Alan Cole, front, who has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, with Hillview Bunyip Aged Care CEO Craig Stuchbery and the former president of the Hillview Bunyip Aged Care committee Gerard Collins.
By Elizabeth Lillis
VERVALE resident Alan Cole has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of his community service through environmental and agedcare organisations in Cardinia.
Mr Cole said he was surprised to receive the honour.
“It is a humbling experience to get the award, I feel I share it with many I have worked with,” he said.
Mr Cole has been recognised for his involvement in a number of community groups in the Bunyip area including as a foundation board member and secretary of Hillview Bunyip Aged Care since 1993, chairman of Bunyip Sanctuary Committee since 1995, and foundation member and president of Bunyip Landcare Group 1994 2006.
Mr Cole was born into a farming family in England and immigrated to Australia as a 23yearold in 1960.
After arriving in Sydney he worked a variety of jobs before moving to Victoria in 1970 to work for the Department of Agriculture on the elimination of contagious diseases of farm animals.
Mr Cole worked for the Department of Agriculture for 27 years and also farmed at Vervale.
Mr Cole said he became a fulltime volunteer community worker when he retired 10 years ago and is proud to be so.
“Actually I’d say that I am a caring person in that I care passionately about our environment the people and animals therein,” he said.
The volunteer work he is most proud of his is involvement in the establishment of Hillview Bunyip Aged Care.
Mr Cole said his interest in aged care came about from meeting many aged and infirm people trying to manage farm properties when clearly it was beyond their ability.
“In 1993 I was approached by Ruth McDonald, who was then working as district nurse and in charge of Bunyip Community Services.
“Ruth asked me if I was interested in donating money towards the development of an agedcare hostel for Bunyip that she and (now councillor) Bill Pearson were trying to fund and build.
“Eventually a public meeting was called with the intention of forming a committee to oversee what has become this very fine facility. Somehow, at this public meeting I became the committee secretary and, well, the rest is history.
“Along the way on this Hillview Bunyip Aged Care project I have worked with some fine stalwart citizens in particular, Gerard and Marie Collins, John and Nellie Marsh, Brian Hogan, Sue Beattie and, of course, our board president, Ruth McDonald.”
Mr Cole said teamwork was key to many of the projects he has been involved with.
“It is the most important thing, with others you can work through issues, make progress and things can be built and developed,” he said.
Mr Cole’s latest community role is as project manager of the Bunyip and District Community Bank/Bendigo Bank project committee.
The committee is trying to gain full banking services for Bunyip.
Mr Cole is married to scientist Dr Mary Cole.
“ I wish to thank my wife, Mary who has forgiven me so many times for being so often at yet another meeting or an important nottobemissed working bee,” he said.
Mr Cole said he felt it was important to lead a useful life and he was not one to sit back and leave it to others.
