Medal of the Order of Australia recipients
Bowls Australia congratulates the eight new recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia from the sport of bowls. Bowls Australia congratulates the eight new recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia from the sport of bowls.
Eight people with ties to the sport of bowls were recognised with an OAM during the Queen’s Birthday honours yesterday.
The majority of the individuals were presented the coveted medal for their contribution to the community of a local area, while Helen Hogan was acknowledged for her service to a broader region of Far North Queensland, and John Carnage was bestowed the honour for his service to people who are blind or have low vision, and to sport.
Bowls Australia applauds the following people for their contribution to the sport:
– Donald Barry (Melton West, VIC): For service to youth through Scouts, and to the community;
– John Cornaggia (Mount Barker, SA): For service to people who are blind or have low vision, and to sport;
– Malcolm Dempsey (Marmion, WA): For service to lawn bowls and to the community;
– Helen Hogan (Mount Warren Park, QLD): For service to lawn bowls in Far North Queensland;
– Kevin Rucioch (Victor Harbor, SA): For service to the community of Victor Harbour;
– John Smith (Dudley, NSW): For service to sport in the Hunter;
– Maisie Smith (Babinda, QLD): For service to the community of Babinda;
– Mervyn White (Mount Gambier, SA): For service to the community of Mount Gambier.
Full bios for each recipient can be viewed below.
Mr Donald John BARRY, Melton West VIC 3337
For service to youth through Scouts, and to the community.
Service includes:
Scouts Australia – Victorian Branch:
Assistant District Commissioner, 1989-2003.
Member, Scout Heritage Victoria, since 2003.
Group Leader, Melton, 1986-1989.
Assistant Venturer Leader, Melton, 1978.
District Leader, Scouts, Djerriwarrh District, 1978.
District Leader, Venturers, Hoadley, 1976-1978.
Scout Leader, Laverton, 1968-1969.
Scout Leader, 1st Laverton, 1961-1963.
Assistant Scout Leader, Northcote, 1956-1959.
Outerguard of the Lodge, Bacchus Marsh Daylight Lodge, Freemasons Victoria, since 2003;
Member, Djerrawarrh Lodge, 1990-2003 .
Deputy Controller, Melton District, State Emergency Service Victoria and Member, 1978-1984.
Commissioner for Declarations, 1976-1984.
Volunteer, blood donations and donation collections, Australian Red Cross, 1980-1999.
Coach and Umpire, Gisborne and District Bowls Association, ‘for 5 years’.
Awards and recognition includes:
Recipient, National President’s Award, Scouts Australia, 2014.
Recipient, Silver Emu Award, Scouts Australia, 2008.
Recipient, Silver Koala Award, Scouts Australia, 1999.
Recipient, Merit Award for Community Service, The Shire of Melton, 1994
Mr John CORNAGGIA, Mount Barker SA 5251
For service to people who are blind or have low vision, and to sport.
Service includes:
Eye Play Sport (formerly the Blind Sporting Council):
President, since 2007.
Vice-President, 2003-2007.
Board Member, since 1999.
Formed the Mt Barker Voluntary Group, 2015.
Sponsor, Karen Cornaggia Memorial Scholarship.
Ten Pin Bowling:
Public Relations Officer and National Delegate, SA Disabled Ten Pin Bowling, over 20 years;
New Concept Tenpin Bowling League:
President, Vice President, Fundraising Co-ordinator and Treasurer, ‘no dates’.
Player, since 1987.
Represented the state at 19 Nationals, since 1987.
Lawn Bowls:
Member, SA Blind Lawn Bowls, since 1999.
Represented Australia, Trans-Tasman Lawn Bowls Competition, New Zealand, 2007.
Mr Malcolm DEMPSEY, Marmion WA 6020
For service to lawn bowls, and to the community. Service includes:
Lawn Bowls:
President, Master Builders WA Bowling Club, 1998-2012; Vice President, 1996-1997; Member since 1976.
President, North Beach Bowling Club (Perth), 2009-2015 and 1984-1985; Co-Patron with George Strickland, for 6 years; Life member since 1981; Member, since 1972; Club Sponsor for approximately 40 years.
President, North Beach Sportmen’s Club, 1975-1981.
Patron, Innaloo Bowling Club (IBC),6 years; Sponsor of the IBC Club Singles event ‘for over
30 years’.
Inaugural Chairman, Bowls WA Hall of Fame Committee, Bowls WA; State Selector, 1996- 1998; 1 year as State Team Manager; 2 years as Director of Coaching WA; 2 years on the Bowls WA Executive; National Level 2 Coach; Member of the State Coaching panel.
Community:
Member, Freemasons of Western Australia, 1963-2015; four terms as Master, including former Cadoux Lodge, Scarborough Lodge – #340 WAC, Scarborough Wembley Downs Lodge and Lodge of Sportsmen. Clubman of the Year, Returned Services League WA; Social Convenor, ‘for many years’; Member, since circa 1960.
Vice President, Beacon Country Club, 1970-1972.
Vice President, Mount Marshall Branch, Farmers Union of Western Australia, 1970-1972; Wool Executive Officer, 1970-1972.
Secretary, Mollerin Hall Committee, 1952-1955. Justice of the Peace, ‘for 35 years’.
Has organised a range of charity fundraising events including for medical, disabled sports, children’s hospitals and social welfare causes and organisations, ‘for over 20 years’.
