Carol Gathercole has taught swimming at Canberra Girls Grammar since 2001. Photo: Supplied.
Carol Gathercole is, of course, poolside when Region gets in touch about her King’s Birthday honour.
The 86-year-old is among the Canberrans and Capital Region residents receiving an OAM, AC, AO or AM today (Monday, 9 June).
In her case, it’s an OAM.
“Oh my glory be, it’s unbelievable … I’ve been so excited,” Carol said.
“My husband [Terry Gathercole] received his OAM 20 years ago, and I never dreamt I would get the same honour. It’s mind-boggling.”
Carol teaches swimming at the Canberra Girls Grammar School and holds SwimFit classes for older generations. She’s been a swimming teacher and coach since 1958.
She spends the school holidays in country areas to accredit swim coaches, and doesn’t plan on hanging up her swim cap anytime soon.
“I stay healthy, I love what I’m doing, and I seem to be lucky enough to have some good genes,” Carol joked.
“I’ll keep going while I can do the job and do it well.”
Carol still gets a thrill teaching people to swim, particularly young children.
She said children nowadays didn’t get as many opportunities to swim and so weren’t as adept in the water. It’s seeing them develop that brings her joy.
“It’s pure bliss when they [progress] … for me it’s always been about these wonderful young children,” Carol said.
“It’s just mind-boggling, little children who have never been in the pool and then by the end of two weeks, they’re jumping in by themselves on our heads.”
And she had this message for the mystery person who nominated her for the award: “Whoever it was, thank you for thinking of me, I’m really just blown away.
“I never thought it would be me.”
For folk musician and former Afghan diplomat Fred Smith, receiving an OAM provides recognition that there is “some value” to his work.
“I’m grateful for the recognition. I had a promising career as a diplomat in front of me, and I threw it away to become a folk musician,” he said.
“It’s a folly I pursued to the detriment of my super balance … [so] it’s nice to be recognised for a contribution.”
Fred has spent the past 15 years telling the story of Australians involved in Afghanistan through his music and books.
He’s been involved with the region since 2009, alongside men and women who, he said, “gave everything” to their roles and he wanted to keep their experiences current.
“26,000 young Australians served, so it’s important people understand their experiences so they don’t walk the land as strangers, like a generation of people from Vietnam did.”
This mission continues with Fred developing a new show, Unforgotten, which blends past songs of Australians at war with his own, offering a chronological account of Australians in conflict.
He’s also joined up with A Few Good Spooky Men to perform Urban Sea Shanties on 4 October at Street Theatre, Canberra.
Canberra folk artist Fred Smith has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. Photo: Fred Smith, Facebook.
Former Australian Electoral Commission head Tom Rogers is being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his “distinguished service” to public administration, as well as his leadership and administration of the nation’s democratic electoral system.
Currently in Sweden for the International IDEA’s Stockholm Conference on Electoral Integrity, a democracy NGO, the self-described “electoral nerd” said he was both excited and proud to receive the honour, but he was particularly glowing about the team at his former workplace and their support.
“Election delivery has changed so much over the past 20 years, especially the last 10 years,” he said.
“Running successful elections is critical to the health of a nation … and [they are], in most democracies, the single largest logistical peacetime event [they’ll go through].
“It’s hard to get out of your blood.”
Tom is still heavily involved in the democratic space, which he said was considering how it would “grapple” with artificial intelligence.
“I know the AEC is looking at it … how do we make sure citizens have access to information that is real?” he asked.
The ACT and Capital Region recipients are:
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the General Division
Professor Stuart Mark Howden, ACT.
For eminent service to environmental science, to the global response on climate change and adaptation, to agriculture, and to tertiary education.
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division
Thomas Joseph Rogers, Forrest, ACT.
For distinguished service to public administration, and leadership and administration of Australia’s democratic electoral system.
Roger Leo Franzen, Oxley, ACT.
For distinguished service to the space sector, to complex systems engineering, and to aerospace and satellite communications technology.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division
Helen Claire Dalley Fisher, Downer, ACT
For significant service to women through gender equity and equality advocacy, and to the law.
Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM, Bungendore, NSW.
For significant service to contemporary dance as a director, performer and teacher.
Christine Ann Faulks, Forrest, ACT.
For significant service to education, to business, and to the community.
Emeritus Professor Anthony Hearle Johns, Ainslie, ACT.
For significant service to tertiary education, particularly to language and culture.
Professor Raymond William Lovett, ACT.
For significant service to Indigenous health and research as an epidemiologist.
Dr Richard Malik, Wombeyan Caves, NSW.
For significant service to veterinary science, particularly in the field of medicine and infectious diseases.
Neville Robert Tomkins OAM, Aranda, ACT.
For significant service to youth through leadership roles in the Scouting movement, and to the community.
Dr Rolf Guenther Oberprieler, ACT.
For significant service to entomology, particularly as an insect systematist.
Michael Llewellyn Young, McKellar, ACT.
For significant service to the project management industry, and to hockey.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division
The late Georgia Alexandrou, ACT.
For service to the Greek and Cypriot communities of Canberra.
Paul John Anderson, Crookwell, NSW.
For service to the community of Crookwell.
David Bagnall, O’Connor, ACT.
For service to rowing.
Nanette Jane Bak, ACT.
For service to the community of Canberra.
Malcolm Henry Barlow, Stirling ,ACT.
For service to local government, the environment, and to education.
The late Peter Wykes Burgis, NSW.
For service to music through sound archiving.
Emeritus Professor John Adrian Carver, Ainslie, ACT.
For service to science in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry.
Dr Edward Peter Chapman, ACT.
For service to medicine in otorhinolaryngology.
David Ian Cocking, Hawker, ACT.
For service to youth through Scouts, and to sport.
Dr Mandy Evans, ACT.
For service to medicine in the field of psychiatry.
Brigadier Peter John Evans (Retd), Red Hill, ACT.
For service to veterans, and to the community of Canberra.
Reverend Mary Elaine Farmer, Griffith, ACT.
For service to the Anglican Church of Australia.
Dr Gregory Ernest Fry, Ainslie, ACT.
For service to tertiary education
Carol Glenda Gathercole, ACT.
For service to the community as a swimming teacher.
Scott Desmond Gorringe, ACT.
For service to the Indigenous community, and to leadership development.
Peter Granleese, ACT.
For service to people who are blind or have low vision.
Colin Steven Greef, Chisholm, ACT.
For service to veterans, and to the community.
Hieu Huy Hoang, ACT.
For service to the community of Canberra.
Terence Maloon, ACT.
For service to the museums and galleries sector.
Clare Veronica McGrath, ACT.
For service to community safety.
Rose Marie Nairn, QLD
For service to the communities of Canberra and Batemans Bay.
Iain Campbell (Fred) Smith, O’Connor, ACT.
For service to music and foreign affairs.
Nigel Bruce Webster, Fisher, ACT.
For service to child safety, and to veterans.
Kirsten Anne Williams, ACT.
For service to the arts through music.
Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM)
Neil Edward Shepherd, NSW.
For distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service.
Robert Ian Gore, ACT.
For distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service.
Ambulance Service Medal (ASM)
Lisa Maree Deck, ACT.
For distinguished service as a member of an Australian ambulance service.
Emergency Services Medal
Julia Joanna Rozycka, ACT.
For distinguished service as a member of an Australian emergency service.
