Military historian and author Denis Chamberlain has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterans and their families, and to the community of Bathurst.
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Mr Chamberlain, 72, was a member of the Citizen Military Forces from January 30, 1963 to August 15, 1963.
He also served as a member of the Army Reserve for many years, being awarded the Australian Defence Medal in February 2007.
Born in Goulburn in 1943, Mr Chamberlain came to Bathurst in 1962.
He married Margaret Hargans in 1964 and the couple have twins, Beverley and John. A third child Janice is deceased.
Mr Chamberlain’s family has a strong military history – two grandfathers served in World War I and his father in World War II, and it was this which led to his interest in military and family history.
“I thought I wouldn’t mind finding out more about their experiences,” he said.
Mr Chamberlain began work on the railways as a locomotive fireman as a young man, working in Lithgow, Goulburn and Bathurst.
He later went into house painting and then became a sign writer. For a time he worked in forestry.
In 1979 he began working with the engineering staff on boilers at Bathurst hospital and remained there for 15 years.
Mr Chamberlain’s involvement with Bathurst RSL sub branch began in 1981.
From 1999 to 2009, he carried out duties as Wreath Marshall at the Bathurst Dawn Service on Anzac Day.
In February 2000 he was elected to the RSL committee, was vice president from 2002-2009 and in 2011, and served as president from 2012-2014.
Mr Chamberlain created a history of Bathurst enlistments containing almost 6896 names of Bathurst and district personnel who served in major conflicts from 1885-1972, and in August 2001 was appointed volunteer curator of the Memorial Walk Museum.
Over the past 13 years, he has conducted more than 200 RSL funerals.
In 2010 he received the RSL National Award of Life Membership.
Mr Chamberlain is also a Legatee, currently caring for six war widows.
“I’ve put my heart and soul into the RSL,” Mr Chamberlain said. “This is a great honour for me and for my family.
“Initially I thought it was a hoax, but then I realised it must be genuine.”
Over the years Mr Chamberlain has written 14 books ranging in topics from a history of Bathurst to various family histories.
He has also been working on his autobiography.
“My books have been very well-received, but it is time-consuming,” he said.
Mr Chamberlain will be presented with his Medal of the Order of Australia later this year.