Professional:
Founder, Mal Dempsey Real Estate, 1974-2012; Licensed Real Estate Agent.
Inaugural Chairman, Western Australia, Professionals Real Estate Group, 1983.
Council Member, Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, 1980-1984; Member, ‘for 40 years’.
Awards and recognition includes:
Recipient, Honorary Life Member, Master Builders WA, since 2011.
Mrs Helen Mary HOGAN, Mount Warren Park QLD 4207
For service to lawn bowls in Far North Queensland. Service to the sport of Lawn Bowls has included:
President, Far North Queensland Bowling Association; Publicity Officer. President, Cairns Ladies Bowling Club; Member, Match Committee. President, Kooralbyn Valley Ladies Bowls Club.
President, Past President’s Association of Far North Queensland. Publicity Officer, Tamborine Ladies Bowls Club.
Member, Section Committee, Cairns and District Ladies Bowls Association.
Community:
Alderman, Cairns City Council, 1976-1979.
Senior Vice-President, Surfers Paradise Chamber of Commerce. Member, Rotary Club of Cairns West, ‘for 20 years’.
Mr Kevin Vincent RUCIOCH, Victor Harbor SA 5211
For service to the community of Victor Harbour. Service includes:
Volunteer, Victor Harbor Information Centre, since 2007.
Volunteer, Victor Harbor Branch, National Heart Foundation, current.
Parish Manager, Victor Harbor/Goolwa Catholic Church, current.
President, Victor Harbor/Goolwa Conference, St Vincent de Paul Society, ‘for 7 years’; Volunteer, current.
Member, Encounter Bay Lawn Bowls Club, current.
Member, South Australia State Council, Knights of the Southern Cross, 2009-2013; Chair, Victor Harbor Branch, 2010-2014; Council Member, since 2008; Member, since 2007.
Mayor, Corporation of the Town of Peterborough, 1979-1991; Councillor, 1974-1991.
Life Member, Peterborough Football Club.
Volunteer, Peterborough Metropolitan Fire Service, ‘for 25 years’.
Past President, Peterborough Apex Club and Charter Member and Life Member.
President, Rotary Club of Peterborough, ‘for 2 years’.
Board Member, Peterborough Hospital and Peterborough Homes for the Aged – Nalya Lodge.
Awards and recognition includes:
Recipient, Bill Keene Award, Order of the Knights of the Southern Cross, 2015. Recipient, National Medal, 1983.
Mr John Thomas SMITH, Dudley NSW 2290
For service to sport in the Hunter. Service includes:
Lawn Bowls:
Chair, State Match Committee, Bowls NSW, 2007-2014, and Member, 2002-2013.
Newcastle District Bowling Association:
President, since 2007.
Vice-President, 2002-2007.
Chair, Match Committee, 1996-2006 and Member, 1986-2006. Chair, Mattara Carnival Committee, since 2007.
Life Member, since 2012.
Life Member, Kahibah Bowling Club, 2016, ‘for service over 40 years’.
Cricket:
Newcastle District Cricket Umpires Association: Patron and Life Member.
Secretary, 1973-1986.
Member, Judiciary and Appeals Committee.
Rugby League:
Member, NewcastleRugby League Referees Association, 1971-1976, serving terms as President and Vice-President.
Member, Group of 21 Referees Association, 1968-1970.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle:
Past Chair, Diocesan Pastoral Council, ‘for four years’ and Member, ‘for six years’. Chair, MacKillop Parish Council, (Charlestown, Gateshead and Redhead), ‘for 22 years’.
Professional:
New South Wales Department of Education – Primary Schools:
Principal, Teralba Public School, 1987-2000; Deputy Principal, Cardiff Public School, 1979- 1986 and Deputy Master, Woodberry Public School, 1976-1978.
Teacher, various schools, 1962-2000.
Awards and recognition includes:
Recipient, Paul Trisely Award, The Hunter Academy of Sport, 2015. Recipient, Volunteer of the Year, Bowls Australia, 2015.
Recipient, Volunteer of the Year, Bowls NSW, 2014.
Mrs Maisie Olga SMITH, Babinda QLD 4861
For service to the community of Babinda.
Service includes:
Volunteer, Babinda Bargain Centre Cootharinga, ‘for over 30 years’.
Life Member, Cootharinga Society North Queensland, since 2004.
Member, Babinda Branch, Epsilon Sigma Alpha/SCOPE, ‘for over 20 years’ and Past President.
Member, Babinda Golf Club, ‘for 26 years’; President, ‘for six years’; Ladies Captain, ‘for five years’.
Vice-President, Babinda Bowls Club.
Mr Mervyn Robert WHITE, Mount Gambier SA 5290
For service to the community of Mount Gambier.
Service includes:
Member, West Gambier Football Club, since 1954; President, 2001-2003 and 1984; Treasurer, 1996-1998, 1990, 1983; former Chair.
Member, West Gambier Cricket Club, since 1954; Treasurer, ‘for 16 years’.
Member, Mount Gambier Bowls Club, since 1978; Treasurer, ‘for 5 years’; Club Auditor, ‘for 5
years’; Club Selector, ‘for 5 years’; Member, Management Committee, ‘for 7 years’.
Member, Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association, ‘for many years’and Past
Secretary.
Councillor, City of Mount Gambier, 2003-2014, 1995-2000 and 1971-1981.Bowls Australia congratulates the seven new recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia from the sport of bowls.
