The Christian service of a Sydney choir master has been rewarded by national recognition with the release of the Queen's Birthday Awards.
St Andrew’s Cathedral's Michael Deasey has been tuning angelic voices for 24 years.
“I was very surprised. I first received a letter late March and then it was confirmed only two weeks ago,” he says.
“I was just doing what I do best which is play organs, lead choirs and help those who need it. I didn’t expect a reward.”
He received the medal of the Order of Australia on the weekend for his service to the community as a cathedral organist, choir director, composer and music teacher.
Mr Deasey says the long hours as organist and master of choristers at St Andrew's Cathedral have been a labour of love.
The cathedral choristers are all auditioned so they have to show a degree of promise before they make it in, so I wasn't dealing with reluctant,” he says.
“It has been a total privilege for the last 25 to be the director of music in such an established institution. There’s never been a dull moment.”
His award includes recognition for decades of association with the Cathedral School, his role in fostering international tours by the choir and his conducting of choral workshops, services and master classes on behalf of organisations like The Royal School of Church Music.
Mr Deasey will be leaving St Andrew's Cathedral in July to take up a senior ministry position at All Saints’ Cathedral in the Bathurst Diocese.
Anglicans have picked up the lion's share of Queen's Birthday Awards to religious recipients, with 28 honours being handed out over the long weekend.
Nine Sydney Anglicans are amongst the list.
Other recipients include Mr Christopher Brangwin, a former deputy headmaster of the Sydney Church of England Co-educational Grammar School Redlands, and Mrs Elizabeth Raines who has served as a warden at St George's, Mount Wilson, since 1977.
A full list of the honours accorded Sydney's Anglicans is available below:
MEMBER (AM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Mr Christopher Brangwin RFD
For service to education, particularly through the establishment of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program as a recognised pre-university qualification in Australia.
Deputy Headmaster, Sydney Church of England Co-educational Grammar School, Redlands, 1984-1993. Head of Department and Housemaster, The Scots’ College. Teacher, Geelong Grammar School, Timbertop. Teacher, St George's School, Vancouver, Canada.
Dr. Ian Caterson
For service to medicine as an endocrinologist, particularly through research and clinical practice in fields of obesity, diabetes, and nutrition, and to medical education.
Mr John Denton OBE
For service to the Anglican Church of Australia and to the international community through the programs of World Vision.
Chairman, Anglican Consultative Council, 1979-1984; Lay representative for Australia, 1976-1984. Member, Provincial Synod of East Africa, 1960-1964. Secretary, Diocese, Central Tanganyika, 1954-1964; CMS Missionary, Tanzania. First General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Australia, 1970-1994. Registrar for the Primate, Anglican Church of Australia, 1970-1994. Board Member, World Vision Australia, 1976-2001; Chair, Audit Committee. Chairman, Sydney Bethel Union Trust (for seafarers), 1988-2002. Chairman, National Planning Committee, 7th Assembly, World Council of Churches, 1988-1991. Executive Member, Australian Council of Churches, 1969-1988. Registrar, Sydney Diocese and Province NSW, Anglican Church of Australia, 1969-1977. Director of Information, Sydney Diocese, Anglican Church of Australia, 1965-1969.
The Reverend Dr Bruce Norman Kaye
For service to the Anglican Church of Australia, particularly as General Secretary of the General Synod and as a scholar and author of texts on theology and church history.
General Secretary, Anglican Church of Australia General Synod, 1994-2004. Member, International Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission (appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury), since 2001. Trustee, Anglican Communion Trust, since 1996. Member, Social Responsibilities Commission of the Anglican Church of Australia. Curacy, Parish of Dural, 1964-1966. Deacon, Diocese of Sydney, 1964; Priest, ordained 1965.
MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Mr Michael Keith Deasey
For service to the community as a cathedral organist, choir director, composer and music teacher.
St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney: Organist and Master of Choristers, since 1981. Director of Music, St Andrew’s Cathedral School, 1981-1995. Initiated tours by the choir to the United Kingdom, New Zealand, major Australian cities and regional centres, since 1985. Founding member and conductor, St Andrew’s Cathedral Orchestra, since 1985. Royal School of Church Music, NSW Branch: Current Deputy Chairman; Special Commissioner (Australia and Canada). Sydney Organ Society: Member and contributor to its journal. Performs organ concerts and recitals in aid of various organisations including St Paul’s Seaforth, St Peter's Cooks River, St Jude's Bowral, Bush Church Aid Society, Sydney Mater Hospital, and Save Sight Institute (Sydney University/Sydney Eye Hospital). Conducts choral workshops, services and master classes on behalf of organisations including The Royal School of Church Music, Guild of Church Musicians, and Organ Music Society of Sydney. Organist and Choirmaster, St Peter’s Anglican Church, Brockville, Ontario, Canada, 1973-1980.
Mrs Jean Jehan
For service to the community of St George, particularly in the preservation of local history through historical and heritage organisations.
Founding Member, St George Regional Heritage Museum (formerly Hurstville Heritage Society); Honorary Secretary, since 2001; volunteer researcher, ‘Gladwyn’, Archival and Research Local Studies Centre, Hurstville (now located at Hurstville Library), for past 10 years. Former Member, Anglican Historical Society (formerly Church of England Historical Society, Diocese of Sydney).
Mrs Elizabeth Bridget Raines
For service to the community of Mount Wilson, particularly through a range of environmental, horticultural, civic and church activities.
Senior Warden and Treasurer, at St George’s Anglican Church since 1977. Organises monthly services, weddings, funerals, fundraising activities, and maintains the church grounds. Has been a blood donor for over 42 years; involving over 150 donations.
Mrs Nellie Dulcie Steele
For service to the community through a range of ex-Service organisations and church groups.
Current Member, St Thomas’ Anglican Church, Enfield, for 20 years; Parish Secretary, Member of Parish Council and Church Warden; current Committee Member, Anglican Mothers Union; Friendship Group Organiser. Volunteer, Church Missionary Society Bookshop, for 25 years. Former Parish Councillor and Secretary, St Paul’s Anglican Church Belfield, for 27 years; Church Warden.
Mr Francis Jack Thompson
For service to the community of Mount Victoria through bushfire, school, church and sports organisations.
Captain, Mount Victoria Unit, NSW Fire Brigades, 1970-2000; volunteer, since 1959; Member, Mount Victoria Bushfire Brigade, 1949-1958. Vice-President, Katoomba High School P&C Association, for 3 years; Member, for 11 years. Current Committee member and volunteer, St Peter's Anglican Church.
