Five Shoalhaven residents have been honoured in this year’s Queen’s Birthday awards.
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Kangaroo Valley’s Peter Butler was awarded the AM for service to the community through a range of charitable organisations and for providing and promoting pro bono legal services, Worrigee’s John Downton the OAM for service to the visual arts as a maritime artist and to the community and Mollymook’s Rod Austin the OAM for service to surf lifesaving.
In the military section of the awards, Commander Marc Pavillard, a former commanding officer at 816 Squadron at HMAS Albatross was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding devotion to duty and performance in naval aviation command and Chief Petty Officer Phillip Hirschausen, also from 816 Squadron, was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious achievement in the performance of duty in the field of navy avionics support.
Former Shoalhaven Local Area Command duty officer Detective Chief Inspector Kevin McNeil, now the Crime Manager at Far South Coast, was awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM).
Peter Butler
The Kangaroo Valley lawyer has used his influence in a big law firm to help those less fortunate than himself.
Compelled to promote a culture of generosity in his workplace, Peter Butler has received the award for the provision and promotion of pro bono legal services and his charity work.
Mr Butler is partner of Herbert Smith Freehills, a law firm in Sydney that provided 43,000 hours of pro bono services to people in need and charities last year.
“I do what I can to promote a culture where lawyers put back into community,” he said.
“Lawyers love doing pro bono work, if they’re allowed to, and encouraged to, they will.”
He said that most law firms in Australia do pro bono work, and the bulk of it has been funded by law firms rather than the government.
“It’s just the right thing to do for the community, how lucky are we all to put something back in,” he said.
Mr Butler has also been recognised for significant service to the community through a range of charitable organisations.
He chaired the Starlight Children’s Foundation for eight years, and has been on the board of the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation for seven years.
“It’s a terrible cancer, the biggest single killer of children in Australia,” he said.
“It has an awful mortality rate, we’re trying to fund research to find a cure.”
It’s just the right thing to do for the community, how lucky are we all to put something back in
- Peter Butler
He was awarded an OAM 20 years ago, and has accepted the AM award with great joy.
“I’m incredibly honoured and humbled to receive this award,” Mr Butler said.
“To be honoured by my country for doing what gives me so much joy to do, words can’t describe how humbling it is.
“It’s made me all the more determined to put back into the community.”
Details of Mr Butler’s service to the community:
National Chair, Starlight Children's Foundation, 2008-2016 and Director since 2016.
Director, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, since 2010.
Chair, Freehills Foundation, 2008-2014.
Chair, Global Pro Bono and Citizenship Council, Herbert Smith Freehills, since 2014
Director, Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, since 2010.
Director, Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation, 2008-2015 and Advisory Council Chair since 2015.
Member, NSW University Advisory Council, Faculty of Law, 2010-2016.
John Downton
Christmas Day is the only day John Downton puts down the paint brush.
The Worrigee resident was awarded the OAM for service to the visual arts as a maritime artist and to the community.
Mr Downton retrained as an artist in 1973, after many years as a watchmaker.
“When all the electronics came in I had to retrain as something and I thought I may as well retrain in something I like,” Mr Downton said.
“That was 48 years ago and I’m still painting seven days a week – Christmas Day is my annual leave.”
Mr Downton has exhibited work in Sydney, Melbourne, Ireland, Japan, Korea and America.
He spent 15 years travelling across rural Australia with renowned artist Leonard Long, painting the rugged landscapes he explored.
That was 48 years ago and I’m still painting seven days a week – Christmas Day is my annual leave.
- John Downton
Mr Downton is also the official artist for the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Nowra, with the gallery named in his honour in 2014.
Between 1999 and 200 he travelled to East Timor and painted around 50 pieces depicting the naval and peacekeeping activities.
When he’s not painting, Mr Downton spends a lot of time judging at regional shows. He judged many exhibitions, including Sydney Royal Easter Show, Nowra Show, Kiama Art Show and Bega Valley Art Awards.
“I’ve been all over the country judging and it’s all about giving something back,” Mr Downton said.
“I also spent 50 years collecting Australian art so I added a few of mine and I presented it to the people in Eden to be on display in their new Killer Whale Museum.”
Mr Downton has also donated works to various nursing homes, the Eden Foreshore Committee, Southern Councils Group, Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia, Foxground Rural Fire Brigade, Shoalhaven Cancer Clinic and the Illawarra Police Charity.
In 2015 he was inducted into the Kiama Arts Honour Roll by the Kiama Municipal Council.
With no shortage of work to keep him busy, Mr Downton has no plans of retiring the easel just yet.
“Everybody keeps commissioning me – I have to keep it up,” he said.
Rod Austin
Rod Austin has spent most of his life on the sand and in the surf with Mollymook Surf Life Saving Club.
His hard work and contribution to the club and Surf Life Saving NSW has now earnt him an Order of Australia Medal in this year’s Queen’s Birthday awards.
Mr Austin joined the club in 1967 and has been heavily involved in all aspects of beach activities and administration ever since.
The 65-year-old said he was “humbled” by being awarded an OAM.
“I am very honoured,” he said.
“I don’t know what to say about it all, I am very taken aback by it.
“It is very humbling.”
Having been the Mollymook Surf Life Saving Club president since 1999, Mr Austin spends most of his time on the beach or in the clubhouse.
