On 3rd May 2023, Charter President Di Collins was honoured to accept an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) from His Excellency the Governor Chris Dawson on behalf of her late husband PRID Dr. Kenneth Ernest Collins AO for “distinguished service to international humanitarian projects and to the community of Western Australia”.
It was bittersweet to not have Ken able to accept this Award himself. He so richly deserved the recognition for the lifetime of Service through his profession a a medical doctor and as a humanitarian who worked to build a better world for all, largely through Rotary, both locally and internationally.
Ken had been made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1994 and this elevation was both well deserved and overdue.
Ken and Di’s daughters Simone Collins and Amber Kane joined Di, along with the Hon. Kay Hallahan AO, who nominated Ken for this higher Award, plus valued friend and Rotarian Prof. Ralph Martins AO, Cit WA, for the Investiture at Government House.
The recording can be viewed at https://govhouse.wa.gov.au/2023/05/2023-australia-day-honours-awards-presented-in-second-ceremony/
