Unsung Hero recognised from the Trenches

One of the founders of a ministry to unemployed men has been honoured in the Australia Day list.

Harry Dibley is one of the Anglican Church members honoured in Saturday’s list.

Mr Dibley was awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for his service to the community, particularly through the establishment of support groups for men through the Anglican Church.

The long-term member of St Paul's, Castle Hill is the leader of Ministry to Men, which he established in 1986 while maintaining his job as a car salesman.

During the early 1990s Mr Dibley also helped set up "Out of the Trenches', a ministry for unemployed men.

Mr Dibley has since established a similar group at the local Anglican church in Saratoga where he and Valerie now attend.

Ministry to Men now runs three meetings, located in Castle Hill, Parramatta and Sydney City.

"We began during the recession when men who lost their jobs were unemployed for months at a time. They lost their income, their social contacts and their self esteem," he says.

The men met week by week, and were provided with encouragement and practical support.

Harry’s story is typical of many of the stories emerging from the honours list, now that people are looking past some of the bigger names who’ve been given awards this weekend.

Former Sydney Diocese registrar Archdeacon Peter Smart was awarded the OAM for service to the Anglican Church of Australia through administrative, educational and ministry roles. Archdeacon Smart was assistant to both Archbishop Harry Goodhew and Archbishop Peter Jensen from 1997 to 2001.

Other Sydney Anglicans honoured include the late Lady Nancy Fairfax who passed away on July 7, 2007.

Lady Fairfax, who was a long-term member of St Mark's, Darling Point was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for service to the community, particularly through philanthropic support of a range of organisations in the ethics, health, aged care, volunteering, church and arts sectors.

Professor Alexander Churches of St Matthias' Centennial Park and member of the Chapter of St Andrew's Cathedral, was also awarded an AO.

The award recognised Professor Churches' service to engineering, particularly the promotion and development of mechanical design, as well as his contribution to education, and professional organisations.

Principal of the Danebank Anglican School for Girls since 1988 and St Paul's, Menai member Rosalyn Bird was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for her service to education, particularly for young women, and through support for professional organisations, and as a contributor to the independent schools' sector.

Former general manager of diocesan services at Anglicare NSW Terry O'Mara was also appointed AM for his service to the community through public sector organisations and Anglicare in the areas of emergency management, disaster recovery and the provision of welfare services.

Other Sydney Anglicans awarded the OAM include former CMS Missionary to Groote Eylandt from 1975 to 2006, Dr Julie Waddy. She was awarded for her service to the community through linguistic and ethnobiological research of Indigenous culture on Groote Eylandt.

St Clement's, Mosman member and SCEGGS Redlands board of directors member Donald Goodsir was also awarded the OAM. He was awarded for his service to the community, particularly through environmental preservation and heritage organisations.

For more information and interviews - call Russell Powell on 0411 692 499