Highton’s Dr Susan (Liz) Lester has been recognised for her strong support in the community with a King’s Birthday Honours OAM award.
The Highton Clinic partner and general practitioner has been working in the health industry for more than 30 years and has helped local and international communities through volunteering.
“I think you get that sense of satisfaction that you are doing something for your community and your part of the community,” she said.
“I do volunteer work overseas with various charities in Ethiopia, and I feel like I won already because I met my husband volunteering in Ethiopia.
“He’s been here for nearly 18 months now and we got married last August, so I feel like I’ve already been rewarded for any good deeds I’ve done to be honest.”
Liz also helps charity theatre company Medimime Productions raise money for the Geelong University Hospital.
“I love medicine because it’s the variety and getting to know people while helping them through the years,” she said.
“The theatre stuff I love because it’s very social, and you make good friends through that common ground of wanting to help people.”
Liz said it was “incredibly humbling” and “a bit surreal” to be nominated by a patient and receive the OAM for her service to the community.
“I think we are all very self-critical. We remember the mistakes we made, and the unkind things people have said to us rather than our own achievements,” she said.
“I’m sure there are more deserving people than me, and I’m lucky that someone took the time and effort to nominate me.”
