From a passionate volunteer to a legendary judo coach – these are this year’s local Australia Day Honours recipients.
Announced on Australia Day, four extraordinary residents were recognised for their efforts with a prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
In Beecroft, long-time local Kate Palethorpe has received it for her service to music administration.
A musician herself, Palethorpe has volunteered with the Northern Sydney Youth Orchestra since 1983 and is currently serving as the Vice President of the organisation.
“I think my biggest contribution is that I’ve been there all the time. Parents… they do a marvellous job but of course when their kids leave the orchestra they do as well, but I’ve been happy to stay and be a bit of a lynchpin of the group,” she said.
“I’m quite passionate about encouraging young players to become a member and watch them grow and develop into marvellous musicians.”
Recognised for his service to judo, Northmead local Robert Katz said the OAM is a great honour.
Katz has a history of coaching successful Olympians, including his wife, former judo athlete Kerrye Katz, at the Seoul 1988 Olympics and both his sons, Nathan and Josh, at the Rio 2016 Olympics in judo. Nathan has since gone on to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Games and Joshua at the Paris 2024 Games.
“There’s probably nothing better to see your own boys [at the Olympics], they’ve been on the mat since they were five and I’ve coached them since that age,” he said.
Katz is also extremely proud of becoming the Head Coach and President of Budokan Judo Club.
“We took over a very small club in Castle Hill in 1999, and there were only 10 people training,” he said.
“Since then, we’ve built up to 215 members and it’s a really good family-oriented club, with really good values and a strong high-performance component.”
For Carlingford local of 50 years Murray Forrest, receiving an OAM on Australia Day is a particularly special moment.
“The day that I left Scotland to come to Australia, the ship was sailed on Australia Day, the 26th of January, 61 years ago to the day that this award is given,” he said.
Awarded the medal for his service to the film and television industry, Forrest worked at Colorfilm for 44 years, serving as the Managing Director for the last 30 years.
He had such an impact on the film industry that in 2008 the Australian International Movie Convention initiated the Murray Forrest Award for Achievement in Film Craft.
But when asked what the highlights of his career have been, it’s his friendships that come to mind.
“I was able to travel extensively industry-wise to the UK and to the United States, so I made a lot of exceptional relationships with friends and that’s really been the key to it all,” Forrest added.
“Even now, having retired from the day-to-day things for a number of years, I still have relationships with all the people who are still around.”
Rounding out the list is soccer legend Ron Lord, whose talented goalkeeping skills and knowledge of the sport has left an everlasting impact on the beautiful game.
Regarded as one of Australia’s best ever goalkeepers, Lord played for the Socceroos from 1951 to 1964 and was the main goalkeeper when the team went to the Olympics in 1956. He played for multiple clubs, including Auburn, before he eventually went on to become Australia’s “first true goalkeeper coach”.
Speaking from Winston Hills, Lord’s son Brian said his late father would be thrilled to get an OAM.
“I’m totally proud of his achievements, and I just think he thoroughly deserves this award, not only for his years playing but what he did after he finished,” he said.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.