Local Order of Australia Medal honours

Busselton identity and historian Rob Breeden, who passed away in March last year, was one of the recipients, as was Anthony Wheeler for his contributions to aged care, health and church organisations.

Rob was recognised for his work in conservation, the environment and for the Busselton community.

Rob Breeden’s family said he had known the submission had been made for the honour early last year, but the confirmation didn’t come until just before Christmas. 

According to Crystal, his widow, Rob had been chuffed just to have had his name submitted for the award.

“Once he passed away we didn’t think it would get approved, we were told that they don’t really give them to people once they are deceased,” Crystal said.

“At least he knew it was in the pipeline.”

Rob was among 11 deceased people listed, out of the 379 recipients.

“He was very community minded,” said his son Alan Breeden.

“Other people in town started to get recognition for things, and I thought, he’s done as much, if not more.

“We were really after recognition from the city to begin with.

“I got him to jot down some of his achievements, and then Ian Stubbs said he thought he needed more than that, and it all went from there.

“Margaret Tickle from the Historical Society had a lot to do with the award too, it was her who submitted the application to Canberra.

“It’s recognition of all his hard work.”

The OAM listed his achievements as foundation president and life member of Busselton Naturalists' Club, conducted tours of state forests in the Busselton region, volunteer member for Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, honorary Wildlife Warden for 36 years, member of the Community Advisory Committee, Ludlow Tuart Forest National Park Management Plan, member of Western Ringtail Possum Action Group, wildlife expert, Rob Breeden's Nature Notes program on ABC Radio Bunbury, member of the RSL’s Busselton sub-branch, commissioned officer, Army Reserves, 11/44th Infantry Battalion, and 1st Busselton Royal Western Australian Regiment for 15 years, foundation member of Busselton State Emergency Service, founder of Busselton Archery Club and president for many years, foundation member, Busselton Pistol Club and Busselton Judo Club, co-founder of South West Gun Club (clay target), member of Busselton Rotary Club, member of Busselton Tourist Bureau, member of Keep Busselton Beautiful Committee volunteer member of Townscape Advisory Committee and Environmental  Committee with the Busselton Shire Council, author of Out of the Bush and All That Big Wongi and contributor to the Western Australian Government's Living Histories publication.

Busselton’s second OAM recipient, Anthony Wheeler, was taken completely by surprise by the nomination for the award.

“It was totally unexpected,” he said.

“After I found out, I was just walking around in a daze.”

After 41 years at Westpac, eventually becoming their state lending manager, Anthony wasn’t ready to slip into the slow lane when he retired ten years ago.

“I didn’t want to sit on a beach and read the paper, or play golf – I wanted to be active and have challenges,” he said.

Anthony was drawn to the non-profit sector and wanting to help others.

At that point he had been a board member at Mercedes College for a few years, and accepted an invitation by Mercy Care to join their board.

Through this work he was nominated for the board of Catholic Health Australia (CHA), the operating body that represents Catholic health care sponsors, systems and facilities in Australia.

He eventually became the chair of CHA, who credit Anthony as guiding the organisation through a key transition period.

“Tony’s steady hand has been at the wheel during a time when Catholic health and aged care has been undergoing fairly radical changes, and his leadership has been greatly appreciated by the CHA family,” Catholic Health Australia Stewardship Board chair Rowena McNally said. 

Anthony doesn’t know who nominated him for the OAM, but says he could not have imagined receiving such an honour in his wildest dreams.

“If you had said when I left the bank that all this would happen, I would have laughed,” he said.

Humble and deeply appreciative of the honour, Anthony says he is just pleased to have had the chance to do something he enjoyed so much. 

“It has been hard work, but I’ve gained an enormous amount of satisfaction from it.

Anthony says the work itself has been a genuine privilege.

“I’ve not regretted a second of it in 10 years.”

Anthony was chair of the Catholic Health Australia board since 2007, deputy chair of Mercy Care WA since 2007 and a board member since 2003.

He chaired the Finance Committee, was a member of the Audit Committee and was also a member of the hospital sub-committee.

He served as chairman of the advisory board at Mercedes College for seven years, and was a board member from 1990-2004.

He was also a member of the Mercy Education Board from 2009-2010.

Anthony served as chair of the Catholic Development Fund in Perth, a member of the Finance Advisory Board and Investments Sub-Committee at the Sisters of Mercy in Perth from 2001-2011.

Anthony was a Voluntary Advocate of the Tribunal of the Catholic Church, and was the official Australian Representative for the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers.

The presentation of the medals will happen at Government House in Perth in April or May this year.