All three are to be congratulated for their Queen’s Birthday Honours, as well as their effort in supporting and helping the community. 

Mollymook Surf Club President Rod Austin was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his 50-year contribution to the club and Surf Life Saving Australia. 

Ulladulla Marine Rescue’s Keven Marshall was given an Emergency Service Medal for his efforts within the organisation. 

Meanwhile, Milton resident and former Shoalhaven Local Area Command duty officer Detective Chief Inspector Kevin McNeil was been awarded the Australian Police Medal.

Mr McNeil now works within the Far South Coast Local Area Command. 

Mr Austin has spent most of his life contributing to Mollymook Surf Club, something he says has became a way of life.

His love for his club, of which he is a life member, was evident during our interview with him. It was clear he was passionate about everything to do with the ocean and surf life saving. 

Keven Marshall, who had a career in boating, turned to volunteering with Marine Rescue when he retired. 

He hasn’t looked back and said he gets just as much out of volunteering as he puts in.

Kevin McNeil is on the front line of protecting communities from crime. He was one of only eight Australian Police Medal recipients.

Although challenging, Mr McNeil said his career had been “very rewarding”.  

It is fantastic that these three men have been rewarded for their outstanding efforts, but let’s also celebrate the amazing women we have in our tight-knit community. 

It was hard not to notice the lack of females recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, not just here on the South Coast, but across the nation.

Since the Australian inception of the honours list in 1975, women have each year received fewer than a third of the awards yet they contribute so much.

Do you know someone who is worthy of being recognised for their contribution to the community? Nominate them for a 2018 Australia Day award by visiting https://www.australiaday.com.au/.