Posthumous OAM to Geoff Melville

Long-term member of Umina Rotary Club and Empire Bay resident, the late Mr Geoff Melville was awarded a posthumous OAM in the Australia Day Honours list.

"Geoff had been a member of Umina Rotary for 40 years," said club secretary Mr Mike Curley.

"He had held every position on the board of the club and was president in 1984-1985 and in 2014-2015.

"He received an unprecedented four Paul Harris Fellowship Awards being the highest number of awards ever granted by Umina Rotary.

"Up until his death in mid-2019, Geoff had been chair of the Umina Rotary public relations committee and editor of the club's weekly bulletin," said Mr Curley.

"Each week, he produced a bulletin of 24 pages of Rotary and local information plus a great array of interesting and topical stories that was distributed to club members, other Rotary clubs, past Rotary exchange students and members of the local community.

"He was also active in fundraising for various local and international projects of the club.

"In 2017, Geoff received the Rotary International Avenues of Service Citation for individual Rotarians awarded by Rotary worldwide in recognition of his outstanding Rotary service," Mr Curley said.

"Geoff was also very actively involved in the Empire Bay community where he ran his own real estate agency for many years," he said.

"Some described him as the Mayor of Empire Bay.

"He was patron and past president of Empire Bay School.

"He was a past president of the Empire Bay Progress Association, and he organised many local functions, including the local Anzac Day celebrations.

"He was also a member of Empire Bay Probus Club.

"He was a committee member of Peninsula Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal from 2001-2019 and was Peninsula Zone chairman from 2016-2019.

"His work in the Empire Bay community was recognised by the State Government earlier this year when he received a 2019 NSW Seniors Local Achievement Award.

"Geoff served as an honorary director of Peninsula Villages for 16 years and was very pleased and proud when he was made a life member of Peninsula Villages.

"As chair of its building committee, he was involved in the acquisition of a number of properties and survived long enough to see the new building start to emerge between Lone Pine Ave and Pozieres Ave in Umina that now provides additional aged care accommodation and facilities.

"Geoff had also been a great supporter of Brisbane Water Secondary College other local schools over many years.

"For his work on the Peninsula through Rotary, for Peninsula Villages and local schools, Geoff Melville was awarded a second 2019 NSW Seniors Local Achievement Award by the State Government," Mr Curley said.

Peninsula Villages chief executive Mr Shane Neaves said: "What a remarkable candidate he was.

"It is unfortunate that the Order of Australia process is so lengthy, and that Geoff passed away during the evaluation period.

"However, his children and their respective families can be so proud of Geoff's contributions within the two communities where he lived, worked and volunteered.

"Jacqui, who was always at his side, until her passing, would have been so proud at this recognition, as they worked closely together on so many projects.

"Congratulations to Geoff on a lifetime of giving to Community, Real Estate, Rotary, Peninsula Villages, Red Shield and way beyond."

SOURCE:

Media release, 3 Feb 2021

Michael Curley, Rotary Umina Beach

Website, 27 Jan 2021

Shane Neaves, Peninsula Villages