Western Australia

OAAWA NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2024

Occasional electronic newsletter from The Order of Australia Association,
Western Australian Branch

[email protected] – Secretary – 26B Albemarle Street, Scarborough W A 6019 for correspondence and for any financial correspondence, the Treasurer: P O Box 477, West Perth W A 6872

Telephone: Hon. Sec. Margaret Lobo 0418 865 313

Number 5 of 2024

Calendar of events for the rest of the year

Date

Detail

Notes

October 18

noon to 3:00 p.m.

SW Region Group event –

Lunch at the Rose Hotel, Bunbury

See below

SW Coordinator Barry House AM – [email protected]

October 24

9:45 a.m.

morning tea, talk

10:00 a.m.

“Let’s Talk About”

White-out on Mount Erebus – The story of flight NZ901

At RAAFA Estate Bullcreek

Bookings: Please book with our Secretary, Margaret Lobo; $10 for morning tea.

[email protected]

November 19

6:00 p.m.

Information session Wheatbelt and Beyond Mentoring program – Kingsmill Room, St Louis Retirement Village, Claremont

Please advise your interest in attending to our secretary, Margaret Lobo,

[email protected]

November 26th noon

OAAWA Branch annual Christmas luncheon

RAAFA Estate Bullcreek

Bookings:

Details to come

Sunday 1 December

Great Southern Regional Group gathering and ecumenical church service followed by luncheon

At Albany.

Information and bookings from Great Southern Co-ordinator Jan Savage,

AM [email protected]

There are two attachments to this message

Bio of Matthew Thompsett who is our speaker on 21 October; and
Brochure on the Wheatbelt and Beyond Mentoring Programme.

Chairman’s message:

Greetings everyone. Our Annual Dinner, held at Royal Perth Golf Club, was a most enjoyable evening with a most entertaining and informative talk by Nicholas Hasluck AM. The Golf Club once again provided a delicious meal which, from all reports, was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

This has been a very busy year for the Branch and, as we approach the end of the year, there are a number of activities still to come. Many of these were featured in the August

Newsletter but are repeated here as a reminder and an encouragement to register for them.

In the last Newsletter we included some information about a program in which our Branch members have the opportunity to participate – the Wheatbelt and Beyond Youth

Mentoring program. It was planned to hold an Information session this month but this has not been possible. Instead, the Directors of the Program will be in Perth in November and, so that members who are working can attend if they so wish, it has been agreed to hold this session in the evening in the Kingsmill room at St Louis Retirement Village commencing at

6.00 pm on 19^th November. At this time of evening there should be ample street parking and entrance to the Kingsmill Room will be off the verandah as the usual entry door will not be available due to some renovations being undertaken. There is absolutely no

commitment required and there will be no pressure so please do join us to learn more

about this program. For those who do choose to participate it is planned their involvement will commence at the beginning of 2025. Please advise Margaret Lobo –

[email protected] if you will be joining us for this information session. Our next coffee morning and talk will be held at RAAFA in Bullcreek on 24^th October. This should be a most interesting talk on the tragic air crash at Mt Erebus in Antarctica. A

Devonshire morning tea/coffee will be available from 9.45 at a cost of $10. We do need to know numbers for this talk so please advise Margaret Lobo by 17^th October if you will be joining us. Details of this talk are attached

Details are now available for those members joining the luncheon in Bunbury for the South-

West Region event. There are still places available so please advise Barry House AM by email [email protected] if you would like to participate.

November will feature two functions – the Great Southern Region Church Service and Lunch for which further details will be available soon, and the Christmas Lunch at RAAFA at the end of the month, invitations for which will be sent later.

We have received a donation of two bottles of Tyrells Tawny Port which was put down for the Association in 2000 and plan to have a Silent Auction for these. We will also be

collecting items for a raffle closer to the time and proceeds from the Silent Auction and the raffle will go toward a Scholarship for a WA student at a future National Conference. We look forward to receiving lots of donations to make the raffle as much fun as in previous

years.

