Peter Veenstra scored his job in Orange by ringing from Banana.
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He was holidaying in Queensland when a friend told him about a position at Kinross Wolaroi school.
That call from a phone box in the tiny town of Banana near Rockhampton was the start of 17 of his most valuable years in a teaching career that spanned 37 years.
With his long-term involvement with Central West rugby, community roles as chairman of the Lyndon Community Drug and Alcohol Service, a board member at Royal Far West, a committee member for the Australian National Field Days and more it was only a matter of time before he would be rewarded.
Mr Veenstra has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours announced on Monday.
“I’m in the 31st year now with Central West rugby,” he said.
“I look back and think how on earth did I manage it when I was a senior teacher at Kinross Wolaroi.”
His role as student welfare co-ordinator has also enabled him to keep in touch with former students.
He’ll be the Master of Ceremonies at one former student’s wedding in November.
“It’s nice to have that family feeling with the students,” he said.
“I’ve always been a giver.
“I think that’s the approach that I’ve adopted.
“I’ve always thought what can I do to help others.
“My approach to teaching was to tell students to believe in yourselves.
“It’s part of my philosophy. If you have a go you can achieve.”
He said he believed one of his greatest achievements as a sports administrator was being involved in getting the South African rugby team, then the Springboks, to come to Australia and play at Wade Park in 1992 just after the end of apartheid.
That led to him visiting South Africa in an official capacity where he met social rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
“I had an hour on my own with Desmond Tutu.
“[He has] a great sense of humour, an incredibly clever man, just a wonderful person.
“I think how lucky am I to have had that experience.”
Marion Wilson was also a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to Canowindra, particularly in community health and aged care.
The former community nurse is now also chair of the Canowindra Food Basket.
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
