John Bicknell says his motto in life is “fight for what is right’’. Which is not surprising when you realise he was a British child migrant who spent 12 years, nine of those in the notorious Mowbray Park, which, ironically, is not far from where he lives in Bargo.
Mr Bicknell is one of six local recipients of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division of the 2026 Australia Day honours.
The official citation says Mr Bicknell is receiving the OAM “for service to the community though a range of organisations.’’
The 86 year old tells the South West Voice that one of the significant events in his life was becoming a Christian 22 years ago.
“What I believe is that children and farmers are the most important people in society,’’ he says.
For 55 years, Mr Bicknell grew cherries at his Lakesland property, and for more than 40 of those he was a member of the local bushfire brigade, and three as president.
Looking at his citation it’s obvious he’s not a man who has wasted much of his life.
He even tried to get elected to Wollondilly Council – unsuccessfully – has written and self published several books and was active with the NSW Farmers Association.
John is married to Eileen, they have four children and 12 grandchildren.
For fun he sings, preferably solo with piano accompaniment.
“I enjoy mentoring kids at high school, something I’ve been doing for more than 20 years,’’ he says.
Greg Biddle, of Gilead, is another local recipient of an OAM in the 2026 Australia Day honours list.
Mr Biddle, who moved to Campbelltown in 1981, has volunteered with St Johns Ambulance pretty much all his life.
He received the OAM for service to the community through emergency response organisations.
“I was 11 years old when I started volunteering with St Johns Ambulance in 1960,’’ he tells the South West Voice.
Mr Biddle was appointed officer of the Order of St John in 2019 (pictured below). In 1988 he was made a life member of St John Ambulance Australia.
David Blakeley, of Wilton, receives an OAM for service to community health.
For 17 years he was chairman of the Cancer Patients Foundation (2004-2021).
Mr Blakeley was also chair of the Look Good, Feel Better Program, 2004-2021.
John Hahn, of Spring Farm, receives an OAM for service to netball.
He is currently the vice president of the Camden and District Netball Association, after serving as president in 2021-22. He has been a life member since 1995.
Mr Hahn received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
Anthony Keating, of Casula, receives an OAM for service to the community through a range of organisations.
They include the Shelterbox Response Team, where he has been a volunteer member since 2011.
Deployments include Haiti 2011, Madagascar 2013, Philippines 2014 and 2020, and Nepal in 2015.
Mr Keating has also been a volunteer coach at the Liverpool City Robins, and at Preston Hornets, both since 2016.
He has also been a team member of the Antioch Youth Group at the Liverpool Catholic Church since early-1990s.
He was a volunteer with the Night Patrol Service of St Vincent de Paul Society for six years in the 1990s.
David Millott, of Elderslie, receives his OAM for services to cricket.
He has held various roles at the Fairfield Liverpool Cricket Association since 1981, and was made a life member in 2016.