A DOCTOR, a reverend, a musician and a magistrate were among six extraordinary men and women from all over Monash who were honoured at last week's Australia Day celebrations.
The six were among 690 to receive Australia Day Honours across the country last Thursday for services to their communities.
In Clayton, Professor Ian Meredith was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to medicine in the field of cardiology and for his role in public health.
Professor Meredith, who has worked in the field of medicine for 30 years, said he was humbled by the award.
He heaped praise on the people he worked with at MonashHeart for their inspiration and encouragement.
"I've had a really blessed and charmed career. I've worked with many fabulous people and learnt from many great people and it's afforded me the opportunity to excel."
"It's like most things: if you can see a long way into the distance, it's because you're standing on the shoulder of giants. "
But despite the honour, Professor Meredith's to-do list remains the same.
"I enjoy what I do. My aim would be to try and help as many people and try and improve the delivery of cardiac care in Victoria and set models and pathways of care."
Wheelers Hill's Brian Barrow, 67, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the law as a magistrate and to youth.
Mr Barrow, primarily based at Dandenong, has been an acting magistrate since 2004 since retiring from the post of deputy chief magistrate the year before.
He has devoted 50 years of his life to the law and was the first drug court magistrate in Greater Dandenong.
Mr Barrow thanked his wife Pam and daughters Megan and Felicity for their support. "Without them I wouldn't be where I am today."
Mount Waverley's Pamela Williams was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to women's health through breast cancer awareness organisations.
For Dr Williams, who has a PhD in education, the cause is close to home.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997.
She had the option of taking early retirement in 2000 but instead decided to become an advocate for breast cancer sufferers instead.
Now with a clean bill of health, her passion remains.
"We realised we needed to work with professionals and clinicians to provide a consumer face to the work that they were doing."
"Consumers have a role in taking some responsibility for their health and what they want to happen to it."
"We want to help other cancer groups advocate the same way as we have."
Glen Waverley resident Mathiaparanam Ravichandhira still juggles his day job with his music. Mr Ravichandhira is a teacher of South Indian classical drums.
"If you have a passion, I think you devote all your spare time at home to it. If you've got the will, you can do it."
Mr Ravichandhira has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the arts through the Academy of Indian Music and Cultural studies.
He thanked his family in Australia and his aunt in England. "I owe a lot to my parents who have imbibed this level of culture into my early childhood."
In Glen Waverley, Reverend Warren Bartlett and Robert Adam will each receive Medals of the Order of Australia for their services to the Uniting Church and to the deaf or hearing-impaired respectively.
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