They’re not just partners in life, but partners in service. Beaconsfield’s power couple, Ann and Graeme Taylor, have both received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the King’s Birthday honours for their longstanding and wide-ranging contributions to their local community.
The Taylor’s are not the type to seek attention, often working quietly behind the scenes. So receiving the OAM came as a surprising and deeply humbling honour.
“I am humbled and honoured to receive this award along with my husband Graeme,” Ann said.
“This award is also for all the others who have worked with us and contributed to making Beaconsfield such a special town.
“Beaconsfield Progress Association has always done all we can to acknowledge and preserve local history, especially our service men and women. Also, the many people in the area who have made special contributions to the town.”
Ann and Graeme worked closely with Cardinia Shire to help bring a number of important community projects to life. They were instrumental in the upgrade of Beaconsfield Park, ensuring the historic park sign was carefully restored and reinstated. Their efforts extended to researching and identifying the servicemen commemorated in the Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour for WWI, with trees planted along the Old Highway toward Berwick. With support from a Veterans Affairs grant, they facilitated the installation of bronze plaques bearing the names of 65 servicemen and produced a commemorative booklet to honour their service.
The couple also advocated for local identities to be properly recognised with interpretative signage at reserves named in their honour.
Both were instrumental in the creation of the Beaconsfield Digital War Memorial and have led ANZAC memorial services for more than 10 years. In 2020, they co-ran the Iris Lewis Writing Competition, and in 2022, they were jointly recognised with the Berwick Community Award by MP Brad Battin.
“We are so thankful to Penny Harris Jennings, local historian who has researched and written the stories of the soldiers from WWI and World War II and the local history and provided all the information for Beaconsfield and BPA,” they said.
For the past 26 years, the Beaconsfield Anzac Memorial Service has been held on the Sunday before Anzac Day, a tradition initiated by the late Tony Rushton. Despite the town not having its own RSL, the Beaconsfield Progress Association (BPA) has continued to honour the service and sacrifice of local servicemen and women with the annual event.
The service remains a key moment of community reflection, thanks to the efforts of the entire BPA team who work together each year to make it possible.
In addition to the memorial service, Beaconsfield is home to a valuable historical resource — the Beaconsfield Digital Memorial. Developed by the BPA, it captures extensive information on the town’s military history, including biographies of the 65 soldiers commemorated in the Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour and those listed on the Beaconsfield Honour Board. The digital memorial also features details about WWI, WWII, and the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.
Originally accessible via touchscreen, the memorial was moved online during the Covid-19 pandemic and is now hosted on the BPA website. It continues to be updated, with new records of World War II servicemen and women being progressively added.
For over a decade, the Taylor’s co-published The Beaconsfield Banner, served on the Beaconsfield Progress Association (BPA), and coordinated major events including the Australia Day Picnic and Movie Night, and Carols by the Creek.
The Beaconsfield Banner, the town newsletter, was first issued in February 1989. Over the years, it became a vibrant local publication with rotating editors, contributors, and advertisers. It received a CSC Cardinia Community Achievement Award in 2003. After a short break in 2015, it was revived in 2017 and is now available both in print and online, with copies available at local businesses.
The Iris Lewis Writing Competition also holds special meaning. Iris Lewis is the pen name of late local writer and artist Joan Armitage, who helped initiate the award around 2003 to encourage young writers. In 2020, when schools were closed due to Covid restrictions, the Taylors and BPA revived the competition to engage the local student population. The resulting entries were exceptional and a testament to young talent.
The Beaconsfield Australia Day Picnic and Movie Night began around 2018 as a way to celebrate locally. The event shifted to a drive-in format during Covid, but it has since been discontinued.
Meanwhile, the Carols by the Creek event remains a beloved tradition. Organised by Beaconsfield Baptist Church and supported by BPA, it has drawn families together for more than three decades.
Ann has served as Secretary of the Beaconsfield Progress Association for over 10 years and is an active member of Beaconsfield Baptist Church. She also volunteers with the church’s Make and Mingle Group, supporting social connection and creativity among women.
“I have enjoyed co-ordinating this group along with a wonderful team of helpers,” Ann said.
“Make and Mingle is a friendship and craft group for women organized by Beaconsfield Baptist Church. It has been happening for many years and attended by women from the community and surrounding areas.”
Graeme has led the Beaconsfield Progress Association as President for more than a decade. He is also a founding member of the Beaconsfield Bendigo Bank and has served as Chairman since 2012, helping drive local investment and support.
“At the time, we didn’t have a local bank — people had to travel elsewhere to access banking services. Our community bank has grown substantially over the 15 years since we opened,” Graeme said.
“We’ve returned over a million dollars of our profits back to the community through grants, sponsorships, and donations—mostly to not-for-profit organisations, including sporting clubs and similar groups.”
Together, Ann and Graeme embody community spirit, in partnership and through personal dedication to Beaconsfield’s growth, remembrance, and connection.
Faith in service, for the couple, is rooted in God’s love and means “just help others if you’re unable” and “looking after others.” These simple Christian values have guided their decades of dedication to the Beaconsfield community.
They expressed a strong desire for BPA to continue thriving after their retirement.
“When the time comes for us to retire from the BPA, some of the things that were established should be kept going. Hopefully, we leave things better than we found them,” Graeme said.
Beyond the work itself, they value the connections formed, saying it’s “good to meet people” throughout the shire and community.
Volunteering has been a lifelong commitment for the couple, who noted that as volunteer numbers decline, their involvement has “stepped up over the years.” They hope this award can help raise awareness and inspire others to address the ongoing challenge of dwindling volunteers.
