RETIREES Clive Walker and Bill Church have never met but they share the same passion, a love of where they live, and it has been rewarded with the pair receiving Medals in the Order of Australia.
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The former has been awarded for service to Myrtleford and the latter for his contribution to Yarrawonga.
Bright-born Mr Walker returned to the Ovens Valley as Myrtleford council's engineer in 1985, after working at Healesville and Keilor, and has been a big contributor.
He has served on hospital and health boards, held various Rotary roles, including district governor, and was a founder of Myrtleford Men's Shed in 2008.
Mr Walker said, as a boy, seeing his father voluntarily chopping firewood for boilers at the Bright hospital was a spark for his community mindedness.
OTHER HONOURS RECIPIENTS:
- Former mayor joins predecessor as OAM recipient
- Bushfire recovery and environmental education honoured
- Jet pilot, cricket servant, Indigenous leader saluted
- Pottery nous results in gong for community service
- Nurses' endeavours across Albury and Africa get kudos
- Love of Myrtleford, Yarrawonga reflected in retiree's gongs
Mr Church for much of his life was a farmer at Boosey and was the last president of Tungamah Shire before it was merged into Moira Shire.
His has been largely recognised for his dedication to the Yarrawonga Mulwala Historical Society, Probus, the Anglican church and freemasonry.
Mr Church's interest in history stemmed from his studying of tractors and he was president of the society for 14 years and fostered the development of its museum at Mulwala.
He and his wife Adele are members of the Sun Country Vintage Club and drive a 1927 Chevrolet and 1930 A Model Ford coupe respectively.
"I've been very fortunate to get to the age I am (91) and see as much change as there has been in the country, and it's changed dramatically since I grew up with dad on the farm," Mr Church said.