by Cate Patterson
of the Montville History Group

Montville lost its larrikin GP, muso, gardener and good friend on Australia Day this year, but it is fitting that he has been posthumously awarded an OAM, a Medal of the Order of Australia, in this year’s Kings Birthday Honours.

Michael’s award is for service to the community of Montville. For 30 years he worked in the  community to preserve its history, provide quality health care, and bring joy through his music, love of cars and gardens.

Michael’s community service included medical service across the Blackall Range, membership of the Montville State School Parents and Citizens Association, membership of the Montville Village Association, membership of the Simpson Brothers Band, organist for the Montville Uniting Church, membership of the Blackall Range Horseless Carriage Club and membership of a number of heritage gardening clubs. 

He was a General Practitioner on the Blackall Range for over 30 years, where his view of the role of a small community GP included home visits to patients with mobility issues and bulk billing. He saw visiting patients at home as helping with both the diagnosis and subsequent care he could provide while he strongly believed that everyone should have equal access to primary health care.

Michael’s three children attended Montville State School and Michael was an active member of Montville School’s P&C for over a decade, helping organise the annual Ball, the May Fair and the end-of-year graduation and Christmas celebrations.

In the early 2000s, Michael joined the Montville Village Association, becoming Vice President in 2005. In this role he oversaw much needed restoration work on the Montville Village Hall and developed a maintenance plan for this historic building. This led him to prepare a successful submission to have a number of historic buildings around the Montville Village Green listed as heritage protected buildings, resulting in the whole ‘Village Green Precinct’ being listed.

The Simpson Brothers Band has been a Montville institution for over twenty years. Its irreverent blend of folk, country, rock, jazz has entertained at Australia Day celebrations, community events, dances and concerts. During Covid, the band offered street, ‘busking-type’ performances in Main Street to lift community spirits.

Although not a member of the Uniting Church, when its long-time organist left, Michael, as an accomplished organist, volunteered to take on this role albeit with only four working fingers.

As a foundation member of the Blackall Range Horseless Carriage Club, Michael worked to establish it in the community. Along with the Simpson Brothers Band, the Club supported Montville’s Australia Day Celebrations with a display of ‘horseless carriages’.

Michael’s involvement in heritage gardens had a twofold benefit for Montville. Not only did it raise an awareness of the need to preserve the gardens of the early European settlers, through participating in the Open Gardens program, he raised many thousands of dollars primarily for local charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Michael was made a life member of the Blackall Range Horseless Carriage Club, and was awarded Montville Citizen of the Year in 2007 and a Montville Lifetime Citizen Award in 2022. He would have been bemused at being awarded an OAM because he believed service was just part of being a member of a community. We are proud of the recognition bestowed on Dr Michael Simpson OAM.

Saving lives and preserving nature: Residents receive King’s Birthday honours

A specialist in para-medicine and a conservationist are among a selection of hinterland residents recognised in the King’s Birthday 2023 Honours List.

Hinterland residents were appointed Members of the Order (AM) in the General Division, including Woombye’s William Lord and Barry Traill from Maleny. 

Dr Lord was recognised for significant service to para-medicine, particularly research and education.

He has been a director at the Australasian College of Paramedicine since 2000 and has held various positions with multiple ambulance and paramedic services.

He has also held positions within the education department and at universities, including at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where he was Associate Professor and Discipline Lead, Paramedic Science Program, from 2012-19.

Mr Traill was recognised for significant service to conservation and the environment in a range of roles.

He was the founding Australian director of Pew Charitable Trusts from 2007-20 and founder and president of the Invasive Species Council from 2002-07.

Mr Traill also advocated for conservation as the director of Solutions for Climate, a project of Climate Action Network Australia, since 2020; and he was involved in campaigns for Box-Ironbark parks and Victorian forests protection.

He was also the founder of the Northern Australia Environment Alliance, the Outback Alliance and Landholders for Dingos.

Palmwoods’ Judith Bandidt was recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the community of Goomeri.

The late Michael Simpson, formerly of Montville, received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community of Montville.