Phil Emery was shocked when he was told would receive an Order of Australia Medal as part of the Queen’s Birthday honours list.
The Ocean Grove resident was recognised for his contribution to the greater Geelong area.
Phil has been the chair of Barwon Coast Committee of Management since 2014 and is the inaugural president of the Shell Road Sports and Community Pavilion.
He was also the founder of Ocean Grove Harriers, a social running group that has been operating since 1985.
Phil said he has no idea who nominated him.
“I didn’t even know the process and I still don’t,” he said.
“My old man used to have a philosophy that if you ever do anything good for someone, don’t tell anyone.
“The community gets to celebrate a bit too I think.
Amongst all the crap news we get with COVID morning, day and night it’s something a little bit more positive for the community I guess.”
Phil is also a simulated patient volunteer for final-year medical students at Geelong Clinical School.
“You act out a medical scenario and within a few minutes they have to introduce themselves and ask the right questions,” he said.
He is also a member of Barwon Health human research ethics committee.
Phil said it was important to give to the community.
“When you get to retirement everyone wants to travel or possibly play more golf and you can do that, but you can chip in too and do a bit,” he said.
