Albury doctor, musical leader receive Order of Australia Medals

Albury doctor Pat Giddings and Murray Conservatorium chief executive Stephen O’Connell, of Jindera, are among 727 general division appointments and awards announced on Australia Day.

Dr Giddings, who received a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to rural and remote medicine, said arriving in Bright as a GP in 1988 led to his present focus.

“Services were very limited; that made it clear to me the need for improved services to rural and remote areas,” he said.

As well as his medical work, Dr Giddings is chief executive of Remote Vocational Training Scheme, a national program based in Albury that supports up to 120 doctors throughout Australia.

He said recruiting and retaining rural doctors meant ensuring there were professional and lifestyle opportunities as well as training in appropriate skills.

“Being able to manage emergencies, having basic procedural skills, as well as being able to operate or work in an environment with limited support, so be able to be resourceful and resilient,” he said.

Mr O’Connell, given a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the performing arts, came to the Murray Conservatorium in 2010 after 11 years filling a similar position in Goulburn.

“I got to form orchestras and start bands and have thousands of kids learning music, and that was just heaven for me,” he said.

“And it’s still heaven for me.” 

Encouraged into music by inspirational teachers, Mr O’Connell became the founding president of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums in 2003.

“We successfully advocated to the state government to provide more funding for musical education and that’s been something I’m particularly proud of,” he said.

“I believe there are hundreds of people and thousands of children that now get music education because of the work that we did.

“I might have led the team, but there’s still a team; without them it wouldn’t have happened.”