Mount Gambier’s Neville Gilbertson and Thomas Robin Conboy have each been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, receiving an Order of Australia Medal for their outstanding service to the community.
Mr Conboy and Mr Gilbertson have generously donated their time to many committees and service groups over the years. Mr Gilbertson said he was astounded and amazed when he received the email announcing he had received an OAM, and Mr Conboy agreed it came as a bit of a shock. The Order of Australia Medal is a significant award which recognises the achievements, contributions and services of Australian citizens or other persons.
The medals will be presented by the State Governor later in the year at the Government House. Both awardees have an extensive list of contributions. Mr Gilbertson was heavily involved with the foundation of the Ryder-Cheshire homes in Mount Gambier. He was the inaugural president of the Home Board from 2004 until 2018 and served as a director on the National Board for 14 years.
Mr Gilbertson is currently a board member with the Home Foundation and the South Australian foundation and has been Treasurer since 2008. He also served as a director of the national board. Mr Gilbertson said the late Charlie Miller OAM was a great supporter and early committee member to obtain funding for the building of the $600,000 Ryder home.
Mr Conboy was on the Boandik Aged Care Facility Building and Grounds Standing Committee for 10 years and a 2001 founding member of the Old Mount Gambier Gaol Community Garden. He received the Mount Gambier Senior of the Year Award in 2015 along with the Mount Gambier Citizen of the Year award in 2016.
Mr Conboy was the president of the Mount Gambier University of the Third Age for several years, where he has been a member since 2005. Mr Conboy has been a member of the Lions Club for 47 years and Mr Gilbertson has been a member of the Rotary Club for nearly 40 years.
Both awardees are members of Friendship Force of Mount Gambier. The pair said they enjoy being involved with others in the community. “That’s where you make a lot of friends,” Mr Conboy said. “You know a lot of people.” “I think that’s probably where it comes from, from wanting to be with other people, form friendships and make a contribution,” Mr Gilbertson said. “Because it’s a good way to further friendships.”
Mr Conboy and Mr Gilbertson said they could not have received their awards without the support from their wives. “If they were not supporting us, it’s unlikely that we would have been involved in our organisations to the level that somebody thought this award was appropriate,” Mr Gilbertson said.
Mr Gilbertson and Mr Conboy encouraged others to join a service group such as the Lions Club or Rotary Club and to get involved within their community.
