Dedication to region and organisations recognised with OAM for Robert Lewis

Outstanding dedication to the region, through local organisations and events has seen Robert Lewis, of Quirindi, awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Mr Lewis was featured in this year’s Australia Day honours list for his service to the community of the New England region.

In addition to a lengthy list of achievements in community and sporting groups, Mr Lewis also enjoyed an exemplary career in education.

Mr Lewis arrived in Australia in 1972 as a ’10-pound pom’ and started his teaching career in Penrith before leaving Sydney behind for Lake Keepit.

“That made me as a teacher,” he said of his time at Keepit.

Education took him to Junee, then Perth for his degree, and returning to NSW to Wagga Wagga before venturing back to the New England North West in the regional office in Tamworth.

Mr Lewis embraced an opportunity as cluster director based in Narrabri for five years.

“Narrabri was a very good, inclusive community,” Mr Lewis said.

“That community makes things happen, much like Quirindi.”

Following Narrabri, Mr Lewis was based in Tamworth as superintendent of schools.

Living in Tamworth, he met his wife Jennifer and they happily made the move to Quirindi where Mr Lewis has become a respected figure for his dedication to community.

“Quirindi is a very harmonious community, and the villages too,” Mr Lewis said.

“It has a lot of facilities you wouldn’t usually get in a town of this size.”

Being in the Rotary Club of Quirindi has been the cornerstone of his community involvement.

“Being in Rotary has been a big thing. It’s a great club,” said the former president and member for 20 years.

As Mr Lewis sits with the North West Magazine editor, he proudly lists the club’s many achievements.

Defibrillators in Quirindi and surrounding villages, work at the Who’d A Thought It Lookout, contributions to the local nursing home, and the regular Taste Testers fundraiser event.

Sitting in front of Quirindi’s majestic silo art, it provides Mr Lewis with ample opportunity to discuss Rotary’s most significant community contribution which has put Quirindi firmly in the national spotlight.

The Quirindi silo art, facilitated through Rotary, is one-of-a-kind in Australia thanks to its daily sound and light show.

No other community proudly boasts both.

The unique mural and sound and light show combination, at the GrainCorp silo complex, was the brainchild of local farmer Ian Carter.

Mr Carter collaborated with Rotary and established a committee of passionate locals.

Following an expression of interest process, 23 artists sought to be part of the exciting project.

This was narrowed down to six artists who were paid to submit their design.

Perth-based contemporary artist Peter Ryan was selected, and with contributions from local Kate Rutter, a new tourism attraction came to fruition.

Mr Lewis praised the Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, as one of the project’s biggest supporters.

The benefits for the community have flowed in many ways.

“It draws people to town all the time,” Mr Lewis said of tourism.

“It’s something our community can also be proud of.”

After the completion of the project, Mr Lewis said community involvement has continued now through a content committee which oversees the sound and light show.

“It’s one of the best things I’ve ever been involved with,” Mr Lewis said of the entire project.

Mr Lewis is also proud of the broader community’s involvement, with 150 responses to the initial input into the design work.

From that feedback, the committee established that the community wanted the mural to tell a story about time from indigenous life to today. The community also wanted the mural to be bright and to capture the nature of the area.

From the Liverpool Plains Shire Council building across the street, the projector screens its daily show at 8.30pm every day.

Its uniqueness as the only silo art and sound and light show in the nation is a source of great pride for Mr Lewis.

“The show really fits into the mural,” he said. “Various parts of the mural come to life. The most telling part is the three children.”

The children are standing in western clothing, however, their shadows are indigenous.

Mr Lewis praised the community support and spirit – including local businesses – for making the project a reality during its inception and continuing today with contributions to the content committee.

Beyond Rotary and the silo art, Mr Lewis has enjoyed being involved in sporting groups including the Quirindi Junior Cricket Association and Quirindi Football Club as a former president and coach in both groups.

During his previous time in Narrabri and Tamworth, he also served as president and coach in the Narrabri District Junior Cricket Association, Narrabri Junior Soccer, Tamworth Junior Cricket Association and Tamworth Football Club.

Mr Lewis was an inaugural board member of the Northern Inland Academy of Sport and was made a life member of the organisation.

He is also proud of his involvement with Farming for Kids, an initiative that was the brainchild of Charles Hill.

Spring Ridge farmers got together and arranged a peppercorn lease of the airport to farm the land. They supply the labour, seed and equipment, and in return the funds raised are used to support local students.

Reflecting on his acknowledgement as a recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia, Mr Lewis describes it as a privilege to be recognised. He thinks of the medal as recognition not just to himself, but the community organisations he is part of and the broader community itself.

“The community will get behind you and support you,” he said

“The silo art committee is the perfect example.”