By Goya Dmytryshchak
and Cameron Tait
A Williamstown economist, a Laverton builder, Altona Meadows Italian community leader and a Footscray refugee advocate are among those recognised in Australia Day honours.
Previously described as a “renegade economist”, Williamstown’s Adrian Pagan has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Professor Pagan was awarded for his long service to tertiary education, development of public policy research, contributions to professional and financial organisations, and as an author of more than 140 papers, articles and books.
When appointed to the Reserve Bank board in 1995, Mr Pagan was described as a “knock-about character”.
He said what he really liked about his appointment as an Officer of the Order was that it was an Australian award.
“I guess if I go back to my renegade past, I can construct an argument for why I shouldn’t get it as there are lots of people out there who do amazing things,” Mr Pagan said.
“I’m very much a product of the Australian education system, even to doing my doctorate here – and that was a bit unusual in the 1960s.
“So I like to think of this as a tribute to all those people who inspired and directed me in thinking about econometrics and its uses.”
Laverton builder John Belani, who arrived in Australia as a Slovakian refugee in 1959, said he couldn’t have imagined he would one day be awarded one of his adopted country’s highest honours. He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Laverton community. Over many years, Mr Belani has been dedicated to numerous causes, including the Slovak Social Club in Laverton and
St Matthew’s Slovak Lutheran congregation.
He donated land to build the Christ the Lord Slovak Lutheran Church in Laverton in 1974, helped build and establish the Hoppers Crossing Club, and has been recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary.
Recalling his own experiences, Mr Belani has become a strong supporter of people trying to escape the civil war in South Sudan, funding an orphanage named Anna Belani, after his wife.
“I thank god he brought us to this lucky country,” Mr Belani said. “If I can make it here anybody can.”
Altona Meadows’ Egilberto Martin, who became honorary secretary of the Brooklyn Ratepayers Committee in 1980, was also honoured with an OAM for service to Victoria’s Italian community.
He’s a founding member of the Fogolar Furlan Club and lecturer on Friulian (alpine region in Italy’s extreme north-east) culture.
Footscray’s Judith Bainbridge, co-founder of the River Nile Learning Centre, received an OAM for her service to the community, especially to refugees.
Ms Bainbridge has also served on the Footscray Legal Service committee and was volunteer manager for the Anglican Church of Footscray’s Sudanese Welfare Centre.
