Three residents of Melbourne’s north have been awarded medals of the Order of Australia for their dedication to helping the community.
The OAMs were announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List on Monday and will be presented at Government House later this year.
Craigieburn’s Deepak Vinayak was awarded an OAM for his service to the Victorian multicultural community.
Mr Vinayak said that out of all his community work, his proudest achievements included serving as an ambassador for the White Ribbon and the R U OK? campaigns.
Mr Vinayak became involved in the R U OK? campaign through his work at a train station, where he would often see a homeless man.
He said one day he asked the man, “Are you OK?” – and ended up sharing dinner with him.
Mr Vinayak and a friend organised for the man to see a barber and get new clothes, they also linked him up with Centrelink and other services, which led to him finding accommodation and re-joining the workforce.
After the man received his first pay cheque, he visited Mr Vinayak’s office with some chocolates.
Mr Vinayak said that he had also enjoyed acting as an Australia Day ambassador for the past five years, a role in which he gives talks about his experience in migrating to Australia.
“I came with nothing to this country and in my 22 years here, this country has given me a lot,” Mr Vinayak said.
Dr Graeme Alfred Pollock, of Westmeadows, and Julie Tyers, of Mernda, were also awarded medals of the Order of Australia.
Dr Pollock received the honour for service to medical research, particularly corneal transplantation.
He is the director of the Lions Eye Donation Service and treasurer and chairperson of the Eye Bank Association of Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s always been rewarding to work in a field that can make so much difference to people’s lives and wellbeing,” he said. “To receive a reward in recognition of such work is both a surprise and a wonderful added bonus.”
Ms Tyers has been recognised for her service to nursing and international eye-health programs.
Ms Tyers, who said she was “very honoured” to receive the OAM, founded the Eyes for Africa Foundation, which provides free ophthalmic surgery for people living in regional Ethiopia.
