A lifetime commitment to giving back to the community has seen Geelong’s Helene Bender recognised in the Australia Day honours list.
Ms Bender had her Order of Australia Medal (OAM) elevated to a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) to recognise her service to the community through health, education, not-for-profit and sporting organisations.
She said it was “unbelievable” to be one of the 155 Australians appointed as a Member of the Order on Wednesday.
“You don’t set out to get the accolades … you do it to give back to the community,” she said.
“I think that’s what is important – if you have the ability, you have an obligation to put back into the community, especially in regional areas.”
Ms Bender was the chair of the Barwon Health Foundation from 2007 to 2013, where she lead fundraising campaigns for significant hospital upgrades, as well as a director of the Geelong Football Club from 1998 to 2007 and chair of the Geelong Cats Sports Foundation from 2008 to 2013.
She has also served as deputy chancellor of Deakin University, a council member for Geelong Grammar School, a director of Tourism Victoria and was the founding chair of Geelong Region Cancerians.
Ms Bender said her work with the Geelong Region Cancerians, focused on raising awareness and encouraging the community to take more notice of the “tell-take signs” shown by our bodies had been “really rewarding work”.
“It’s all been very enjoyable,” she said.
“I’ve really enjoyed the diversity [and] I’m the kind of person who enjoys a challenge.
“I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to sit on some great boards which have been led by CEOs that have been willing to push us.
“These are always team efforts and I couldn’t do it with having a great number of people putting in a lot of time and effort.
“It takes up a lot of time to be on a board.”
Ms Bender said she got enjoyment from seeing how the organisations she had helped had continued to grow.
“Your aim is to build on the organisation and leave it in a better place than when you started,” she said.
“You can actually get a lot of enjoyment from seeing another come in and build on [previous work] and continue pushing the organisation grow.
“It’s nice to know that you were involved in building the blocks for that to happen.”
Ms Bender said her secret had been to take on appointments she was passionate about.
“It takes a lot of your time, but I only have 24 hours in my day like anyone else, so you have to make sure you have the skills and the passion for each board,” she said.
“If you’re not passionate about something, or not sure what you’re doing, then you’re not going to get positive outcomes and then there’s no point.
“You have to be selective.”
Ms Bender was awarded her OAM in 2006.
