today was a great day
I mentioned earlier this year on Australia Day, that my Dad was awarded an OAM, an Order of Australia Medal for his community service in the Rural Fire Service over fifty years.
Today was the day the medal was awarded at Government House, Sydney.
Dad could take three guests and two of his four children were (conveniently) out of the country so there were no fights. And I got to go.
It was all very formal with Ma'ams and Sirs and Her Excellency Governor Marie Bashir. Dad couldn't help making friends and we met some lovely people and saw some pretty amazing awards being awarded. There were some OAMs, some awards for bravery, lots of impressive community service and there was one guy who (among other serious achievements) had been a Santa for his local town for a hundred years. Or something.
It was cool. Dad had a bit of a tear in his eye and I think Mum and my sister Suze and I just about burst with the awesomeness of it.
And after: there were canapes! Really, really good canapes! With champagne and white wine on the colonnade, as you do, and photos and handshakes and smiles all round.
Chicken, leek and tarragon pies. Am SO copying these. Delicious.
And tonight, after we stopped for a lovely celebratory lunch and dropped Suze home, we got home too late for me to make the celebratory roast beef which was up on the menu board, and instead I improvised and threw together quick plates of nachos. Dad brought out a wine.
I couldn't believe we were going to drink such a red with something as pedestrian as nachos for heavens sake, but actually Dad loves nachos and we'll enjoy a slow cooked roast tomorrow night, and anyway, how many evenings do you celebrate someone in the family receiving such an award?
There were many toasts of wine and kids cups and the kids made Dad wear his medal and the Grange was extraordinary (and quite delicious with nachos, goodness me) and how utterly wonderful.
Most of all I'm just so happy we were here for this.
Cheers to you, Dad. Today was a great day. We're impossibly proud of you.
xxx
Mel Vallel
May 2, 2013 at 10:41 pmYour dad is awesome ! No doubt about it 🙂
Kathy
May 2, 2013 at 11:18 pmWhat a wonderful occasion and everyone would have been so proud…Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia http://www.oursimpleandmeaningfullife.blogspot.com
June
May 3, 2013 at 12:01 amWell deserved recognition to one of the many undervalued volunteers who strive to keep this marvellous country of ours and its people safe.
Lynell
May 3, 2013 at 12:47 amHow wonderful for your Dad & your family 😀
I live in the Coonabarabran area of NSW, where the recent fires were & I am so thankful to the Rural Fire Brigade, as well as it’s volunteers. I am safe because of them!
One of my friend’s has a father who also received his OAM at the same ceremony you were at. His OAM was for over 70 years of service in Surf Life Saving.
Congratulations to both Dad’s is definitely in order!
The Grange was a perfect partner to the celebration & the nacho’s.
Mind you, I wouldn’t have said no to a drop …just to see what a Grange tasted like, of course.
Cheers 😀
Jac
May 3, 2013 at 12:48 amThat is awesome Fi. I’m welling up reading this and looking at the lovely photos. Fabulous and congrats again to your dad.
Sue
May 3, 2013 at 6:21 amAwesome.
ronnie
May 3, 2013 at 6:55 amhow lovely… a few years ago my daddio was similarly acknowledged by the GG – when he became one of a handful of RFS volunteers who were actually awarded the AFSM (australian fire service medal) — and I wouldn’t mind betting given our locale that our fathers have probably encountered each other, perhaps while facing the flames… its marvelous when voluntary service is acknowledged and commemorated — congrats to your dad
Jen
May 3, 2013 at 6:57 amHow very exciting and congratulations to your dad,
rhondajean
May 3, 2013 at 7:22 amCongratulations to your dad. What a wonderful man. Our country would be on its knees without all our great volunteers.
Jacinta
May 3, 2013 at 7:58 amI have just joined the RFS and am so glad that guys like your dad are there to teach me the ropes. So happy we support great men like him and all the work they put into the community (and help me not to set myself on fire)
Just Joyful
May 3, 2013 at 8:49 amWhat a wonderful thing to be a part of. It’s fantastic to see your father being recognised and appreciated like this. You are so right to be proud of him.
Anne
May 3, 2013 at 9:00 amThis post has me weeping and smiling 🙂 what an amazing time to share with your family- and if he loves nachos, then I’m glad you went with that pairing!
