JACK HUDSON & SAM BRADBROOK

THE Queen’s Birthday holiday was a special one for a Willaston resident and an ex-Gawlerite, after they became members of the Order of Australia.
Willaston’s Peter Nettelbeck and former Gawler resident
Peter Dry can now add the suffix ‘Order of Australia Medal’ (OAM) to their titles after being recognised for specific work in their separate fields.
Mr Nettelbeck was awarded an OAM for his services to various community projects throughout Gawler over many years, including the Rotary Club of Gawler, the Gawler Uniting Church, the Gawler Men’s Probus Club and Gawler Meals on
Wheels.
He said it was a “great honour” to receive the award.
“I accept it on behalf of so many others who are active in the community and never get recognition,” he said.
“I’ve had the opportunity now I’ve been retired for 33 years to be able to do a little bit for the community.
“I like to think of it as giving back to the community which has been very good to me and very supportive.
“I’ve been in Rotary for 45 years, two years ago I resigned
as a full member and they made me an honorary member.
“Rotary has been a wonderful platform in the community to do work around the place.”
Mr Nettelbeck’s other achievements include being awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club several times, and the Gawler Rotary centenary medal for “service to the
Gawler community through Rotary, the Uniting Church and Meals on Wheels” in 2003.
Meanwhile, ex-Gawler resident Dr Peter Dry, who now lives in Belair, was also awarded an OAM for “for significant service to
viticulture, particularly to wine-grape research”.
Dr Dry spent 19 years at Roseworthy College as a lecturer and as the head of the college’s department of viticulture.
After his stint at the college, he spent time at the Australian Wine Research Institute and the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology.
Dr Dry said the OAM was an award he was “really proud of” after a distinguished career in the wine industry, where he received a long list of honours.
“It’s been fantastic, it’s a great honour and it’s nice to be recognised by my peers, and the wine industry at large,” he said.
“There’s two awards I’m really proud of, this one and the Maurice O’Shea Award, which is also recognition for my contribution to the Australian wine industry.
“I’m very proud of both of them.
“I think the OAM has to be a peak for anybody.”