By Corey Everitt
Two women from Warragul have been recognised as recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia.
Mary Howlett OAM was given the medal for her work in Catholic Church and education, as well as work in the wider community.
Pamela June Mawson OAM was recognised for her work in women’s organisations, agricultural societies and the St Kilda Football Club.
Ms Howlett played a key role in many Catholic schools. She was the foundational principal of Trinity Catholic Primary School and the principal of St Kieran’s Catholic Primary School from 1995 into the 2000s, while overall she has dedicated 30 years as a teacher.
For her leadership she was given the John Laing Award by the Principals Institute Australia in 2012. Ms Howlett also performed as an educational consultant for the Diocese of Sale for three years.
Not just working with youth, Ms Howlett also served for the University of the Third Age in Baw Baw, a voluntary institution dedicated to the education of seniors and retired people.
She served as president of the U3A for six years.
Church goers in Warragul and Moe would know her well as she has been an organ player for over 25 years.
She is also highly active in community groups that regard music, literature, language and more.
Ms Mawson is a community person through and through and she has been recognised for her work this year.
She is currently president of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria, where she has been a member since 2000, including as Bass Group president, and working in various other offices before becoming president.
She is also a senior member of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, working mainly in the Arts, Craft and Cookery section, she has served as a judge, a steward and on the committee.
Her dedication to these groups is seemingly paralleled to her love for the St Kilda Football Club.
A club member since 1989, she served as president of the team’s cheer squad for ten years.
She was given the John Morant Award in 2010 for her loyalty to the club and awarded life membership in 2012.