Best wishes

Bettine Heathcote AM Chairman WA Branch

SW Group Luncheon 18 October

VENUE: ROSE HOTEL, 27 WELLINGTON ST, BUNBURY
TIME, DATE: 12noon – 3 pm Friday, 18^th October, 2024.
FORMAT:
- 12 noon – arrive
- Lunch – Order and pay the Rose Hotel directly for your lunch at the counter indicating that you are in the Ballroom with the function. There will be other Patrons in other parts of the Hotel.
- From 12.30 State and National Updates; Introduction of new recipients; other contributions.
- 1.30 Welcome and update on the Region from Mayor of Bunbury, Jaysen Miguel.
PARKING: Free in Bunbury for Street Parking (1 hour only) and Carparks (3 hours). Best option will be to park in Bunbury Entertainment Centre Carpark which is only a short walk to the Rose Hotel.
ACCOMMODATION: For those who need overnight accommodation there is some at the Rose Hotel itself (97214533) with other close options available at the Clifton

Beach Motel (97926200), Lord Forrest Hotel (1800 026 370) or Manta Lighthouse

Hotel (97812700)

PLEASE RSVP by return email to Hon Barry House, AM [email protected] so I can get an accurate estimate of numbers to book for the Ballroom and meals. Further detail about the meal options and payment will be sent to those who register with Barry.

“Let’s Talk About” – The Mount Erebus disaster

Topic: White-out on Mount Erebus – The story of flight NZ901 Speaker: Matthew Thompsett, self-confessed aviation geek

Date: Thursday 24 October, 2024

Time: 10:00 am morning tea available from 9:45 am

Venue: Royal Australian Air Force Association, Function Centre, 2 Bull Creek Drive, BULLCREEK. (ample free parking available).

Cost: $10.00 pay on entry, please bring correct money.

Report on Peel Region Order of Australia Recipients Civic Reception

The Peel region recipients of the Order of Australia, through the auspice of the Mayor of Mandurah Rhys Williams and the Mandurah Council joined together on the 4^TH of

September for a Civic Reception in the Council Chambers of the City. This was the second function of the year for this group who first met for a lunch get together in April 2024.

Thirty-one recipients attended the Civic reception with six apologise and the reception was attended by The Mayor Rhys Williams, two Council members and the CEO of the CITY, Casey Mihovilovich. The WA Branch was represented by Mrs. Judy Hogben. A sumptuous morning tea was supplied by the City.

The Mayor spoke of the importance of the members of the Order of Australia to the City for their past and ongoing contribution and invited them to consider using their skills to

mentor and guide young people within the Peel. He also asked that they became a voice for community concerns and outlined the three major areas of future development of greatest concern to the City and the environment, as Mandurah city alone, has now grown to a population of over 100,000. Balancing the needs of this fast-growing population with the

Peel denoted as a major tourist destination, is seen as one of the most important future directions for the City.

Mrs. Hogben spoke of the history and rationale behind the Order, the role of the WA branch and membership opportunity and outlined future events on the calendar.

The Peel group are grateful for the support and interest given by the Mayor and the city to our group.

The Peel group will continue to run two functions per year. The first in 2025 with a date to be determined will be hosted by the City with the guest speaker the Hon. Kim Beazley.

The second will be a luncheon, in the latter half of the year, with former Mayor Paddie Creevey, Chair of the Environmental Council discussing environmental issues in the Peel with a focus on future concerns.

Emeritus Professor Jo Barker. AM, Co-ordinator of the Peel region group.

Some photographs from the Reception:

Your 2023-2024 Committee

Chairman	Bettine Heathcote, AM
Secretary	Margaret Lobo, AM
Treasurer	Michael Lee, OAM
WA Nominated National Board Director	Clive Robartson AM
Committee persons	Michael Bleus, OAM
	Lorraine Hammond, AM
	Bill Hassell, AM, JP
	Judith Hogben, AM
	Ronald Louis, OAM
	Brad Norman, AM
	Jackie Scurlock, OAM
	Rebecca Tolstoy, AM
Great Southern Group of the WA Branch Convenor	Janet Savage, OAM, JP
South West Group of the WA Branch Convenor	Hon Barry House, AM
Peel Group of the WA Branch Convenor	Professor Jo Barker, AM

Newsletter editor

For input and material, please send to Bill Hassell, AM, JP – [email protected]

Best wishes,

Bettine Heathcote, AM

Chairman,

The Order of Australia Association, WA Branch. [email protected] 0407 195 040

OAAWA NEWSLETTER MARCH 2024 No. 1 of 2024

Occasional electronic newsletter from

The Order of Australia Association, Western Australian Branch

It’s all about the National Conference …

This year the Western Australian Branch of the Order of Australia Association is host to the annual national conference.

