Narrabri RSL sub-branch president Gary Mason has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the Australia Day honours.

Mr Mason has held the sub-branch president’s position since 2017.

However, the OAM recognises his community work on behalf of returned servicemen and women and their families over many years.

Mr Mason has held senior positions at local, regional and state levels of the Returned and Services League and has been awarded a certificate of appreciation and life membership of the RSL.

Mr Mason said he was humbled to be advised of his honour.

“This is an award I share with my wife Kathryn who has always been there to support me in these roles,” he said.

“I am both humbled and honoured to be awarded the Order of Australia Medal.” The citation for the award is ‘for service to veterans and their families.’

“As any recipient will tell you these awards are not sought but are gratefully accepted,” Mr Mason said.

“I would like to say that I am extremely lucky to have the full support of my wife Kathryn, the members of the Narrabri RSL sub-branch, chief executive Paul Gordon, his staff and board of Club Narrabri and most importantly the people of the Narrabri district.

“I can assure you that the support of the above people has made me look good in the eyes of the Australian Governor-General who administers these awards.

“I can say further that the people of Narrabri give unconditional support to the Narrabri RSL sub-branch both in a monetary way and more importantly by way of their attendance at the Anzac Day, Victory in the Pacific, Vietnam Veteran’s Day and Remembrance Day Memorial Services. I can honestly say that without the financial support from the people of Narrabri the magnificent Narrabri War Memorial would have never been constructed.”

Mr Mason stressed that the support of the community was the factor which allowed the Narrabri RSL sub-branch to be such a strong body.

That support was illustrated by the community campaign which resulted in the funding and construction of the new Narrabri War Memorial in the RSL grounds.

“Visitors to Narrabri are always extremely impressed that the community supported and created this memorial,” Mr Mason commented.

Mr Mason served for 20 years in the Royal Australian Navy, joining in 1968 as a 15-year-old Junior Recruit.

He served on HMAS Sydney in 1969 transporting and returning soldiers and equipment to and from Vietnam and later on numerous Navy ships and depots during his naval career. He was discharged as a Chief Petty Officer in 1988.

For his service to his country, Mr Mason received the following honours – Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 with Vietnam Clasp, Vietnam Logistics and Support Medal, Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with ‘SE ASIA’ Clasp, Defence Force Service Medal with Clasp and the Australian Defence Medal.

On discharge from the Navy, he was employed by the Department of Labour and Industry (now Safe Work NSW) and in 2000 moved to the WorkCover Office in Narrabri in the role of generalist safety inspector for the Northwest District, retiring in December 2017.

“In 2016 on the retirement of Ken Craddock OAM I was elected as president of the Narrabri RSL sub-branch. It was one the proudest moments in my life,” Mr Mason said.

He had joined the Returned and Services League in 1987 as a member of the Smithfield RSL sub-branch. He has been a board member of the Narrabri RSL Club for 15 years.

Within his first six months in Narrabri he took on the position of honorary secretary, followed by the treasurer, trustee, pensions and welfare officer positions.

He was also elected as the Narrabri delegate to the RSL North West District Council and was the president of that council for 11 years and also elected as the Narrabri delegate to the NSW RSL Congress for 18 years.

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