Husband and wife team Ken and Sheila Mansfield are synonymous with Geelong.
Whether it’s through Rotary, bowls, cycling, the Church or charity the Highton pair have been involved.
Both were awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division on January 26 for service to the community of Geelong.
Sheila was honoured for her work at Samaritan House, where she was a joint founding member in 2010 and an inaugural board member, Lazarus Community Centre, St Vincent de Paul Society, St Bernard’s Catholic Church (a former president) and various other community efforts.
Sheila was made a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary Club of Highton in 2017 and has volunteered at Lazarus Kitchen and was a Catholic Prison chaplain at Barwon Prison.
“I was totally amazed when I heard I had been awarded an OAM, but delighted that more women are now being recognised,” she said.
“There are many ordinary people like us who do the same or more, who have never been acknowledged.
“Our daughter Lisa is to be congratulated on the extensive research to put us both forward for the awards. Raising a beautiful family has probably been my greatest achievement.
“Being a co-founder of Samaritan House Geelong, a homeless men’s shelter, and transition housing accommodation, has probably given me the most satisfaction, in doing community work.
“Affordable housing is very high on my very long lists of list of concerns.”
Late last year Ken’s extensive volunteer work was acknowledged by receiving the COTA Victorian Senior Achiever Award at the 2021 Victorian Senior of the Year awards. He is also a life member of Rotary Australia.
Among Ken’s volunteer achievements has been 45 years spent as a member of the Rotary Club of Highton.
“I’ve been a member since the inaugural meeting in 1975,” he said.
With Rotary, Ken was the driving force behind the Barwon Banks Fun Run, which raised much-needed funds for the Give Where You Live Foundation.
Ken initiated the event more than 25 years ago and dedicated his time to plotting out the route each year and measuring the track.
He said it was “satisfying” to see the support the event had been able to provide to Give Where You Live over the years, which in turn went to supporting community organisations throughout the Geelong region.
