Former Army Reservist John Hardy is one of the proud recipients of a Medal (OAM) in the General Division in today’s Australia Day honours.
Mr Hardy, from Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands, was honoured for his service to veterans and their families.
He boasts an impressive working and volunteer career, including 45 years with the former Department of Primary Industries in cotton research at Biloela and later field crop work at Kairi.
Rural life has seen him get involved in a number of other organisations including time keeper for the Great Wheelbarrow Race, Tolga Lions Club, Atherton Maize Festival committee, coordinator of the farm invention competition at the Rotary FNQ Field Days and a volunteer bus driver with Community Services Tablelands.
But it’s his work behind the scenes honouring war veterans which earned him a place on the honours list.
Mr Hardy has been a committee member of the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park and the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour at Yungaburra, both popular war memorials in Far North Queensland.
He has also been active with the National Servicemen's Association of Australia (Qld), serving on the state management committee, editing the group newsletter and as a member and president of the Tablelands branch.
“My father was a World War II soldier and served on Cape York with the 51st Battalion,” Mr Hardy said.
“He did five years, and I did 20 years in the army reserve also with the 51st Battalion and also 42nd Battalion in Central Queensland.”
Mr Hardy is a proud Tableland resident. His grandmother came to the region from Scotland in 1914 while his other grandparents bought a dairy herd from New South Wales to Butchers Creek in 1930 before moving to Innisfail.
He said he was proud of the work he had done for the community.
“It’s a good feeling when you see places like Rocky Creek going ahead and people staying and visiting,” Mr Hardy said.
“It makes you feel good to see people firstly visit as tourists but also to recognise the people that gave their lives during different conflicts.”
