Upwey horticulturist Paul Jonathon Birch has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the community through a range of roles.
Now retired, Mr Birch has dedicated decades to both conservation and community initiatives, quietly making a mark across Melbourne’s gardens, landcare, and historic landmarks.
“I’ve just done my life and tried to be a quiet achiever,” he said.
“When I hear otherwise, it’s quite a shock to me, I wasn’t expecting anything like this.”
A highlight of his community work is his lifelong stewardship of the 1855 historic tower clock at St Andrew’s Gardiner Uniting Church, in Glen Iris which he has wound weekly for more than 50 years, the role first belonged to his father, who passed away in 1977.
“It’s a very personal thing for me, my father wound it before me, and I feel he passed away a little too early, in a way, I’ve continued in his name,” Mr Birch said.
“It’s been a learning curve, but now that I’m retired, I can do it more happily rather than trying to squeeze it in around work.”
His passion for Australian native plants and horticulture has also shaped much of his service.
He has been vice-president of the Southern Dandenong Community Nursery since 1995, a member of the Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne since 1990, and worked as a horticulturist at Maranoa Botanic Gardens for over two decades.
“I’m really keen on restoring natural vegetation that’s been gradually lost,” he said.
“I try to encourage people to use native plants when revegetating, I’ve always had a love for Australian native plants, it just feels natural to want to improve the environment, and plants are the way to do it.”
Mr Birch has also contributed to endangered species advocacy as a founding member of the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species and is a current member of Trust for Nature.
He said the community service represents dedication and care.
“It represents the dedication of people, I see wonderful work being done all the time, and I think it’s amazing, I’ve tried very hard in my career and personal life to do the right thing, and this feels like a reward for that,” he said.
Looking ahead, Mr Birch said he expects the award to surprise his family but hopes it inspires continued service.
“It’s a wonderful thing to have in your life,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be a hell of a shock to my family…but I’m sure they’ll be very pleased.”
