31 Jan, 2012 09:04 AM

 

COMMUNITY service has always come easily to Brian McDonald. The notion of giving simply “rubbed off” from the older generation growing up in Majors Creek, south of Braidwood. The 73-year-old’s long list of credits has earned him an Order of Australia Medal in the General Division.

“I’m chuffed,” Mr McDonald told Town and Country Magazine.

“It’s unexpected, although 18 months ago one of my friends started asking a lot of questions about what I’d done and I smelt a rat.”

His 50 years’ community service includes presidency and foundation membership of the Majors Creek Progress Association since the 1960s; editor of the community newsletter since 1991; secretary/ treasurer of the village’s Recreation Reserve Trust since 1963; volunteer with the bushfire brigade 1977-1983 and 1993- 1997; secretary/treasurer of the Majors Creek New Year’s Day picnic from 1960-1985, a volunteer with Braidwood and District Visitors Information Centre and a Justice of the Peace since 1986.

Mr McDonald is also strongly involved with the Braidwood Anglican Parish as a councillor for 40 years; secretary for 24 years, a church warden for 45 years and a licensed lay preacher since 1983.

If that’s not enough, in his spare time he dabbles in his other passion – writing. He wrote ‘Memories of the Past: Life in the Village of Majors Creek over the past 65 Years’ in 2004 and co-edited ‘Majors Creek Memoirs’, written by Ned Dunshea.

“I was roped into a lot of organisations at an early age,” Mr McDonald said. “I did a lot of this before retirement. In fact I’m not sure how I had time for work.”

The village stalwart worked for Tallaganda Shire Council for more than 40 years, initially as a painter and then as a storekeeper up until his retirement in 2004. Mr McDonald is married to Deirdre and they have three daughters, who are very excited by the award.

He described the gong as a big thing for a small village of some 200 people. Majors Creek is close to his heart and he acknowledges seeing many changes over the years, including the influx of new residents.

“It’s an honour for me to be recognised,” he said.

He will officially receive the award at Government House in Canberra, possibly in April.