I live slightly further south from you guys, and I just want to say- keep writing. I LOVE reading your blog, I always come away inspired and feeling like I’ve really ‘heard’ your voice because of the honest way you write.
Thanks for your time in posting this too 🙂
Sarah
May 3, 2013 at 10:18 amSo super awesome!!!! Made me feel all warm & fuzzy 🙂 What an extraordinary event to share with your Dad.
On a much smaller scale, it was my son’s 7th birthday – he & his older sister bounced around the house all morning!
So joy in many households 🙂
Super chuffed for you guys.
dad
May 3, 2013 at 12:48 pmTHANKS FONA . I NEED TO SAY YOUR MUM DESERVES HALF THE HONOURS L DAD
Fraser
May 3, 2013 at 1:41 pmHAHAHAA Great comment dad, Community service, an OAM, farming a killer block, a bottle of Grange under the bed, a penchant for nachos AND still giving the shout out for mum. Legend indeed
Reemski
May 3, 2013 at 2:30 pmSo, SO pleased for him! What wonderful recognition xx
innerpickle
May 3, 2013 at 3:20 pmDAD! GREAT TO SEE YOU FIGURING OUT COMMENTING! PERHAPS TURN OFF CAPS LOCK OTHERWISE IT’S KINDA LIKE SHOUTING! LOVE YOU!
Inger
May 3, 2013 at 3:38 pmFiona Red, firstly, so great to have you back blogging regularly. Love it.
Secondly, today’s post had me in tears. Your dad is amazing. No wonder you are so very proud of him.
Four years ago my dad was announced as a recipient of an OAM also. For a life of service to community, in a variety of ways. Alas, before we all made it to Government House to watch him get the medal, he died, suddenly and unexpectedly (moments after finishing off a spot of welding for the bowls club he had been meaning to get to for some time!). On the big day, we were all there to watch mum tearfully accept the medal on dad’s behalf. Like your dad, mine too would have said half the honour belonged to her anyway.
And Nachos with grange? Totally approve. After our ceremony we snuck into the public garden where dad’s ashes had illegally been scattered some months before, and enjoyed a very, very good bottle of bubbly with him, out of flimsy plastic cups.
Congrats to your dad.
x
tb & s
May 3, 2013 at 4:29 pmSorry we missed it by a day, but glad we could help prevent argument over attendance 🙂 Sitting here, beaming with pride, during our 8th hour as resident Victorians. Love you dad/Malcolm. xoxo
Hazel
May 3, 2013 at 5:54 pmWhat a fabulous occasion- congratulations to you all.
DAD
May 3, 2013 at 7:02 pmit looks kinda small don’t it
Narelle Cochrane
May 3, 2013 at 7:52 pmDo ask your Dad about one of first house fires he attended as a fireman..(see if he can remember)…the house was on the corner opposite the school…the young keen fireman carried heavy wardrobes and cupboards out of the burning house only to find they were filled with old magazines !
Well done big brother.
flowerpress
May 3, 2013 at 8:02 pmWhat a great day 🙂
Angela
May 3, 2013 at 9:44 pmYes, congratulations dear uncle… Caps lock for your post and a surname to the post for your little sister… Something quite quaint about that. Xx
Julie
May 4, 2013 at 4:02 amThe best part is you were celebrating as a family! I love the celebratory meal of nachos with a good wine . . . That shouts happy, well adjusted, lots of love FAMILY!
Kindest regards and congrats to your Dad and Mum for a job well done!
xxx Julie
Julie @ Tui Creek Tales
May 4, 2013 at 11:21 amWhat a wonderful day for you all, such a special achievement and so well deserved. You had me in tears and then fits of laughter, I love that your Dad comments on your blog.
Kristine
May 6, 2013 at 1:18 pmOn top of a fantastic occassion, I am glad that people actually do drink Grange and not just keep it in the cellar for a century. Glad to hear it is good, that is what it is for. Cheers Kristine
innerpickle
May 17, 2013 at 7:48 amOh my goodness I replied to this at the time and it vanished?! I’m so sorry about your Dad. Lots of enormous love to you Ing, I’m dreaming of visiting Brisbane… Cheers with a plastic cup. xxx