All members of the Association are eligible and invited to attend.

Registrations are going well with numbers of members from eastern States branches already registered.

Time for Western Australian members to commit!

Outline programe:

Thursday 16 May	Reception at Government House
Friday 17 May	Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel All sessions, morning and afternoon tea and lunch
Saturday 18 May	Annual General Meeting of the Order of Australia Association and Members’ Forum, at the Hyatt
Saturday 18 May	Conference Dinner including Scholarships of the Order of Australia Foundation awards presentations Gala event of the Conference at the Hyatt, including entertainment by the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. In the presence of HE the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Sunday 19 May	Wreath laying at the War Memorial, King’s Park, followed by
Sunday 19 May	Farewell Lunch at Frasers Restaurant, King’s Park
Sunday 19 May	Ecumenical Choral Evensong at St George’s Cathedral, St George’s Terrace, Perth

For more information and to register for the National Conference:

https://theorderofaustralia.asn.au/

Western Australian Chairman’s report

The City of Stirling were, once again, our hosts for the 2024 Australia Day Honours Reception. It was a very successful evening with 31 recipients of an award joining members and guests together with the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Stirling.

How quickly the year is flying past – already halfway through March and the National Conference is drawing ever closer. I am pleased to tell you we already have a good number of registrations but we need more. There will be an E News going out to all members across the country to encourage those who have not already registered to do so. This E News will include details of our Speakers something a number of people have asked for. There are a number of WA members already registered but we need many more.

Volunteers needed for the conference:

We will need volunteers to assist in a number of ways to assist the smooth running of the Conference. If you are able to assist in any of the following areas please contact Velma Tomasich [email protected] to register your interest.

We will need:

2 people to insert name labels into the holders on Tuesday 14th May at the Hyatt

3 people to pack “goodies” into Conference bags on Tuesday 14th May at the Hyatt

6 people to act as “Hosts” over the 3 days of the Conference (2 each day)

2 people to distribute Conference bags at the Registration Desk

2 Transport Marshalls on Thursday 16th and Sunday 19th

2 people to assist on the Merchandise Table (experience with an Eftpos machine would be helpful)

Visit to Hainault Winery now 6^th April

The WA Branch has been invited to participate in the Government House Open Days on 13^th and 14^th April which is an opportunity for us to speak with a wide variety of people we otherwise would not meet.

Therefore, we have brought our visit to Hainault forward a week. Details are as follows:

Hainault Winery and Cellar door 255 Walnut Road, Bickley

12.00 noon on 6^th April for a talk on managing an organic vineyard, wine tasting, shared platter lunch, followed by coffee and cake

RSVP to Margaret Lobo 0418 865 313 by 29^th March please. Payment $50 each by EFT to BSB 036-237 A/C 456289 Extracted from Hainault’s website:

“Hainault is a boutique cellar door situated in the picturesque Bickley Valley, just 25 km from the Perth Central Business District. Nestled in Jarrah forest on the Darling Scarp at an elevation of 400 m. Hainault is the highest vineyard in Western Australia and is in one of the coldest parts of the State. All of our wines are made from estate grown, hand harvested fruit using minimal interventions”.

Dates for your Diary: 18th September Annual Dinner Royal Perth Golf Club

Newsletter editor

26th November Christmas Lunch RAAFA Bullcreek

For input and material, please send to Bill Hassell, AM, JP – [email protected]

[email protected] – Secretary – 26B Albemarle Street, Scarborough W A 6019 for correspondence and for any financial correspondence, the Treasurer: P O Box 477, West Perth W A 6872

Telephone: Hon. Sec. Margaret Lobo 0418 865 313

Recent photographs from Branch events courtesy Jackie Barnwell:

Annual General Meeting, February at Matilda Bay

Reception for Australia Day awardees at the City of Stirling:

