Honour for ‘pioneer’

Former Dardanup shire president and farmer John Gardiner was one of 783 Australians recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honour list.

He was awarded with a posthumous Medal of the Order (OAM) for his services to local government in the South West.

Mr Gardiner died last February, but the day before his death was told about the nomination by friend Rolf Stene.

His wife Jenny said her husband was always happy to help people and was busy promoting the Ferguson Valley.

“I just feel very proud for him even though he is not here, ” she said.

“He never worked with that (the honour) as a goal I don’t think and it would have been a total surprise to him.”

Mr Stene described Mr Gardiner as “a man of the land” and a community leader.

“John has been a stalwart of the Dardanup shire and regional Western Australia, ” he said.

“He is a man who played a large role in the development of the Ferguson Valley. He is a son of a pioneer and he is a pioneer in his own right.

“He organised the first sub-divisions in the Ferguson Valley and as a result other developments have happened in Dardanup.”

Mr Gardiner was first elected to the Dardanup Shire Council in 1981 and was elected president in 2011. He held this position until he died.

He was also awarded an Eminent Service Award by the Western Australian Local Government Association in 2013.

Dardanup shire president Mick Bennett, who nominated Mr Gardiner, said the recognition was “excellent” for his family and the council.

“It is fantastic a lot of John’s work over the years for our community has been recognised, ” Cr Bennett said.

At the same time he ran a farm in Dardanup with his wife Jenny and their children.

He was also involved with a number of other organisations, including Ferguson Valley Marketing and Promotions, the Bunbury-Wellington Economic Alliance and Regional Development Australia.

He also contributed to farming, holding positions at the WA Farmers Federation, the Australian Wool and Meat Federation and the Westralian Farmers Cooperative.