ROSEBUD resident Heath Davidson was awarded an OAM for service to sport as a gold medallist at the 2016 Paralympic Games at Rio.
Davidson, 29, contracted the virus transverse myelitis at five months, but it wasn’t long before he showed what a fighting spirit and a love of sport could do for someone in a wheelchair.
In 2001, at the Australian Disabled Games in Queensland, won a bronze medal in wheelchair tennis and two silver medals for table tennis.
In 2016, after a brief break from the sport, he returned to wheelchair tennis and teamed with Dylan Alcott to win the prestigious BNP Paribas World Team Cup held in Tokyo, Japan. That year he also shared Tennis Australia’s ‘Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability’ with Alcott.
SORRENTO’S Andrew Niven Creek was awarded an OAM for service to business, particularly to the domestic gas industry.
HMAS Cerberus warrant officer Brendan Woodsell, now based in WA, received an OAM for meritorious devotion to duty in the field of Navy values reform and training for recruits at HMAS Cerberus.
Warrant Officer Woodsell was nominated for showing “ outstanding devotion” to duty and supporting and mentoring young naval recruits.
Warrant officer Woodsell was recognised for having the “drive and leadership” that has directly increased trainee retention and his sporting club support and charity work that has enhanced the Navy’s reputation in Victoria.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 31 January 2017
Correction
IN 31 January edition of The News it was stated that Warrant Officer Brendan Woodsell received an OAM in this year’s Australia Day Honours List. Warrant Officer Woodsell, ships warrant officer at HMAS Cerberus, received the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for his services at HMAS Cerberus.
He received an OAM in 2010, when based in WA, for meritorious service in the field of combat systems and as an outstanding warrant officer in the Royal Australian Navy
