By GARY FRY
Caption: Desmond Earl Schuman OAM for service to the community of Armidale Dumaresq. Picture: DANIELI STUDIOS
THE 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honours list included Armidale’s Desmond (Des) Earl Schuman awarded an Order of Australia Medal, for ‘service to the community of Armidale Dumaresq’.
“It means a great deal to me. I’m overwhelmed and humbled,” Mr Schuman said. “There are many people more deserving.”
Mr Schuman was a post-master for Australia Post for 47 years, including a lengthy period at UNE.
Above all, he has been a proud and dedicated Lions Club member. He has been catering chairman for the Armidale-Dumaresq Lions Club since 2001 and the catering van has a special place at his home.
Mr Schuman has been a member of Lions since 1982 and was made a Life Member in 2011. He has served as president; vice-president, secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer and director for two terms. He also held the roles of membership chairman and Lion Tamer.
In 1992, he was made a life member of the (Lions affiliated) NSW-ACT Save Sight Foundation. He was awarded a Melvin Jones Fellow, through Armidale-Dumaresq Lions Club.
Mr Schuman has been a major community contributor in the Armidale area, assisting with the likes of the Australia Day Ceremony, New England Wool Expo and Armidale Autumn Festival.
He was also a pillar of the Deepwater community. He was a founding member of the Deepwater Apex Club, 1974-1977 and the club’s inaugural Life Member in 1977. He was also President Life Membership of the Deepwater Golf Club from 1972-1978 (and became a Life Member).
“I’ve been community-minded and involved in service clubs all my married life,” Mr Schuman said. “It’s just part of your make-up.
“I like to keep busy and these things have helped fill my life out. I have always liked to see a job through. I’ve met a lot of people and gotten a lot of satisfaction along the way.”
