Thursday, 3 April 2025

 Colin BROOKS (Bundoora – Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, Minister for Creative Industries) (09:58): I wish to congratulate Mr Neil Heatley, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, an OAM, in the 2025 Australia Day honours list for his service to the community of northern Melbourne, which includes his contribution to Kingsbury Bowls Club. He has held just about every position at the club, including chairman for a 20-year period between 1995 and 2015, and he was awarded life membership for his dedication. Some say he was the best bar manager the club has ever had.

Neil has lived in the northern suburbs for nearly all of his 90 years, and his service to the community goes well past his outstanding service to the bowling club. Starting his career as a carpenter and builder, Neil went on to be a tech teacher in both secondary schools and TAFE, sharing his trade skills with young people. In the 1950s he completed national service NCO training at Watsonia army barracks and then completed his service with the 6th Battalion Royal Melbourne Regiment. He served on Kingsbury Primary School council and at Kingsbury youth club, and he has been a justice of the peace since 2007, actively helping people needing documents witnessed or signed, including at the Austin and Mercy hospitals in Heidelberg. Neil helped to run the men’s shed at Bundoora extended care and was also on the community reference group for the Reservoir level crossing removal project, and anyone who knows that level crossing knows that anyone who helped get rid of it deserves two OAMs.

Neil has given decades of service to the local community, and he has been duly recognised with an Order of Australia. On behalf of my local community, I extend heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Mr Heatley.