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Eight Central Coast residents recognised Eight Central Coast residents have been recognized in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Governor-General David Hurley announced honours to 992 Australians on June 13, including 669 in the General Division of the Order of Australia, and awards for meritorious, distinguished and conspicuous service. “Recipients share some common traits – including selflessness, excellence and a commitment to service,” Hurley said. “They’re from different backgrounds, their stories are each unique, and each has served in different ways. “This diversity is a strength, and each has impacted their community and made it better. “For that, we thank them.”
approached the RSL for help and got the same treatment; it was another slap in the face.” Karsai trained as a military advocate and worked as a pensions officer for Greensborough RSL SubBranch and Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital Veterans Centre in Victoria. When he moved from Victoria to the Central Coast he started volunteering with the Vietnam Veterans’ Association, eventually becoming president. Karsai started as a senior case officer with the association in 2011 and served as president from 2016-2019. He has been a Board Director of Active Vets Australia since 2019. He was on the Veterans Consultative Committee at Brisbane Waters Private Hospital and Gosford Private Hospital for five years. Karsai also wrote a series of four educational books on Space Flight,Basic Photography and Flag Party/Drill Competition, for use throughout the Australian Air League.
Stephen Karsai, OAM
Stephen Karsai, OAM Stephen Karsai of Woy Woy has been recognised for service to veterans through a range of roles with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). “I spent a total of 27 years in the army and served in Vietnam in 1971,” he said. “We weren’t welcomed home. “I was so proud to come home fully functioning but when I went to get a hotel room across from the airport, still in uniform, the receptionist closed the register and said they had no room. “From that day on I said if ever I get a chance to help other vets I will do my utmost. “A number of years later I
Cornelius (Con) Ryan, OAM
Cornelius (Con) Ryan, OAM Con Ryan of Avoca Beach has been honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the community through a range of organisations but is perhaps best known for being founding president of the 5 Lands Walk. “The 5 Lands Walk was originally a Gosford Council initiative and Council ran it for five years before handing it over to the community,” he
said. “I took on the role of president and, together with current president Pauline Wright, I built it up over the years. “It is a wonderful organisation, with more than 700 volunteers all committed to making the Central Coast a better place. “The mantra is connecting people to place- a place where nobody is excluded – and it’s a very powerful message.” Ryan said he had applied skills gained in his professional life and other life experiences to the culture of the 5 Lands Walk. A former player with the Newtown Jets, Ryan coached kids’ rugby league teams for 23 years. “I tried to teach the kids they can achieve a lot if they all work together – one of the underlying things which have driven me throughout,” he said. “It was all about developing character.” Ryan also applied the theme of working together in his professional life with Pax Australia (formerly Aerosols Australia), where he performed a range of roles including general manager and marketing manager until 1988 when he became a Board Member. He was Managing Director from 1988 to 2000 and initiated funding for a counselling service for the local community which has been running since 1996. In 2000 he became a founding member of One Asia Network, a partnership between Daizo of Japan and Pax of Australia. Ryan said he was “very chuffed and honoured” by the award. “It’s something you don’t seek but it’s nice when it happens,” he said. “It’s all about giving back to the community.” Robert (Bob) Smith, OAM
Robert (Bob) Smith, OAM
Bob Smith of Empire Bay was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Honours List for service to veterans and to the community. “It came as a big shock to me; I am honoured to be recognised but there are a lot of unsung heroes who work in our community to keep it running, so I am very humbled,” he said. Smith was involved with the army reserve for 35 years until 2002, the last 12 of those with the 21 Construction Regiment. “We have done a lot of work in Aboriginal communities, building infrastructure such as housing, water tanks, roads and garbage tips and organising power supply,” he said. “We are all volunteers, taking leave from our day jobs to do this work and many of our soldiers spent a lot of time in the regular army. Smith worked for the Commonwealth Department of Works as an electrician from 1964-68 and as a design draftsman from 1968-71 before becoming a design draftsman with the Electricity Commission of NSW in 1971 and then an engineering officer with Ausgrid from 1975 to 2015. “I realised a lot of those skills I could employ with the army,” he said. “The true beauty of the army reserve is that it draws from a cross-section of the community with a huge range of skills and puts them to good use.” A current committee member with the 21 Construction Regiment Association, Smith
has been Association Sergeant Major, Parades and Commemoration Services, since 2000 and was a former captain and coach of the shooting team. “These days my work involves looking after ANZAC parades, organising reunions and keeping the troops informed on what’s going on,” he said. Smith was a volunteer with the Reserve Forces Day Council from 1998 to 2018 and has been a member of the Gosford District Rifle Club since 1991. He was a member of Scouts NSW Point Clare and Ettalong from 1978-82, the Progress Association of Point Clare and Tascott from 1971-79 and St John Ambulance NSW from 1963-73.
Colin Laing, OAM
Colin Laing, OAM The founding President of North Entrance Surf Life Saving, Colin Laing, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to surf lifesaving. “It’s a big honour to receive such an award as this and to be recognised by my peers who nominated me,” Laing said. His lifelong dedication to surf lifesaving began when he was 16 at The Entrance club, gaining his Bronze Certificate in 1958 and then taking on various committee roles through the 1960s and 1970s before becoming a Life Member in 1975. “Following a spate of drownings over on the North Entrance beach it was decided there should be a club formed there and patrols started in
1977,” Laing said. He was President at North Entrance from 1977-87 and again in 1989-90 and was also made a Life Member in 1989. He became a Life Member of Surf Life Saving NSW in 2016 and the Central Coast branch in 2009. “It’s been a lifelong thing for me – all my children and grandchildren have come through and got their Bronze with a lot of them still involved in the sport,” Laing said. “I try to encourage all the young ones and I used to coach the nippers a few years back. Laing, who will celebrate his 80th birthday in three months, still patrols at North Entrance beach and is still competing. “I’m mainly in ski events now, in the Masters, and I won two bronze medals at the Australian Titles this year,” he said. Laing has held various roles with Surf Life Saving Central Coast, including councillor/ club delegate from 1977-87 and 1989-90 and 1977; a Board of Examiners member from 1978-1987; and Branch team selector, referee, juniors coach and district supervisor since the 1970s. Over the years he has been awarded the National Medal Surf Life Saving in 2021, Central Coast Masters Athlete of the Year in 2005, Centenary Medal in 2001 and a Certificate of Outstanding Service Wyong Shire in 1989.
Mary Bell, OAM
Mary Bell, OAM A combination of service to naval associations and pipe
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DAVID MEHAN MP MEMBER FOR THE ENTRANCE P:4334 1012 YASMIN CATLEY MP MEMBER FOR SWANSEA P: 4972 1133 DAVID HARRIS MP MEMBER FOR WYONG P: 4352 2711
Your local voices on the Central Coast! Authorised by David Mehan, Yasmin Catley & David Harris. Printed using parliamentary entitlements.
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