Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The contributions of 61 Western Australians were recognised in this year's King's Birthday Honours List. You can imagine how proud I was, as the federal member for O'Connor, to see six local heroes acknowledged with a King's Birthday honour. I've known two Order of Australia medal recipients for many years, so I rise today to congratulate them individually.

Russell Thomson is a lifelong farmer from Woodanilling, just down the road from our family farm. Russell received an Order of Australia medal for services to his community of Woodanilling. Russell has served on his local council, the Shire of Woodanilling, since 1982. He was deputy shire president from 1991, then shire president from 1995 to 2021 and he's still a shire councillor to this day. Russell has been an exceptional wheat and sheep farmer but is also passionate about caring for his country, co-founding the local Wagin Woodanilling Landcare Zone and serving as an active member for over a decade. He was also a founding member of the Blackwood Basin Group, remaining as a member for over 20 years. For his commitment to Landcare, Russell has received awards and commendations from all levels of government—local, state and federal. I close by commending Russell on his ultimate honour: the Order of Australia medal.

Ken Clements is another local legend I've known for many years in his capacity as shire councillor, deputy president and president of the Shire of Plantagenet, and through his passion for local history. Ken received his Order of Australia medal for service to local government and to the community of the Mount Barker region of WA. A shire councillor since 1980, Ken was shire president when I took office in 2013, and we have worked together on many Mount Barker projects, including the mammoth Sounness Park redevelopment, incorporating sports grounds and a community centre much valued by the local Mount Barker community as well as visitors to the town.

In 2009, Ken acknowledged his commitment to local government with a Long and Loyal Service Award from the WA Local Government Association, of which he has been a life member since 2016. Ken's passion for local history is embodied in his role as chair of the Plantagenet Historical Society, where he is a fierce guardian of local artifacts and anecdotes. Ken recently helped secure federal funding to construct a repository to protect the diary minutes, photos and records related to Mount Barker and its surroundings. For 16 years, Ken was co-owner and publican of the Plantagenet Hotel, which has become synonymous with the TV advertisement for Mount Barker Free Range Chicken. Ken's hospitality provided the obvious answer to the age-old question: 'Why did the chickens cross the road?' I congratulate Ken on this well-deserved honour of an Order of Australia medal.

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