There was great excitement when the Order of Australia Association Hastings-Macleay Branch got back together again after a 19-month break due to COVID, the convener Laurie Smith OAM said.
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The group gathered for a lunch at Port City Bowling Club on Wednesday [June 23].
The highlight was the recognition of the new OAMs for our region.
Jeannette Rainbow (Australia Day 2021 Honours List), Yvonne Cains (Queens Birthday 2020 Honours List) and Virginia Cox (Queen's Birthday 2021 Honours List), who are among the recent recipients, attended the lunch.
The guest speakers were Chris Dunne OAM and wife Gail Dunne OAM.
Mr Dunne spoke about his life and how they started the The Long Ride, an organisation dedicated to reducing the impact of prostate cancer on Australian men and their loved ones.
For 13 years, The Long Ride founders have been passionate supporters of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and now these motorbike enthusiasts, along with often 200 others, have ridden as far as Darwin spreading the word and enjoying many a fire-side chat at night on the open road.
Mr Smith also acknowledged the recent passing of two members, Keith Uptin OAM and Bill Boyd OAM.
The Hastings-Macleay members have contributed decades to making our region and country a better place and they love getting together to swap stories and be in each other's company.
Uncle Bill O'Brien OAM and his wife Marilyn also attended the lunch.
All OAMs and AMs and their partners in the region are welcome.
