Doug Whan has been a member of about 25 committees associated with the Uniting Church and other organisations.
A Barwon Heads resident since 2016, Mr Whan said he was “very surprised” to be awarded an Order of Australia medal on Monday for services to the Uniting Church.
“It’s some recognition of what I have achieved over a lifetime,” he said.
“You don’t look for those sorts of things and from my point of view it should be my late wife (Joy).
“I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Mr Whan was an accountant by profession and put his skills to good use and was treasurer of Aitken College in Greenvale from its inception.
“I attended the first board meeting, was treasurer for 14 and a half years, on the board for 16 and remained in finance.
“The first year was 240 students and now it’s 1200 plus.”
Mr Whan also started the Rowville Uniting Church and was on the steering committee from 1979 to 1986.
“Most of the committee meetings were held in my lounge room,” he said.
Mr Whan was also involved in a program in Dandenong North that provided housing for people with special needs.
He has also been involved with probus clubs.
