Health advocate honoured

David Blakeley of Wilton has been recognised in the 2026 Australia Day Honours for his service to community health through the Cancer Patients Foundation.

Mr Blakeley was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his long-standing contributions. He served as a board member of the foundation from the 1990sto 2004 and was chairman from 2004 to 2021.

In addition, Mr Blakeley chaired the Look Good, Feel Better program from 2004 to 2021, supporting cancer patients in improving their confidence and wellbeing during treatment.

Service to St John Ambulance

Gregory Biddle from Gilead believes his father may have set the wheels in motion for him to receive an Order of Australia (OAM).

Mr Biddle, 76, has served the greater Macarthur, Sydney, and North West Sydney regions and has been recognised for his service to the community through St John Ambulance New South Wales.

His father, who received an OAM in 2018, once said, “My son has done three times what I have done.”

Reflecting on that, Mr Biddle said, “I think my father nominated me; sadly, he won’t get to see me receive it.”

Mr Biddle senior passed away in November 2025 at over 99 years of age.

“It is an honour to be recognised,” Greg Biddle said.

“I have been involved with St John’s Ambulance for 60 years and eight months.”

He retired in 2020 with the highest honour – Officer of the Most Venerable Order of St John – and also received a Service Medal in Gold and 1 Bar, St John Ambulance Australia, 2020. Over his long career, he was recognised for his contributions at all levels and was also awarded the Ambulance Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with two clasps.

As a teenager, Mr Biddle wanted to join the “ambos,” and St John Ambulance Cadets was the perfect entry point.

His career flourished, particularly in mentoring cadets. He revived the then Campbelltown Cadet Division, later renamed Macarthur Cadet Division in the late 1980s. It grew under his leadership from four members and less than $100 in the bank to 50 young people with a healthy savings account.

He went on to hold numerous executive roles, including Area Manager Sydney South East NSW and Deputy Assistant Commissioner-Metro (2000-2019). Among his memorable experiences was assisting during a major Queensland flood, for which he received the Floods and Disaster Citation.

The father of three, who has been married twice and is now a widower, moved to Campbelltown in 2011 and more recently to Gilead. He is also an Honorary Life Member of St John Ambulance Australia and a Justice of the Peace.

OAM recipient, Greg Biddel, with some of his medals from St John Ambulance NSW.

OAM for dedication to netball

John Hahn has always been the cheer squad for his wife and daughter, both keen netball players. In the 1980s the husband and father of three recognised Bringelly Sports Club, which hosted the netball and soccer needed a helping hand, he was quick to roll up his sleeves. It began a decades long dedication and commitment to netball.

Fast forward to 2026 and Mr Hahn from Spring Farm, has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in recognition of his outstanding service to netball.

“I am very chuffed. I am very happy to receive it,” Mr Hahn said proudly.

Asked why netball became his passion, said his sporting journey initially began with soccer when his two sons were young.

“I was a soccer referee, and soccer was part of the Bringelly Sports Club,” he said.

However, with his daughter Tracey and wife Lyn heavily involved in netball, Mr Hahn saw an opportunity to contribute in a different way, drawing on the administration skills he had developed through his career as a project manager.

“It evolved from there,” he said.“I find administration interesting and I like sport – it seemed a perfect fit.”

At the time, volunteers were few and far between, and Mr Hahn was keen to “do his bit”.

Over the years at Bringelly, he filled a wide range of roles, from vice-president in 1981 to president in 1984, as well as coach, and umpire. He was awarded life membership.

His commitment and capability did not go unnoticed. From there, he moved on to the then-fledgling Camden and District Netball Association, which had around 500 players at the time. From 1987 onwards, Mr Hahn served on the umpires committee, as carnival coordinator, treasurer, vice-president and president and more.

Recently re-elected as vice-president, he also holds life membership with the association, which now boasts around 3,500 players – and going up.

While club netball has always been close to his heart, Mr Hahn has also played a significant role at the state level through Netball NSW, the peak governing body overseeing the sport from grassroots to elite competition.

“I was the first male elected to the board in 2000,” he said, describing it as a “100 per cent win”.

Once again, it came to stepping up when there was work to be done.

His first role was on the finance committee from 1995 and that soon expanded to a range of senior roles. He also served as a board member until 2018 and as a director. He is also a life member.

Despite his extensive off-court involvement, he did have one brief stint on the court – playing alongside his daughter Tracey when she was 13 in a father and daughter competition in the early days.

“It was different, but fun,” he laughed.

John Hahn has dedicated decades to netball has been acknowledged with an OAM.

“They put me as goal shooter, and I couldn’t shoot a goal to save my life. Then I went into wing defence – that was okay.”

A qualified umpire, Mr Hahn, the father of two and grandfather of seven, admits he is far more comfortable on the sidelines than on the court.

“Netball is a great sport and Camden and District Netball Association has a great venue [Narellan Sports Hub], where a lot of people there are working very hard to grow the sport and run the sport.”