January 27, 2014
Two former South Burnett residents have been recognised in the 2014 Australia Day Honours list.
Former Wondai P-10 principal David Ham, who now lives at Wynnum West, received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to education and to the community through voluntary roles.
Mr Ham taught at State Schools throughout metropolitan and rural Queensland from 1959-1980 before taking up senior positions with Education Queensland.
He is the current patron of the P-10-12 Administrators’ Association, a professional association of principals of schools, often in rural areas, that serve children from Prep to Year 10 or 12 on one campus.
He has been a volunteer at BUSHkids (aka Royal Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme) since 2011.
Former Proston and Murgon ambulance officer Keith Smith, who now lives at Elimbah, received a Public Service Medal (PSM).
Mr Smith joined the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB) in 1957 as an Honorary Officer at Proston and commenced permanent employment in 1961 at Murgon as a Driver Bearer.
He received a Distinguished Service Medal from the Queensland Ambulance Service in 2004 and was Patient Transport Officer of the Year in the same year.
He is currently a Patient Transport Officer at the Buderim Ambulance Station.
