Wauchope volunteer extraordinaire Bruce Cant says that receiving his OAM in Sydney was a wonderful occasion that he will always remember.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bruce and his wife, Shirley, daughter Alison and granddaughter Shawnee travelled to Government House in Sydney in September for the occasion, where Bruce was presented with his medal by NSW Governor Margaret Beazley. They got the official photos recently.
"It was a great experience. I don't think I will ever go through anything like that again. Everything was so professional. Margaret Beazley is a wonderful person and posed for photos with our family," said Bruce.
Bruce loves volunteering, and he intends to keep helping people as long as he can. He achieved the award of Medal of the Order (OAM), for service to the community of Wauchope, and in typically modest fashion, he feels humbled by it and paid tribute to other people.
The Wauchope man was recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List alongside four others across the Hastings - Alan Morris (AM), Edna Lamb (OAM), Robyn Coombes (OAM) and Gerry de Vries (OAM).
Bruce has been director of the Wauchope RSL since 2004 and a member since 1968.
He joined the Lions Club in Wauchope in 1986, and has carried out many roles including president, treasurer and catering officer. He is a life member and a board member.
He's perhaps best known for his work with the Hastings Support Group of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, joining in 2005, and has been chairman since 2007. It has raised a staggering $800,000 over the years.
He has been a member of Port Macquarie-Hastings Legacy Club since 1993, and is vice-president of the Hastings Court Senior Citizens Home for the Aged.
Awards and recognition include:
- 50 Year Service Award, Wauchope Sub-Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia, 2018.
- Life Member, Wauchope Sub-Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia, 2013.
- Hastings Port Macquarie Citizen of the Year, 2011.
- Wauchope Citizen of the Year, 1985 and 2010.
- Lions Melvin Jones Award.
- Community Spirit Award, Wauchope Country Music Festival, 2009.
"I intend to go on helping people as long as I can. There's no reason not to," said Bruce, who is 80 years old.
Bruce was already raising money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service when tragically, his son-in-law was involved in an accident on a mountain in Comboyne, and helicopter staff stayed with him overnight and picked him up but he didn't survive the fall.
"That inspires us to keep on working for the service. They were so good," said Bruce, who started volunteering at the age of 19 for the cricket club in Long Flat.
"In the Lions Club, we help people who are less fortunate than ourselves. We give away a lot of money. We support young sports people through the Lions Club Sports Foundation."
And he paid tribute to his wife, who volunteers with him, and supports his efforts.
"I feel that my wife, Shirley, owns half the award, and the tremendous support from the community since it was announced has been quite overwhelming. I will wear it with pride," he said.
ALSO MAKING NEWS:
Letitia Fitzpatrick
Worked as a journalist and assistant producer for BBC news and current affairs in the UK, Ulster Television, Q Radio and the Irish News in Northern Ireland. Moved to Australia and joined Fairfax Media in 2016. Won a Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship award in 2018 for reporting the Pappinbarra bushfires and the subsequent Rotary appeal which raised $30,000.
Worked as a journalist and assistant producer for BBC news and current affairs in the UK, Ulster Television, Q Radio and the Irish News in Northern Ireland. Moved to Australia and joined Fairfax Media in 2016. Won a Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship award in 2018 for reporting the Pappinbarra bushfires and the subsequent Rotary appeal which raised $30,000.
