​A very precious object in my possession is my Order of Australia Medal, OAM, which was awarded to me for ‘Service to the Community of Benalla’.

As I have often stated, Benalla is my adopted home town.  So it is a great honour to have received the award.

As a youth in 1950 I came to Benalla for my first job.  In addition to the job I found, for the first time in my life, loving home environments with the Hernan family, and also the Elliott’s with whom I boarded.

The Hernan’s, John, Francie and their seven children, accepted me as one of their own.  I proposed the toast to each of the seven siblings on their 21st birthdays, and, for innumerable years, acted as ‘Santa’ at the Hernan Christmas celebrations.

Frank and Eileen Elliott cared for me and entertained me with a surprise 21st birthday party when they provided for me and all my friends at St. Joseph’s Hall in 1953.

In Benalla I have met and married my loving wife; have built our own home; have raised and educated our four wonderful children who all do us proud and have been responsible for a loving family life.  I have gained my accounting qualifications and experienced a successful business life; I have enjoyed 60 years on the bowling green; I have made many remarkable friends; and I enjoy a relaxed retirement.

And so, forever, I have felt an underlying indebtedness to Benalla.

I certainly had a debt to repay.

How could I do that?   …….   By Community Involvement!

And so, over a lifetime, I have volunteered for in excess of 30 executive positions, (spanning anything up to 43 years); up to 15 annual honorary audits and account reviews; and a few doorknocks for not-for-profit organisations.

As a 90 year old, I now do only 4 or 5 account reviews, and they are a year to year proposition.

Have I repaid my debt to Benalla? …..   Hopefully!!

The first indication of the Order of Australia award came in September 2011 when I was doing a door knock for the National Heart Foundation. I called on a neighbour who gave me a generous donation and, over a cup of tea, told me he would like to nominate me for an Australia Day award.

This moment had slipped my mind until April 2013 when I received a letter from the Governor General, which led to an announcement on the following Queen’s Birthday:  I had been awarded an Order of Australia Medal, OAM. 

The announcement created a lot of publicity and congratulations all round.

I hadn’t realised that there were so many politicians in the surrounding districts.  They all befriended me.

In the long haul I received more than 80 phone calls, 50 cards and letters, and so many congratulations in the street, at church, at Rotary, U3A and at my two Probus clubs.

In my acknowledgement at Rotary I remarked ”some people in my position might say that they “feel humble”; …. “humble be damned, I feel proud” … I said.

Which indeed I was!

A replica of the medal hangs, in a frame, on my kitchen wall.

It is, indeed, “an object …. precious to me.”
​
 
Ray O’Shannessy
March 2023

Dear Mr.O’Shannessy,
             
I am writing on behalf of the Governor-General to inform you that you are being considered for the award of the  Medal of the Order of Australia……….

These were the words which hit me after I opened the letter from the Governor-General’s office in April 2013.   I was to go from “anticipation vibes” to “good vibes” in a matter of seconds.

Towards the conclusion  of the letter were the words …”After the Governor-General has considered all the proposed awards, I shall advise you of the outcome….” 

The anticipation vibes returned.

On May 28th  my   worries disappeared with the advice  “your award… ..has been approved by the Governor- General.”.. There was great jubilation. Very “good vibrations”.

The award was announced in the Queen’s  Birthday honors list on 10th June, and I was the subject of many phone calls, cards, and personal well wishes. Letters were received from the Victorian Governor, the Premier and more politicians than I knew existed, from the north-eastern area of the state. I even received a congratulatory letter from Latrobe University who were claiming me as an alumni after having studied one solitary subject at it’s Bendigo campus.

Friday 1st November was to be the investiture date at the Victorian Government house, with Governor Eric Churnov officiating. I was allotted “three Entrée Cards for yourself  and two guests.” The letter added  .. “we are unable to meet any requests for additional guests”. 

Bad vibes.  I have a wife and four children and only two tickets. Who do I invite? How  could I not offend someone? Fortunately the boys were not interested in formalities and so weren’t phased about  attending . However, the girls, in their own little way, made it obvious that each of them expected to attend.  Problems!

In desperation I phoned Government House and spoke to a very understanding lady, (Wendy). She advised me to put my problem in writing to the Governor, which I did. Several days later I received unobstrusively in the mail, a third Entrée Card with only a handwritten note “herewith an extra Entrée Card”.             How grateful I was!  Family harmony had been saved!

Investiture day was a lovely sunny day. Guests were to be seated in the main hall, while recipients were to assemble in an adjourning dining room, prior to investiture.  We were seated in alphabetical order, and I had the privilege to be seated beside Ross Oakley, former CEO of the prior VFL and then AFL. He also played football with the St.Kilda football club.  As I am a St.Kilda fan we chatted.

The Investiture went swimmingly and everyone gathered in the main hall afterwards, prior to  nibblies and a drink, and an inspection of the Government House surrounds.

We met Cadel Evans, Tour de France winner and OAM recipient and obtained his autograph on replicas of his riding shirts, which son Anthony, and son-in-law Heath had provided in anticipation.

In the evening, the whole O’Shannessy clan, grandchildren and all, celebrated at a restaurant in Springvale Road.


Ray O’Shannessy OAM
September 2017.