Two Lismore LGA locals have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in today's King's Birthday Honours List, while another five Northern Rivers locals were also recognised for services to their community.

Geoffrey Wotherspoon from Girards Hill and Joanne Cooper from Goonellabah, The Honourable Donald Page from Byron Bay, Mary O'Brien from Ballina, John Pritchard from Yamba, John Bennett from Possum Creek and John Gorrie from Grafton were all awarded OAMs today.

Below is he list and the reasons why they were awarded their OAMs:

GEOFFREY WOTHERSPOON - Girards Hill

Geoffrey Wotherspoon was awarded his OAM for service to postal history and philately.

Philately

• President, Richmond River Philatelic Society, over 30 years.
• Adjudicator, referee, and certifier at a national level, over 30 years.

Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club

• Member, 30 years, since 1983.
• Fellow.
• Member of the National ACCC Workshop team.

Postal History

• Organiser, Centenary of Australia’s first official airmail flight re-enactment, 2020.
• Recorder, Richmond River Historical Society, 2019.
• Author, Per Aerial Mail, 2019.

On June 26 2020, Geoffrey reenacted Lismore's first-ever air mail flight in 1920.

The Lismore App published a Sunday Profile about Geoffrey, which you can read by clicking here.

JOANNE COOPER - Goonellabah

Joanne Cooper was awarded her OAM for service to the community through service organisations.

Inner Wheel, Rotary International:

• District Secretary, 2020-2023
• National Conference Co-ordinator, 2017.
• President, Lismore Club, 2017-2018
• Secretary, Lismore Club, 2013-2014
• Council Member, Inner Wheel Australia Board, 2012-2013.
• District Junior Vice President, 2009-2013.
• President, Inner Wheel Lismore, 2004-2005.

Lords Taverners Northern New South Wales

• Chairman, 2019-2023.
• Vice-Chair, current.
• Public Officer, since 2018.

Rotary International

• President, Lismore Rotary Club, 1999-2000.
• President, Nambucca Heads Rotary Club, 1995-1996.
• Paul Harris Fellow.

Other

• Administrative Support, Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, Southern Cross University, since 2007.
• Career Industry Expert, Careers New South Wales, 2022-2024.
• Member, Lismore City Council Sister City Advisory Group, 2022-2024.
• Various executive positions, Kadina High School P&C, 2014-2018.
• Various executive positions, Goonellabah Public School P&C, 2004-2011.
• Various positions, Care-Ring Children's Centre Management Committee, 2001-2005.
• Girl Guide, Brownie Leader 1982-1986, and 1994-1996.
• Girl Guide, Venturer Leader, 1993-1994.

MARY O'BRIEN - Ballina

Mary O'Brien was awarded her OAM for service to the community of the Ballina region. She was Ballina Shire Council's Citizen of the Year in 2015 and was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003.

Ballina Sub-branch, Returned and Services League of Australia.

• Founding Member/Co-ordinator, Lighthouse Day Club, 2000-2023.
• Member, since 1990s.

Community

• Host/Fundraiser, The Big Aussie BBQ, Ballina East Lions Club, 1995-2018.
• Volunteer, Ballina Conference, St Vincent de Paul Society (NSW), since 2014.
• Host/Fundraiser, Curry Night (fundraiser for Ballina Region for Refugees/Farm Aid/Sheraton House), since 2019.
• Host, Homestay Program, Ballina Region for Refugees, current.
• Supporter/Host, Northern Rivers Refugee Group, current.

Nursing

• Former Community Nurse, Ballina District Hospital.
• Former Midwife, Royal Hospital, Brisbane.
• Former Nurse, Lismore Base Hospital.

THE HONOURABLE DONALD PAGE - Byron Bay

The Honourable Donald Page was awarded his OAM for service to the Parliament of New South Wales, and to the community.

Parliament of New South Wales

• Minister for Local Government, 2011-2014.
• Minister for the North Coast, 2011-2014.
• Member for Ballina, 1988-2015.
• Parliamentary Secretary, Planning and Housing, 1993-1995.
• Parliamentary Secretary, Transport and Tourism, 1992-1993.
• Parliamentary Secretary, Public Works and Roads, 1992-1993.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier, 1989-1991.
• Assistant Minister for Roads and Transport, 1991-1992.
• Deputy Leader, National Party of Australia, 2003-2007.

Board Appointments

• Chair, Regional Development Australia Northern Rivers, since 2016.
• Board Member, Sir Earle Page Memorial Trust, since c2015.

Community

• Honorary Member, Mullumbimby Rotary Club, current.
• Life Member, Australian Seabird Rescue, current.
• Patron, Bangalow Sub-Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia, current.
• Former Charter Member, NSW Parliamentary Lions Club.
• Former Honorary Member, Ballina-on-Richmond Rotary Club.
• Former Patron, Ballina, Far North Coast Legacy.
• Former Patron, Ballina Sub-Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia.
• Former Patron, Bangalow Music Festival.
• Former Patron, Byron Hospital Auxiliary.
• Former Patron, Ballina Hospital Auxiliary.
• Former Patron, Alstonville Red Cross.
• Former Patron, Ballina Rugby Club.

