Central Victoria is well-represented in this year's Australia Day honours list. Here are the locals being recognised for their contributions to the community.
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This summary is free to read, while the links to stories about each winner are available to our subscribers.
Sue Clarke AM
Sue Clarke initially suspected the email she received from the Governor-General's office of being spam.
All she could do for a few minutes after realising she had been nominated to be appointed a Member of the Order of Australia was exclaim in shock.
"I was just so taken aback," Ms Clarke said.
Cathrine Harboe-Ree AM
A CASTLEMAINE resident has been named a Member of the Order of Australia after taking part in a revolution in the world of information during her working life.
Cathrine Harboe-Ree spent 15 years as chief librarian at Monash University, during which the field changed completely.
Robert Johanson AO
Former Bendigo Bank chair Robert Johanson is being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
The appointment recognises Mr Johanson's distinguished service to the banking sector, to relations between Australia and India, and to tertiary education governance and financial administration.
Mr Johanson served for 31 years on the board of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.
Margot Spalding OAM
IT WAS both surprising and humbling for Bendigo's Margot Spalding to hear news she would be awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Mrs Spalding credits an ethos of inclusivity taught by her parents and aunt, with driving attitude throughout her work and community service.
Related story: Meet Bendigo's citizen and young citizen of the year
Brian McMennemin OAM
Brian McMennemin isn't sure why he took an interest in music. But after 70 years of performing, he is a recipient of an Order of Australia Medal for service to music through brass bands.
"I can't explain it. When I got the letter and it said being considered I just thought 'it cant be'," he said. "You feel a bit embarrassed because you think there's hundreds of others I've met through 70 years of performing that I think should have it."
Other news
Keith Sutherland OAM
Giving back to the community was instilled in Keith Sutherland from a young age and with more than six decades of service to the Bendigo community, Mr Sutherland has been bestowed a Medal of the Order of Australia.
In a lifetime littered with service, Mr Sutherland was most recently the chairman of the Bendigo Health Foundation between 2015 to 2019 and a member of fundraising committees for the Red Cross Bali Appeal, Australian Cancer Council and Lifeline Bendigo.
Kathryn Mackenzie OAM
Kathryn Mackenzie never set out to start a career in tourism but she has ended up spending 26 years of her life in the industry. Her Order of Australia Medal is for service to tourism in regional Victoria.
Growing up in Cohuna, Kathryn studied teaching and went to La Trobe in Bendigo during its first year of operation. When she wrote a book for the Wimmera's 19th Machine Gun Battalion, she realised how big tourism was.
Heather Barrett OAM and Neil Barrett OAM
Castlemaine residents Neil and Heather Barrett thought it was a hoax when they found out they received Australia Day honours.
"When I saw the email, I thought it was silly and just moved on," Mr Barrett said. "It took us quite a bit of checking but we eventually realised it was fair dinkum."
Fred Treble OAM
Maryborough man Fred Treble is being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community.
Mr Treble, 93, is still involved in the Maryborough City Brass Band, the Maryborough Aero Club and the Maryborough Arts Society.
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