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Former Bathurst mayor Bruce Bolam has said he was surprised by how emotional he became on learning he had been nominated for an Australia Day honour.
Mr Bolam, well-known as a local businessman and for his work in renovating and constructing commercial buildings in the city, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Bathurst.
“When I was advised of the OAM award I was humbled, indeed emotional, and could not quite believe it, but I am deeply honoured and thank those people who saw fit to nominate me,” Mr Bolam said.
Born in Townsville, the eldest of six children, Mr Bolam started his working life as a junior at the Millaquin Sugar Mill in Bundaberg. While there he studied accounting.
In 1970 he and his wife, Rosie, and their three children moved to Weipa to spend four years at an isolated bauxite mine 804km north of Cairns where they saved development seed money for their future business ventures.
He said in 1974 they travelled through the growth areas of NSW and were instantly attracted to Bathurst.
The family spent their first winter here living in the old caravan park.
“When I left school I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I soon realised I enjoyed the thrill and satisfaction of creating things, of being a ‘builder’,” Mr Bolam said.
Mr Bolam said he has created or developed nine diverse types of businesses, including a security business that expanded from one branch to 30 and became the largest privately owned security business in Australia.
He has also acquired more than 40 parcels of land on which he has rennovated or constructed more than 31 commercial buildings, leased to 57 tenants.
“Collectively over a thousand people have received employment working on our business ventures over those 40 years,” Mr Bolam said.
“In my business I have constantly tried to treat people like I would like to be treated and I am always heartened by the loyalty, cooperation and goodwill I receive from country people in return.”
Mr Bolam said in the 1980s there was general disquiet in the Bathurst community over the high council rates.
He stood for council and was elected on the platform of ‘Rate Pause in 1984’.
Mr Bolam was elected mayor at his first council meeting and, with the support of the majority of councillors, instituted a rate pause that year.
“Being so actively involved in business I have not been so continuously personally involved in local community groups as I would have liked, and therefore each year set aside a considerable sum to support, anonymously where possible, many worthwhile community causes and organisations.
“When our family drove into Bathurst in our car and caravan in 1974, little did we realise how fortunate we were to settle in this city.
“We are intensely proud of Bathurst, its history, its pioneers, its buildings and its people. We are all so blessed to live here,” Mr Bolam said.