She’s our OAMChampion

By Lia Bichel
A LOCAL volunteer with the Australian Red Cross will today (26 January) receive one of the country’s highest honours.
Harkaway resident Heather Champion de Crespigny, known to most as Heather de Crespigny, will receive the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her continuous efforts with the Australian Red Cross.
The Governor-General Quentin Bryce approved the Australia Day 2012 Honours List and said the awards represented the highest level of recognition accorded by Australia for outstanding achievement and service
Mrs de Crespigny, 63, said she was shocked, but grateful, to be named a recipient of the OAM.
“I am grateful to whoever put my name forward, and flattered that they did,” she said. “I am pleased to accept it. I really enjoy the volunteer work I do with Red Cross.”
Mrs de Crespigny said it was because of three local women that she started her volunteer work with Australia Red Cross in 1976.
“I was 28 and just had my first child and a friend of my mothers, Peg Bellair, was involved in the Upper Beaconsfield Red Cross and was keen to start a new younger group,” she said.
“Peg Bellair, Marie Womersley and Margaret Phillips, who have all since passed away, were the three women who really got the group going and I was a founding member.”
Since then, Mrs de Crespigny was involved with numerous projects
She was a founding member and Chairman of the Overseas Support Group, founding member of the Berwick Hills Red Cross Unit, Deputy Emergency Operation Officer, Registration Team Leader, Blood Services Convenor and much more. This year Mrs de Crespigny hopes to work with newly arrived migrants in Greater Dandenong.
“I really enjoy working with Red Cross and would like to continue into the future,” Mrs de Crespigny said.
Besides her volunteer work, Mrs de Crespigny enjoys spending time with her husband David, four children and four grand-children and one more grand-child is on the way.
Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chairman of the Council of the Order, said the awards were public recognition of people who provided outstanding community service and whose achievements enhance national identity.
“By their actions they demonstrate the qualities of positive role models. The recipients are not only worthy of respect but encourage emulation.
“These awards also recognise the ‘quiet achievers’ in our midst.
“They are people who serve the community, but do not seek accolades”, Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
“The Order of Australia relies entirely upon community initiative for submission of nominations. It is important that the honours system continues to uphold the national ethos of valuing diversity and recognising the contributions made by citizens to Australian cultural and social life, regardless of background
“All Australians are encouraged to nominate fellow citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the well-being of others for national recognition in the Honours List.”