A COUNCILLOR and fine wool grower are among the rural residents recognised in the Australia Day awards

Wimmera conservationist and prominent local government figure, Darryl Argall, was awarded the third highest honour handed out as part of the Australia Day Awards.

Mr Argall was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for service to local government and contributions to land care management and water conservation.

He served as a local councillor in Dimboola for almost twenty years, including as Mayor of Hindmarsh Shire, and was instrumental in establishing the Hindmarsh Landcare Network.

He also sat on the Drought Task Force Advisory Committee, is the former chairman of the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and current Chair of the Western Victorian Sustainable Water Strategy.

Errol Brumpton of  ``Well Gully Merino Stud''  near Mitchell in Western Queensland received a Medal of the Order of Australia in the general division for services to the Merino wool industry.

Mr Brumpton and his wife Candy run a 3030 hectare intensive wool and sheep meat which was founded in 1974.

Other rural Victorian winners included;

  • Murtoa farmer John 'Vincent' Delahunty was awarded an OAM for service to agriculture and the community.

    Mr Delahunty was an executive member of the Victorian Farmers Federation for more than 20 years, which included a stint as President of the State Grains Council and director of the Australian Wheat Board.

    He is a life member and volunteer of many local agricultural and sporting organisations including Murtoa Agricultural and Pastoral Society, Rural Fire Brigade and Murtoa Racing Club and has been a meals on wheels driver for many years.

  • Jacqueline Hickey of Carrajung, south of Traralgon in Gippsland, received a Public Service Medal for her work with the Department of Human Services.

    Ms Hickey helped coordinate major evacuations of health and aged care facilities during the 2006 and 2009 Victorian bushfires.
  • George Holden from Concongella, in the Wimmera, has also been awarded an OAM for service to the community.

    He was a founding member of the Stawell Agricultural Society and has been involved in Landcare, the Reg Coote Public Reserve and Project Platypus.

    Mr Holden is also an decorated shooter and has represented Victoria in the state rifle team.

  • Advance Morwell chairman John Guy received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his contributions to the Gippsland community and to local government.
  • Kenneth Jubb of Hoppers Crossing, who played a key role in the establishment of Werribee Open Range Zoo and the University of Melbourne School of Veterinary Science, was awarded an OAM for service to veterinary science and pathology.

    Emeritus Professor Jubb, helped establish the vet school and its curriculum in 1963 and was the university's dean of veterinary science from 1969 to 1990.


    He was also Zoos Victoria chairman from for nine years and helped establish a biotechnology park in Hoppers Crossing.
  • Dr John Pickering has received an OAM for service to medicine after working as the Dimboola GP since 1979.
    He is also a life governor of the Wimmera Healthcare Group and Dimboola Hospital.

  • Victor Bradley of Mount Helen was awarded an OAM for service to veterans and their families, and to the community of Buninyong.

  • Patricia Cotton of Bendigo was awarded an OAM for  service to the community of Bendigo.
    Nora Cunningham of Castlemaine was awarded an OAM for  service to a range of health and social welfare organisations.

  • Barry Hirt of Gisborne was awarded and OAM for service to industrial relations, and to the community through sporting, health and church organisations.
  • Brendan Hower of Teesdale was awarded a Public Service Medal for modernising Australia's national industrial awards.
  • John Davis of Birregurra, Terry Houge of Mallacoota, John McKenzie of Camperdown and Neil Trease of Mirboo North were awarded an Ambulance Service Medal.
  • Robert  Ipsen of Wareek was awarded a Australian Fire Service Medal.
  • Diane James of was Geelong was awarded an AM for service to conservation and the environment, particularly through the development of coastal planning and management in Victoria.
  • Kathleen Lancaster of Geelong was awarded an OAM for service to the community through the Australian Red Cross.
  • Margaret MacDonald of Moggs Creek, near Anglesea, was awarded an OAM her work on conservation in the Eastern Otway region.
  • John McKenzie of Camperdown was awarded an Ambulance Service Medal.
  • Mary Nolan of Meredith was awarded an AM for her work with people with acquired brain injuries and as an advocate for age appropriate accommodation.
  • John Oswald of Ballarat was Awarded an OAM for services to medicine and to the community.
  • Anthony Parkes of Wangaratta was awarded an AM for service to the Anglican Church of Australia.
  • Graeme Poulton of Strathfieldsaye was awarded an Emergency Service Medal
  • Rex Rudwoldt of Clifton Springs was awarded an OAM for service to the community through the Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc.
  • Rosalie Shaw of Ferguson, near Apolla Bay, was awarded an OAM for service to medicine, particularly through the Asia-Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network.
  • Raymond Welsford of Warrnambool was awarded an OAM for service to education, local government and service organisations in the local community.
  • Bruce Wilson of Shepparton was awarded an OAM for service to local government, and to the community of Shepparton.
  • Bryan Woodford of Lara was awarded an OAM for work with people with a disability through a range of executive roles.
  • Ted Worthington of Pakenham was awarded an OAM for service to charity through Bereavement Assistance Limited, and to the community.

Around Australia other rural winners included;

  • Michael Keenan from Dareton has been awarded an OAM for service to the citrus industry.

    He has been a citrus farmer since the 1960s and has represented Sunraysia Citrus Growers on the Auscitrus Committee since 2001 and was a board member of the horticultural research and development corporation in the 1990s.

    He has also been involved in the Sunraysia Area Consultative Committee and the regional advisory board and is involved in local arts boards.
  • Sheepmeat producer Richard Pietsch from Inglewood, Queensland, received an OAM for his services to local government transport and agriculture.

    Mr Pietsch is the head of AgForce's sheep and wool board.

  • Ian Francis from Windera in QLD,  received an OAM for services to the equine industry as competitor, breeder and trainer.

    Mr Francis is an internationally renowned master horseman and is often described as the best horseman in the world.

  • Ian Cameron, WA was awarded an OAM for services to the Western Australia viticulture industry.

  • Chris Jacobsen awarded an OAM for service to the community, particularly through the Mount Kembla Rural Fire Brigade

For a full list : http://www.gg.gov.au/content.php/page/id/67