“My father joined the club just after the war and became a very active member,” he said.
“He would bring me down for what used to be called the Mollymook marlins, which is like the nippers we have today.
I don’t know what to say about it all, I am very taken aback by it. I'm very honoured and humbled.
- Rod Austin
“When I was 15, I got my bronze and started rowing surf boats and I have been doing it ever since. I still row in the masters competition.”
During his time with the Mollymook Surf Club, Mr Austin has been secretary for eight years, club captain for eight years, boat captain for five years and, most recently, president for 18 years, and counting.
In 1989, he was awarded life membership of the club, something he considers a highlight of his volunteering career.
“That was wonderful,” he said.
“It has been one of the highlights of my time with surf life saving.”
Mr Austin said Surf Life Saving NSW and the equipment used had changed significantly.
“When I first got my bronze, it was a march down the beach with a swim belt,” he said.
“There were no rescue boards when I started, it was all line and belt.
“Now the equipment we have, with IRBs and jetskis, is wonderful.
“It has been great to see the club we have today emerge.”
Rod Austin has also held the following position with Surf Life Saving NSW;
Surf Life Saving NSW South Coast Branch councillor since 1999.
Rod Austins’ awards and recognition include:
National Medal recipient, 2005;
1st Clasp award, 2014.
South Coast Branch Administrator of the Year recipient in 2012.
Surf Life Saving Australia 45-Year National Patrol Service Award, 2013.
Commander Marc Pavillard
The former commanding officer at 816 Squadron at HMAS Albatross, Commander Marc Pavillard was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding devotion to duty and performance in the field of naval aviation command.
Although honoured with the recognition, CMDR Pavillard, who is now based at Garden Island in Sydney working in the Training Authority, as its inaugural safety and seaworthiness officer, said he was also a little bit embarrassed by the award.
“I was very fortunate to have a great team behind me,” he said.
“Awards often go to the person in charge of an organisation, but you can’t do anything or achieve anything unless you have a good team behind you.
“The last couple years while I was in command at 816 Squadron I had various teams doing extraordinary things.
“The team’s hard work made 816 Squadron look good and as commander I got the credit.”
The last three years had been a challenging time for the squadron, transitioning between the Seahawk Bravo helicopter and the new Romeo model.
“We asked as lot of 816 Squadron and it delivered, and delivered well,” he said.
“The squadron had to take on a new aircraft while slowly retiring the old one.
“And at the same time continue all our usual operational capabilities with both aircraft, including numerous sea deployments.
Awards often go to the person in charge of an organisation, but you can’t do anything or achieve anything unless you have a good team behind you. I was very fortunate to have a great team.
- Commander Marc Pavillard
“At times we were stretched personnel wise but the team did some incredible things. They stretched where we asked them to stretch and continued to perform and importantly continued to do it all safely.
“It was a tough time for the squadron but it performed incredibly well.”
He said during his command period the squadron was changing constantly “undergoing a metaphsopreshis”.
“When I started there we had one aircraft type, 16 Bravo helicopters and were due to start the Romeos,” he said.
“By the end we had four Bravos and seven Romeos in service, with a number of flights at sea. At one stage we have five separate flights at sea, which was well above what was expected.”
Born in the US, coming to Australia as a teenager, the now 30 year RAN veteran’s citation said his professional excellence, combined with his leadership and loyalty to his sailors and officers ensured 816 Squadron provided outputs that met the Australian Defence Force operational capability requirements. Under his command, the squadron met ongoing requirements while safely transitioning the Maritime Combat Helicopter capability into service.
Chief Petty Officer Phillip Hirschausen
In another military honour, Chief Petty Officer Phillip Hirschausen, also from 816 Squadron, was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious achievement in the performance of duty in the field of navy avionics support.
His citation said CPO Hirschausen demonstrated distinguished service as an aviation technician. Exceptionally professional and personable, he is always at the forefront of innovation linked to operational capability. His dedication, leadership, technical skill and drive underpin his professional capabilities while he provides inspiration, training and support to other team members.
Detective Chief Inspector Kevin McNeil
Former Shoalhaven Local Area Command duty officer Detective Chief Inspector Kevin McNeil was awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM).
Detective Chief Inspector McNeil joined the NSW Police Force in 1985.
He was promoted to his current rank in 2015 and posted to Crime Manager on the Far South Coast in 2010.
He became a trainee for the NSW Police Force in 1985 and was attested as a probationary constable in 1985, where he was stationed at Bankstown.
In 1986 he was confirmed as a constable while performing general duties at Bass Hill and at the Sydney District Prisoner Escort Unit and general duties at Bankstown.
In 1991, he entered the Criminal Investigation field serving at North West Region Crime Squad, where he was designated as a Detective.
He later served North West Region Major Crime Squad - Drugs, St. Marys, Penrith, Cabramatta, where in 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Senior Sergeant.
In 2005, he started duties in the Shoalhaven Local Area Command, where he was promoted to the rank of Inspector (Duty Officer).
In 2010, he took up the role of Crime Manager at the Far South Coast Local Area Command.
He has performed criminal investigation duties for the majority of his career where he has led and been involved in a number of high profile criminal investigations, where he has earned the trust, respect and support of his subordinates and peers.
Detective Chief Inspector McNeil's dedicated police service to the people of New South Wales for over 35 years is exemplary.