By ALANA MITCHELSON
LONG-TIME Officer resident Carol Porter is one of three Cardinia residents who have been honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for ongoing service to their community.
The always busy 71-year-old to this day holds positions with the Officer Hall Committee, Officer Football Club, Officer Union Church Committee, St John of God Hospital and the Casey-Cardinia branch of Make A Wish, and has been involved with more than 15 different community groups over the decades.
Giving birth to two sons – Geoff and Gavin – especially encouraged Ms Porter’s continued involvement with the local sporting community.
She is a life member at the Rythdale Officer Cardinia Football Club (ROC) ladies’ committee and has been a volunteer for more than 20 years, providing tea on Thursdays and taking on canteen duty on Saturdays.
“I’ve always been very interested in retaining the history of Officer,” Ms Porter said.
“The Officer Recreation Reserve is the hub of our town and it’s a place where young people can go to play sport, and I think that’s very healthy.
“I love that recreation reserve. We’ve now had two Anzac Day services there and both have been very well attended.”
Bayles resident Colin Alderson and former owner of the Berwick Inn Carl Strachan were also awarded Queen’s honours on Monday.
Mr Alderson’s OAM recognised his service to the horse racing industry.
“You don’t go to things like trainers’ associations or racing expecting to get awards – you do it for the benefit of racing and trainers,” he said.
“It’s nice to receive an award. It’s humbling.”
For Mr Strachan, the honour of receiving an OAM came a month prior to his 80th birthday.
The now Middle Park resident, who established the Berwick Inn, also helped expand community support service Windermere and assisted in their fund-raising efforts for 24 years.
