Bathurst has enjoyed a purple patch with this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours.
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Four citizens have been included on the Order of Australia list, the largest single-year group from Bathurst in recent memory.
Professor David Goldney is to be made a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) while Sister Patricia Powell, Eva Matiszik and Tony “Snow” Wells will each be presented the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division (OAM) for their contributions to the Bathurst and wider community.
That’s impressive enough, but what also stands this year’s cream of the crop apart is the breadth of service they have offered.
Professor Goldney has been honoured for his significant service to tertiary education in the field of environmental science, and to conservation through resource management committees. He is a past winner of Bathurst’s Jo Ross Environmental award and has been a leading voice in recent environmental debates in the region.
Sister Pat is well-known in Bathurst for her service to the Catholic Church in Australia and to the community, but is another who has been a driving force behind an increasing awareness of and appreciation for the environment.
Sister Pat was a founding member of the Rahamim Ecology Centre and past congregational leader of Bathurst’s Sisters of Mercy.
Ms Matiszik has been involved with more Bathurst community and business groups than anyone can really remember.
Having arrived in Bathurst as a migrant in the 1950s, Ms Matiszik wasted no time getting involved in her new hometown and has not stopped giving since.
Finally, Mr Wells has been recognised for his contribution to Bathurst and Western Zone cricket.
He has helped countless junior cricketers in that time and given thousands of hours to the sport he loves.
In addition, Shane Kearney and Greg Ingersole have each been awarded Australian Fire Service Medal for their commitment to Fire & Rescue NSW and NSW Rural Fire Service, respectively.
It’s a shining honour roll of service and an example to us all. And as recipient of Queen’s Birthday honours, these six people should be among the first in line to meet Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should their much-hoped-for trip to Bathurst become a reality in October.
It’s what the Queen would want.