All worthy of recognition
Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove said the award recipients have made an enormous contribution to their local communities and “deserve our thanks, admiration and to be celebrated. They are all wonderful people and are all worthy of recognition and celebration.”
LONG-TIME Auburn charity worker, Ralph Heness was one of four locals to be named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours list.
Mr Heness, former Granville politicians Laurie Ferguson and David Borger, and Silverwater corrections officer Craig Osland were all awarded for their “enormous contribution to their local communities”.
Receiving OAMs were Mr Heness for service to the community of Auburn; Mr Ferguson for service to parliament and politics, and the community; and Mr Borger for service to the Parliament of NSW, and to local government; while Mr Osland was awarded the Australian Corrections Medal for his distinguished service and leadership.
“I have three words to say; Unbelievable, unbelievable and unbelievable,” Mr Heness said.
“I really can’t believe it,” he said, and he can’t wait to tell his family.
Mr Heness was a fireman for 40 years and has been volunteering for 62 years, joining the Lions Club in 1975; Mr Ferguson was the Federal MP for Reid, 1990-2010 and State MP for Granville, 1984-1990, having held numerous portfolios and was also involved in many local committees; Mr Borger was the State MP for Granville, 2007-2011 and has been a prominent figure fighting for Western Sydney with positions on a number of boards; and Mr Osland joined Corrective Services NSW 32 years ago and in that time has worked as a prison officer, industries overseer, and occupied a number of non-commissioned and commissioned roles in correctional centres.
Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove said the awards are our opportunity to say to fellow Australians, “thank you – without you and your tireless service we wouldn’t be the community or nation that we are”.
“Some names on today’s list are well known. Many more are known only to those they help and serve day-in-day-out. They are all wonderful people and are all worthy of recognition and celebration,” he said.
“They have made an enormous contribution to their local communities and to the entire nation and deserve our thanks, admiration and to be celebrated.”
