THREE local residents were among the many Australians recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
Ken Fletcher, 69, of Port Macquarie, was awarded an Emergency Services Medal in the Queen’s Birthday honours because of his long history of volunteering with Marine Rescue and Sea Rescue.
The Marine Rescue Port Macquarie deputy unit commander said he was over the moon at the news, even though he was a very humble sort of person and didn’t “normally go in for this sort of thing”.
“But it was nice to get something after 30 years of service,” he said.
Mr Fletcher, a retired motor mechanic, started doing volunteer work with the Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club and then joined Sea Rescue 30 years ago (Sea Rescue, the Coast Guard and Coastal Patrol were all amalgamated some years ago, hence the change to Marine Rescue).
He has been involved in hundreds of rescues in that time, ranging from the common “NRMA-type tow job” to scary offshore rescues in big seas and capsized boats on the Port Macquarie bar, which he says can be treacherous, although no more so than many other bars.
Another Port Macquarie man, Phillip Passmore, a retired piano tuner and repairer, was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his volunteer work.
Mr Passmore started doing volunteer work in the 1960s with Apex when he lived in Sydney and has carried on since moving to Port Macquarie.
Even though now 84, he still volunteers. He was a charter member of the Port Macquarie city branch of the Lions Club and has cooked so many sausages he cannot count them, but sadly this club is now folding because they cannot attract enough younger members. His volunteer work today includes driving elderly people from Garden Village and Bethany to doctor’s appointments. He is also an active member of the Pink Ladies, which he joined last year.
Mr Passmore plans to keep volunteering as long as he is able.
“It help keeps you active,” he said.
He says he was pleased but a little embarrassed at getting the award.
“My wife Pat has been volunteering with me just about all that time, so I feel I am accepting this on her behalf as well and all the other volunteers out there.”
Dr Natarahan Subbiah, a resident of Emmaus Nursing Home suffering from Parkinsons Disease, also received an OAM.
Dr Subbiah worked in India and the UK as a doctor before emigrating to Australia in 1973. His work history here includes 19 years as a visiting medical practitioner at Barraba, 150km west of Tamworth. Now 81, he retired to Port Macquarie. Both his son and daughter have followed in his footsteps and are doctors.
The awards will be presented at Government House in Sydney later this year.
