By Cameron
FIVE Hobsons Bay residents featured among the Australia Day Honours list this year in recognition of their dedication and service in many fields.
Giuseppe (Joe) Inserra from Altona Meadows received the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division (OAM) for service to the community of Laverton through a range of financial, service and sporting groups.
Mr Inserra is the current director of the Laverton and Altona Meadows Community Bank and has been with the Rotary Club of Laverton since 1983.
He is also an active member of the Italian Sports Club of Werribee, the Laverton Retail Traders’ Association and the Laverton Community Centre.
Geoff Mitchelmore from Altona North also received an OAM, for his many years of service to the arts and protecting and improving the natural environment in Hobsons Bay.
Mr Mitchelmore is a founder of the Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek group and a current member of Enviro Friends of Hobsons Bay. He is also on the Toyota, Mobil and Monsanto chemicals community liaison committees.
Mr Mitchelmore also served as president, secretary and committee member with the Altona City Theatre from 1974 to 2001 and was the inaugural president of the Altona Arts Advisory Committee.
Williamstown’s Lynne Wannan was honoured with a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) award, for service in the area of social policy development, education and children’s services through her roles in a number of government and community organisations.
Ms Wannan has been involved at board level with many education and children’s services including Western Chances Scholarship Program, Victorian Qualifications Au-thority and the Adult Community and Further Education Board.
She was also deputy chancellor at Victoria University of Technology from 1990 to 1993 and has served as the Chair of the Victorian Children’s Council.
Raymond Horsburgh from Williamstown was also awarded an AM, for service to the steel industry and his efforts with organisations providing developmental and educational assistance for disadvantaged youth.
Mr Horsburgh is the current chair of the Education and Schools Sub-Committee for the Business Council of Australia. He has also been involved in numerous sporting and youth organisations and is the deputy chair of the Essendon Football Club.
Mr Horsburgh was also a board member of the Williams-town Rotary Club from 1977 to 1990.
Chief Petty Officer Lee Smith received an OAM in the Military Division for his excellent service as part of Naval Reserve Diving Team Six, based at Williamstown.
Mr Smith was named as an outstanding Naval Reserve Senior Sailor who displays exceptional leadership qualities and reached the highest safety standards.
The citation said Mr Smith’s dedication and professionalism ensured his team had high levels of morale and consistently maintained an excellent safety record.
