardinia Park.
Ballarat’s Bill Dobell was honoured for his work with veteran welfare, particularly the Vietnam Veterans Association.
A veteran medical leader, Bendigo’s John Gault received recognition for his work with both the Bendigo Base and St John of God hospitals.
Also recognised in the national awards was former Herald and Weekly Times managing director Peter Blunden for services to journalism.
A former editor of both the Adelaide Advertiser and Herald Sun, Mr Blunden was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Melbourne Press Club in 2010.
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