By Laura Michell
A passionate indigenous rights campaigner, a long-serving Hume councillor and a passionate volunteer have been included in this year’s Australia Day honour’s list.
The late Lorraine Patten, of Mill Park, Craigieburn resident and Hume councillor Drew Jessop and Mernda’s Valentine Simpson were awarded Order of Australia medals on Saturday.
Ms Patten, who was known as Aunty Bunta, was recognised for her service to the indigenous community. For more than 45 years, she worked in a range of roles with indigenous organisations including the Victorian Aboriginal Community Service Association, for which she was a board member for 20 years.
A Gunditjmara elder, Ms Patten was also chair of the Weerona Aboriginal Cemetery in Greenvale for 10 years. She helped secure land for the cemetery in honour of her, Aunty Edna Brown, who spent years campaigning for an indigenous cemetery.
Ms Patten was also among the inaugural inductees to the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2011.
Her son, Joel Wright, said his family would have loved for his mum to have received the award before she died in 2017.
“She contributed so much to the awareness of Aboriginal community rights across Victoria,” he said. “To have it recognised is a huge accolade that is extremely special to us.”
Mr Wright said that while his mum was a “strong advocate and activist” for indigenous rights, she was also a great supporter of reconciliation.
Cr Jessop, a Hume councillor since 1997, received an OAM for service to the community.
Cr Jessop has twice served as Hume mayor and is a member of various other Craigieburn groups.
He began volunteering at St Thomas Uniting Church before joining the Craigieburn Primary School council and then Hume council.
“It just became part of the community and it has gone from there,” Cr Jessop said.
“I just really like living in the community and being a part of it.”
Mr Simpson, who moved to Mernda four years ago to be closer to family and better health care, was also recognised for service to the community.
Mr Simpson has volunteered with groups such as Diamond Valley Little Athletics, Bellarine Community Health and Vision Australia.
“I have always wanted to help make life better for someone else,” he said.