JOHN PRITCHARD - Yamba

John Pritchard was awarded his OAM for service to veterans.

1st Field Squadron Group, Royal Australian Engineers Association

• Vice-President, since 2021.
• Administrator, Facebook page.
• Volunteer/Fundraiser, current.

The Mines Victims and Clearance Trust (MiVAC)

• Trustee/Director, 2003-2013.
• International Volunteer Co-ordinator, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, 2010s.
• Founding Member.

Windsor and District Sub-branch, New South Wales Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia.

• Vice-President, 2020-2023.
• Delegate, Far Western Metropolitan District Council, 2020-2022.
• Committee Member, since 2005.

Returned and Services League of Australia

• Vice President, Engineer Sub-branch, 1997-2007.
• Member, various Sub-branches, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.
• Member, New South Wales Branch, since 1967.

Royal Australian Engineers Heritage Society

• Volunteer, RAE Museum, late 1990s-early 2000s.
• Honorary Director (Finance), 1994-2007.

Ex-Service organisations - Other

• Convenor/Administrator, NSW Sappers Association Facebook page, current.
• Former, Welfare/Pensions Officer, Blue Mountains and Allied Forces Inc.

Australian Defence Force

• Former Officer, Army Reserves.
• Former Officer, Royal Australian Engineers, Australian Army.
• Former Member, Citizens Military Force.

Awards and recognition include:

• 50-year Certificate, Returned and Services League of Australia (NSW Branch), 2017.

JOHN BENNETT - Possum Creek

John Bennet was awarded his OAM for service to the community of the Northern Rivers.

Northern Rivers Community Foundation

• Co-Founder, 2003.
• Founding Director, 2003-2011.
• Bequest Program Initiator and Ambassador, since 2017.
• Former Chair, Marketing Committee.
• Former Coordinator, Salary Sacrifice Donation Plan.
• Subfund Donor, Bennett Regan Youth Fund, 2020.
• Subfund Donor, SCU-Bowen Education Scholarship, 2020.
• Northern Rivers Community Foundation Community Achievement Award, 2013.
• Benefactor, current.
• Volunteer, since 2003.

Uncle Project

• Former President.
• Former Member, Management Committee.
• Former Mentor.
• Fundraiser, 2000-2019.
• Volunteer, 2000-2019.

Flush Media

• Founding Benefactor, 2002.
• Co-Founder, 2002.

Sourdough Business Pathways

• Mentor/Coach, since 2010.
• Founding Member and Volunteer, since 2010.

The Northern Rivers Writers Centre

• Volunteer, 1998-2018.
• Former Volunteer, Byron Bay Writers Festival.

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme

• Advisory Committee Member, late 1990s.
• Member, Selection Panel, late 1990s.
• Former Guest Lecturer, Mentor and Volunteer.

The Byron Community Centre

• Patron, Buy-A-Brick Campaign, current.
• Fundraiser, current.
• Volunteer, since late 1990s.
• Volunteer, Byron Theatre, current.

Supporter, Fletcher Street Cottage, current.

Northern Rivers Rail Trail

• Committee Member, since 2013.
• Advisor and Volunteer, current.

Screenworks

• Benefactor, 2018.
• Former Fundraiser, Promoter and Mentor.

Liberation Larder

• Benefactor, current.
• Volunteer, 2018-2020.

Enova Energy

• Investor, 2015-2022.
• Former Advisor.

Community Support - Other

• Volunteer, Mentor and Benefactor, Byron Youth Service, since 2010.
• Benefactor, The Buttery, since 2010.
• Advisor, Fundraiser and Benefactor, Feros Aged Care Village, current.
• Volunteer, The Byron Visitors Information Centre, 2020-2021.
• Participant, Variety Club Bash, 1989, 1990, 1991.

JOHN GORRIE - Grafton

John Gorrie was awarded his OAM for service to community football.

Majos Football Club

• Former President.
• Former Vice President, ~3 years.
• Former Secretary.
• Former Game Secretary.
• Referee, current.
• Life Member, since 1981.

Clarence River Soccer Referees Association

• Former Vice President.
• Former Treasurer.
• Life Member, current.

Football - Other

• Volunteer Referee, U8 - U11 teams, Grafton City Soccer Club, c2015-2022.
• Life Member, Grafton Supa Oldie Soccer, since 2023.
• Life Member, Clarence River Soccer Association, current.

The Legacy Club of Grafton Inc

• Public Officer and Trustee, current.
• Legatee, since 2005.

Grafton Friendlies Investments Limited

• Director, since 2010.