Your 2023-2024 Committee

Chairman	Bettine Heathcote, AM
Secretary	Margaret Lobo, AM
Treasurer	Michael Lee, OAM
WA Nominated National Board Director	Clive Robartson AM
Committee persons	Michael Bleus, OAM
	Lorraine Hammond, AM
	Bill Hassell, AM, JP
	Judith Hogben, AM
	Ronald Lewis, OAM
	Brad Norman, AM
	Jackie Scurlock, OAM
	Rebecca Tolstoy, AM
Great Southern Group of the WA Branch Convenor	Janet Savage, OAM, JP
South West Group of the WA Branch Convenor	Hon Barry House, AM
Peel Group of the WA Branch Convenor	Professor Jo Barker, AM

OAAWA NEWSLETTER JUNE 2024

Occasional electronic newsletter from The Order of Australia Association, Western Australian Branch

[email protected] – Secretary – 26B Albemarle Street, Scarborough W A 6019 for correspondence and for any financial correspondence, the Treasurer: P O Box 477, West Perth W A 6872

Telephone: Hon. Sec. Margaret Lobo 0418 865 313

Number 3 of 2024

Calendar of events for the rest of the year

Date

Detail

Notes

July 17 at

10:30 a.m.

“Let’s Talk About” Coffee morning

with guest speaker Prof Sir Al Ayling- Green a UK based Clinician and

Clinical Scientist. (See bio below)

Morning tea provided courtesy of St Louis Estate.

At St Louis Estate, Claremont

Please register with Margaret Lobo on

0418 865 313 or

[email protected] by 10^th July

August 7 at

6:00 p.m.

Reception for King’s Birthday honours recipients City

of Perth

Invitations to come

September 18 6:30 for

7.00 p.m.

Annual Black-Tie Dinner of the OAAWA Branch

Royal Perth Golf Club

Bookings:

Invitations to come

October 18

noon to 3:00 p.m.

SW Region Group event –

Lunch at the Rose Hotel, Bunbury

Bookings:

Details of event and bookings below

October 24

10:00 a.m.

“Let’s Talk About”

White-out on Mount Erebus – The story of flight NZ901 At

RAAFA Estate Bullcreek

Bookings: details of event below

$15 for morning tea

November Date TBC

Great Southern Regional Group Gathering and ecumenical church service plus luncheon

Bookings:

Details to come

November 26th noon

OAAWA Branch annual Christmas luncheon

RAAFA Estate Bullcreek

Bookings:

Details to come

The Oration given by former Governor, Malcolm McCusker, AC KC at the opening of the national conference in Perth

Mr McCusker has given his consent to copies of his oration being distributed.

Should you wish to receive a copy electronically please write to the Newsletter editor, Bill Hassell, AM, JP at [email protected]

This fine oration is worthy of your time and attention.

Chairman’s message:

It is over – 3 years of planning culminated in a most successful and enjoyable National Conference which, from many complimentary emails received, would appear to have been enjoyed by all who attended. My particular thanks go to the members of the Conference Organising Committee and Branch Committee plus Branch members who all contributed in some way to the success we all enjoyed. My thanks also to the staff of the Hyatt Regency Hotel for whom nothing was too much trouble and ensured our delegates were well cared for.

My thanks also to our photographer Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne from 7 to 1 Photography who was unobtrusively present during the Conference and took some wonderful pictures.

These can be viewed and downloaded (free of charge) on https://tinyurl.com/59wrd39r .

A highlight of the Conference was the presentation at the Conference Dinner of Certificates to 6 young students (3 from WA) who have been awarded a Scholarship through the Foundation by His Excellency the Hon Chris Dawson AC APM. Pictures of these young

people are included in the latest issue of ‘The Order’.

We extend warm congratulations to the recipients of an honour in the Kings Birthday

Awards and look forward to welcoming you to a Reception to be hosted by the City of Perth on 7th August.

We now can look forward to other events for the rest of the year details of which are included in this Newsletter.

Bettine Heathcote AM

SW Group luncheon 18 October

VENUE: ROSE HOTEL, 27 WELLINGTON ST, BUNBURY
TIME, DATE: 12noon – 3 pm Friday, 18^th October,
FORMAT:
- 12 noon – arrive

Lunch (More details to come There is an excellent choice of meals and drinks)
From 30 State and National Updates; Introduction of new recipients; other contributions.
30 Welcome and update on the Region from Mayor of Bunbury, Jaysen Miguel.

