LOCAL CHAMPIONS RECOGNISED IN NSW PARLIAMENT

18 Jun 2024

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has today presented several Community Recognition Statements in the NSW Parliament to recognise recent recipients of OAM and AM Medals in the King’s Birthday Honours List announced by the Governor General of Australia.

Mr Colin Rathbone OAM

Today the Parliament of New South Wales recognises Mr Colin Rathbone OAM from Kiama who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) during the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours announced on 10th June 2024 by the Governor General of Australia.

Colin has many years of significant voluntary service to local Kiama community particularly to the Kiama Sports Council and as an active member of Kiama’s Friends of Vision Australia. A cause that is close to my heart too.

Colin is currently riding the Bicentennial National Trail, 5,330 kilometres on horseback from Cooktown to Healesville. He is doing this ride to raise funds for Melanoma Research as he sadly lost his wife to melanoma in 2020 and has so far raised in excess of $24,161.

Many of us remember his dear wife Ronni (short for Veronica) Rathbone, a passionate and generous volunteer who sadly succumbed to malignant melanoma first sighted under a toenail.

Colin is an incredibly well respected and well regarded local; a gentleman and a character who enjoys enormous community affection. He is so deserving of this recognition.

Congratulations Colin, and well done.

Dr Bill Piggott AM

Today the Parliament of New South Wales recognises Dr Bill Piggott AM from Berry who was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) during the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours for Australia announced on 10 June 2024 by the Governor General.

Dr Piggott was honoured for his remarkable and significant service to conservation and the environment, to medical education, and to international community health.

An active Landcarer in Berry and former Chair of Berry Landcare, Dr Piggott was awarded with an Honorary Life Membership at the 2021 Landcare NSW Annual General Meeting in recognition of his service to Landcare NSW and Landcare movement. 

Bill is also recognised as a leader in the Landcare movement on the South Coast for many years. Bill played an instrumental role in designing the early Musters and was the inaugural recipient of the Gerald Carnie Memorial Award in 2015.

A former international medic with the World Health Organisation, Dr Piggott lobbied Fulton Hogan and Transport for NSW to source local seedlings and seeds for the Berry Bypass project, as well as ensuring environmental offsets remained local.

A huge congratulations and well done to Dr Bill Piggott AM from Berry.

Mr Greg Crofts OAM

Today the Parliament of New South Wales recognises Mr Greg Crofts OAM from Kiama who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) during the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours for Australia.

Greg was honoured for his remarkable service to scouting. His involvement with the Kiama Scout Group spans 16 years. He began his scouting journey in 1976. He started as the '1st Peakhurst Cub Leader' and progressed to '1st Peakhurst Scout Leader' in 1980, and to '1st Sylvania Heights Cub Leader' in 1987.

In 1996, Greg moved to Nowra and joined the '1st Illaroo Cub Pack.' Two years later, he became the Regional Leader of Cub Scouts for the South Coast and Tablelands Region. His leadership skills were further recognised when he was appointed District Cub Leader for Shoalhaven in 2003 and District Commissioner a year later.

Greg’s leadership continued to be acknowledged, leading to his promotion as Assistant District Commissioner in the Illawarra South District in 2006. 

In 2009, he took on the role of '1st Kiama Scout Group Leader,' before becoming the Group Advisor in 2020.

A huge congratulations and well done to Mr Greg Crofts OAM from Kiama.

The Hon Shelley Hancock OAM

Today the Parliament of New South Wales recognises former Speaker, former NSW Minister for Local Government and former Member for South Coast, The Honourable Shelley Hancock OAM who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her distinguished service to the people and Parliament of New South Wales.

As the first female Speaker in the history of the Parliament of NSW, Shell broke through the glass ceiling and importantly she also inspired many other women into politics and into this Parliament. As Speaker, she also did great things for the Parliament to make it a better and friendlier workplace.

Shelley was a transformative Minister for Local Government and a terrific Member for South Coast in her 20 years as a local MP and 17 years as a local Shoalhaven Councillor.

She is also a terrific wife to Ossie, mother, grandmother and friend.

I know you never sought it Shelley – but you have earned it and thoroughly deserve this recognition for a lifetime of service to the South Coast region, the people and the Parliament of New South Wales.

A huge well done and congratulations to Shelley Hancock OAM!

Mrs June Stevens OAM

Today the Parliament of New South Wales recognises local North Nowra resident Mrs June Stevens OAM who has received a Medal of the Order of Australia as part of the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List which were officially announced on Monday 10th June 2024 by the Governor-General of Australia Sir David Hurley.

Mrs Stevens has received her Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for her service to our community through social welfare organisations.

Mrs Stevens dedicated much of her life to getting welfare services into Nowra and the broader community.

She arrived in Nowra in 1974 with her late husband Peter and took note of how few welfare services were available in the region.

Through her role as Lifeline and Southern Cross Community Housing, Mrs Stevens helped get Nowra the welfare services it lacked.

Mrs Stevens was a Board Member, Southern Cross Community Housing, 2002-2023, Board Member, Nowra Family Support Service Inc (now Family Services Australia) and Shoalcare (now CareSouth) Chair, 1994-2000.

For Lifeline Australia, she was Director, Lifeline South Coast, 1985-1992. Nowra Branch Manager, 1981-1985.

A huge congratulations and well done to Mrs June Stevens OAM!

Mr Ian Hughes OAM

Today the Parliament of New South Wales recognises Mr Ian Hughes OAM who has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia as part of the King’s Birthday Honours List which was officially announced on Monday 10th June 2024 by the Governor General of Australia.

Mr Hughes received a Medal of the Order of Australia [OAM] in the General Division for service to the community of the Shoalhaven region.

Ian’s pivotal role with the Bomaderry Nowra Lions Club is just one of the many things that stands out on his list of achievements.

Mr Hughes connection with the Lions Club stems some 64 years.

He had long association with the Bomaderry Nowra Lions Club, formerly Lions Club of Nowra, which included being president from 1981-1982.

For the Lions District 201N2, which covers a wide range of areas, he was District Governor from 2002-2003 and Vice District Governor from 2001-2002.

Mr Hughes was also President of the Illaroo Soccer Club from 1980-1982, a member of the NSW Retail Association from 1975-2005 and a former member of the Nowra Chamber of Commerce.

A huge congratulations and well done to Mr Ian Hughes OAM!