Altona Meadows’ Egilberto Martin has been honoured with an Order of the Medal of Australia for service to Victoria’s Italian community.
Mr Martin became honorary secretary of the Brooklyn Ratepayers Committee in 1980.
He was a founding member and secretary of the Fogolar Furlan Club from 1957-1962, became a life member in 2009 and is currently its cultural co-ordinator.
Mr Martin is a lecturer on Friulian culture – a region situated along the alpine ridge in the extreme north east of Italy.
He is also a cultural adviser and international representative for Ente Friuli Mondo for the Africa, Asia and Oceania regions.
He was president of the federal and state chapters of the Australian Football Press Association from 1979-1994 and is a long-time newspaper sports contributor and radio commentator.
In 1979, he received an Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