PARKING: Free in Bunbury for Street Parking ( 1 hour only ) and Carparks ( 3 hours ). Best option will be to park in Bunbury Entertainment Centre Carpark which is only a short walk to the Rose Hotel.
ACCOMMODATION: For those who need overnight accommodation there is some at the Rose Hotel itself ( 97214533 ) with other close options available at the Clifton Beach Motel ( 97926200 ), Lord Forrest Hotel ( 1800 026 370 ) or Manta Lighthouse Hotel ( 97812700 )

PLEASE RSVP by return email to Hon Barry House, AM [email protected] so I can get an accurate estimate of numbers to book for the Ballroom and meals. Further detail about the meal options and payment will come closer to the date.

“Let’s Talk About” – The Mount Erebus disaster

Topic: White-out on Mount Erebus – The story of flight NZ901

Speaker: Matthew Thompsett, self-confessed aviation geek

Date: Thursday 24 October, 2024

Time: 10:00 am morning tea available from 9:45 am

Venue: Royal Australian Air Force Association, Function Centre, 2 Bull Creek Drive, BULLCREEK. (ample free parking available).

Cost: $15.00 pay on entry, please bring correct money.

Your 2023-2024 Committee

Chairman	Bettine Heathcote, AM
Secretary	Margaret Lobo, AM
Treasurer	Michael Lee, OAM
WA Nominated National Board Director	Clive Robartson AM
Committee persons	Michael Bleus, OAM
	Lorraine Hammond, AM
	Bill Hassell, AM, JP
	Judith Hogben, AM
	Ronald Louis, OAM
	Brad Norman, AM

	Jackie Scurlock, OAM
	Rebecca Tolstoy, AM
Great Southern Group of the WA Branch Convenor	Janet Savage, OAM, JP
South West Group of the WA Branch Convenor	Hon Barry House, AM
Peel Group of the WA Branch Convenor	Professor Jo Barker, AM

Newsletter editor

For input and material, please send to Bill Hassell, AM, JP – [email protected]

Best wishes,

Bettine Heathcote, AM

Chairman,

The Order of Australia Association, WA Branch. [email protected] 0407 195 040

Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green Kt

Our guest speaker at “Let’s Talk About” on 17 July

Sir Al was born in the North of England near Newcastle upon Tyne, he trained in medicine at Guy’s Hospital in London and in paediatric endocrinology in the University Children’s Hospital in Zurich Switzerland. He gained a D.Phil. on the mechanism of insulin secretion at the University of Oxford.

He initially did not enjoy paediatrics as a medical student, being unable to take the guilt and grief of

parents of a 2-year-old child who had sat in a bucket of boiling water when her Mum was distracted; it took her two weeks to die.

He trained in Oxford in adult medicine specialising in adult diabetes and endocrinology.

His experience of the care of his sick daughter by a wonderful, compassionate paediatrician made him switch paths to retrain in paediatrics, seeing the opportunities for research in paediatric endocrinology.

He has held senior leadership responsibilities taking on teaching roles as well as being a clinician and

clinical scientist. He was Professor of Child health in Newcastle upon Tyne, then went to London as the first Board level Executive Director of Clinical R&D at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and Nuffield

Professor of Child Health at University College, London. He was the first National Clinical Director for Children in Government, then in 2005 he was appointed the first Children’s Commissioner for England, being responsible for promoting the best interests of the 11million children of England. In that role wanted to make England a place where children felt respected, listened to, loved, safe, happy, and able to reach their full potential.

He has also been President of the British Medical Association, and most recently was appointed the first Professor of Compassionate Care in the UK in Northampton University.

In 2006 he was recognised by the HM Queen Elizabeth in her 80^th Birthday Honours with a Knighthood for his services to children and young people.

At the age of 10 he experienced the death of his Father with poor support for the grieving child. His recent experiences with the illnesses and untimely death of his beloved wife through the cruelty of vascular

dementia has triggered his latest campaigning for support for end-of-life care, confronting the mismatch between the wonders of medical science and the erosion of the humanity of care.

He likes to listen as well as talk. Sir Al wants to learn from us as well as discuss his experiences. His mantra is “Compassion is a hard, active concept; it can be measured, taught, and audited. It is putting yourself in the shoes of others and doing something about it.”