A number of people with Uniting Church connections have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours List.
Emeritus Professor Colin Burton Chapman from New Gisborne was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to pharmacy and pharmaceutical science research, education and practice.
Colin has been Coordinating Council chairman of the Uniting Church Macedon Ranges Partnership since 2016.
Also awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division was Maryjane Crabtree from Birregurra for significant service to the legal profession, to community health and to sport.
Maryjane is a member of the UCA Property Trusts for Victoria and Tasmania and has previously been a member of the Ormond College Council and former Epworth Healthcare Council president.
Five people with Uniting Church connections were awarded Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division.
Paul Jonathon Birch from Upwey has been recognised for his role as clock winder at St Andrew’s Gardiner Uniting Church since 1975.
Paul’s efforts were also recognised in ‘The Age’s’ online edition this morning.
“Time flies when you’re a church clock winder, and it’s been 51 years since Paul Birch started his near-weekly tending to a Malvern church’s timepiece,” the article reads.
“But he still finds it a pleasure, rather than a chore.
“Once every eight days, Paul climbs rungs inside the St Andrew’s Gardiner Uniting Church tower to grease and oil the clock mechanism and manually wind it.”
Strathbogie Uniting Church member Diane Marlyce Mackrell from Kelvin View was recognised for service to the community of the Strathbogie region.
Whitehorse Uniting Church member Emeritus Professor Chesney Romesh Nagarajah was recognised for service to tertiary education.
Montrose Uniting Church member Lionel Hastings Parrott was recognised for service to the community.
Lionel has been a Montrose Uniting Church member since 1990, a former Church Council chairperson and secretary for four years.
Shepparton Uniting Church member Geoffrey Noble Thompson has been recognised for service to the communities of Shepparton and Tallygaroopna.
Geoffrey has been heavily involved with the church’s op shop and has held a number of other roles, including Church Council member, chairman and treasurer.