Michael Ryan
Ballan’s Michael Ryan has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to the community through a range of organisations.
Mr Ryan has served in more than 20 roles across more than 10 groups and organisations, including in football clubs, cricket clubs, and parishes.
He was a Horsham councillor for seven years, including one as mayor, has undertaken significant committee work for Federation University, and is currently St Vincent de Paul Ballan regional president, and the Ballan Chamber of Commerce president.
Mr Ryan said some of his proudest work has been on Horsham council through big projects around performing arts, and using his career skills as an accountant to give clubs confidence in management, including helping one sporting club he said was about to go out of existence, now 25 years later is “really successful”.
Mr Ryan said volunteering is a community service “but on an individual level its a great way to get involved in the community”.
“I’ve got a lot of joy working with people in the community over the years … They are the salt of the earth, they do things because they care about people,” he said.
“[People should] get involved, you learn a lot of life skills, and you don’t have to stay forever, you do your best and move on when you’ve done what you need to do.”
Mr Ryan said he’s “proud” somebody nominated him.
“I feel pretty proud that someone thought enough of what I’ve done over the years to propose me,” he said.