William “Billy” Barrows, Speedway racer and administrator in among four Motorsport personalities to receive the King’s Birthday Order of Australia (OAM).
Barrows played a pivotal role in the formation of what is now Speedway Australia, and he can now add the OAM to his Australian Speedway Awards Volunteer of the Year and 2019 Hall of Fame honour.
Others to be recognised were Janice Blizzard (Motorcycling) and Edwin Taylor (Speedway/Motorcycling) and Robert Baldock for his contribution to NT Motorsport, who just recently worked at the Fink Desert Race.
Among Barrows other significant federally recognised efforts, he also received a Federal Bravery Medal for intervening in a Speedway Hot Rod incident at Borderline Speedway in 1991 that ignited a ferocious petrol fire, helping to rescue a driver at his own peril.
He was also recognised internationally at the spiritual home of Speedway racing in Knoxville, Iowa, USA, with an Outstanding Contribution to the Sport Award for his involvement in Aussie Speedway, which also saw him inducted into the Knoxville Sprintcar Hall of Fame.
Through it all Barrows has been a lifelong supporter of his home track, Mount Gambier’s Borderline Speedway.
He first became President of Borderline Speedway in 1973 and has held this position numerous times over the ensuing years as a driving force behind the extensive redevelopment of the track in the late 1980’s, 1994 and again in 2017.
Barrows is still one of the most recognisable faces at the “Bullring” giving up his time to maintain the track each week.
“I’m so pleased to accept the award. I had an inkling that something was happening because over the last few years we’d had enquiries from people, but I didn’t think much of it,” Barrows said.
“But when I was notified a few months ago to inform me I had been nominated and then a letter following to congratulate me, I was very pleased to accept it and I’m really looking forward to the ceremony in Adelaide in a few months.”
“It means a lot to me, because this has been a passion of mine and to see my efforts to be appreciated at this level is very fulfilling. I was never in the sport for accolades, but this is certainly a great honour.”
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