Joy at honour

By Justin Robertson
JOY Batchelor is a bit flustered and “not up with it all”.
And she has every reason to be.
For the past few months, the Bunyip farmer kept a very big secret.
Mrs Batchelor – who is in her early seventies – just got the nod for a Medal of the Order of Australia award in recognition for her ongoing contribution to the Bunyip Football Club and as president of Bunyip’s Country and Music Festival for more than 30 years. The only person she told was her husband Kevin. Not even her own daughters – Cheryl and Leanne – knew.
The humble farmer seemed a bit overawed by the prestigious award, but is glad she can now ‘fess up to her friends and family about the achievement.
“It was a bit hard to not tell anyone, but yeah, it’s definitely a great honour,” she said. “I’ve got my daughter coming over for a late lunch today, but apart from that, we’ll probably have two light beers tonight to celebrate.”
Mrs Batchelor is one of 376 recipients who received awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia over the Queen’s Birthday weekend, but Mrs Batchelor said the presentation of the award won’t come until later this year after she receives an official letter of congratulations from the Governor-General. Her hard work as a volunteer for more than three decades were spent at the Bunyip Football Club behind the bar, at fund-raisers, in the kitchen at the club and anywhere else the club needed her.
On the music front, she can be accredited with booking Australian Country and Western musician Adam Harvey 13 times to perform at the Bunyip Music Festival since she took up the president’s role in 1989, but most of the time the festival is dedicated to unearthing new and local talent. It’s something she prides herself on.
“We also like to get independent artists to come and play,” she said. “One year we got a 16-year-old from Narre Warren and he came and played with a backing band. It was terrific.”
Emeritus Professor John Hay AC, Chairman of the Council of the Order, said that service across all fields of community work enhanced national identity.
“By their actions they demonstrate the qualities of positive role models. The recipients are not only worthy of respect but encourage emulation,” he said. “These awards also recognise the ‘quiet achievers’ in our midst. They are people who serve the community, but do not seek accolades”.
The Medal of the Order of Australia award relies entirely upon community initiative for submission of nominations and Professor Hay said it was important that the honours system continued to recognise 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.”