Shamsiya Hussainpoor
During the King’s Birthday long weekend, individuals who made significant impacts to their communities were listed in the King’s Birthday honours list.
Among the distinguished nominated recipients ranging from sportsperson to community leaders were Emeritus Professor Michael Walter Buxton from Macclesfield and Karen Elizabeth Noonan from Monbulk.
The Order of Australia has four award levels, and it’s also included in the Australian Honours, the Companion of the Order (AC), the Officer of the Order (AO), the Member of the Order (AM) and the Medal of the Order (OAM).
Local legend Emeritus Professor Michael Walter Buxton has been listed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division after being recognised for his significant service to urban and environmental planning, to tertiary education, and to the community.
Mr Buxton moved to Macclesfield with his wife nearly 50 years ago and from there his contribution to the Dandenong Ranges commenced.
Planning and housing were major issues and Mr Buxton along with his team prevented the Dandenong Ranges from being heavily constructed.
“I was appointed as the chairperson of the Planning Committee, which was given the job of developing a new planning scheme,” Mr Buxton said.
“My interest was getting the council to try and save the Dandenongs from overdevelopment and destroying the very features everybody loves.”
Prior to retiring, Mr Buxton was the head of the RMIT Planning and Environment program as a planning professor.
He worked at RMIT from between 1998 to 2018, he now holds an honouree position at the university as an Emeritus Professor Environment and Planning.
Prior to his role at RMIT, he was the senior executive officer in the Victorian Planning Department and from 1978 to 1984 he was the Shire President of the Shire of Sherbrooke.
“It’s very important [for the government] to listen to the views of people and include them when planning and constructing the city which they live and work in,” Mr Buxton said.
“Unfortunately, in this society people with money and influence end up being listened to such as the property industry, the financing, and a few others – they determine the type of city that everybody must live in.”
In 2016, he became the recipient for Sir James Barrett Memorial Medal, Town, and Country Planning Association.
Mr Buxton said he’s never been big on awards, but he’s grateful for the recognition because it encapsulates the contribution of a teamwork, not just himself.
He’s extremely grateful to his friends, colleagues, community and especially his wife for the help and support they’ve given him throughout his journey.
“My wife has been extraordinary supportive to me, she’s given me the time and space to pursue all these activities,” he said.
“Whatever is achieved on your own, it’s all done collaboratively with lots of people contributing to every level, I mean, it’s the lesson that we all learn from each other.”
Mr Buxton believes in the ‘teamwork makes the dream work.’
“The more people that are involved, the better the decision,” he said.
Karen Elizabeth Noonan from Monbulk has also been recognised for her enormous impact in the Dandenongs.
Ms Noonan has been involved in her community for as long as she can remember from a girl guide leader, to being part of the fibre CFA and now project manager for the Dandenong Ranges Music Council.
She’s now a recipient for the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her outstanding service to community music and through emergency response organisations.
“I was incredibly surprised, I actually thought it was a scam or a joke, until I read it again, and I also know that the process for nominating somebody is quite rigorous, and somebody must know me really well to nominate me,” she said.
For the past 20 years, Ms Noonan has been running the Community Music, including Carol’s on the mountain for the Ferny Creek and Sassafras fire brigade, the Fire Cycle for bushfire awareness, the Bells of Peace for ANZAC Centenary and she’s also on the committee of the Monbulk Car Show which runs annually on March.
She’s the choir conductor and but she’s also in charge of organising the bands and bringing the performers for the choirs.
Ms Noonan has been a choir music teacher at Stony Creek Primary school since 1989.
“It’s vital that community get together, especially when things have gone wrong or disasters occur,” she said.
“I feel the communities in the Hills are quite strong in their sense of identity.”
Life in the outer suburbs of Melbourne can sometimes feel isolating, music events such as the ones Ms Noonan organises keeps the spirit of the community lifted but also attract tourists from around the state.
Even though Ms Noonan is about to go on retirement, she said she’s very community minded and loves helping shape her community.
“I volunteer an hour on the main street of Monbulk – keeping the gardens tidy with another friend, I’m still very involved with Monbulk CFA and that takes up an awful lot of my time as Secretary – but I love it,” she said.
“Community music strengthens community.”
Ms Noonan said she’s immensely thankful to her family and community, especially to everyone who has taken the time to nominate her.
The winners will receive their awards at the Government House in September.
