Long Jetty resident, Mr Stephen Emerson, was awarded an Order of Australia Medal, in the general division, for his services to veterans and their families.
Mr Emerson’s services to veterans and veteran’s families include: Vietnam Veterans’ Peacekeepers’ and Peacemakers’ Association of Australia (VVPPAA) New South Wales Branch executive positions; Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Veterans’ Association of New South Wales Director since 2005; Returned and Services League of Australia, City of Fairfield Sub-Branch, VVPPAA Representative; Parade Marshall and Master of Ceremonies, ANZAC and Remembrance Day commemorations; Veterans’ and Veterans’ Families Counselling Service Volunteer and VVPPAA Representative, since 2002. Mr Emerson helped set up the Operation Life suicide prevention program. Since being honoured, Mr Emerson said he’d been on cloud nine.
“My feet have only just started to touch the ground again, it’s a wonderful feeling,” he said. Mr Emerson served in the Vietnam War and said it was some of his darkest moments during the war that led him to become so involved with veterans and ex-servicemen’ organisations and outreach programs. “I medically retired from work after going through a bad spot. “I had PTSD from the war years and after retirement found myself frustrated. “That’s how I got into volunteer work with the Vietnam Veterans’ Federation at Granville. “I loved it, I still do. “It was extremely therapeutic to be able to help people just beginning to go through the things I went through and I’ve stuck with it ever since,” he said. Since commencing volunteer work, Mr Emerson started working as a veteran’s advocate and as a counselling liaison.
He moved to Long Jetty just over 18 months ago with his wife Pam to be closer to their son and three grandchildren. When he is not volunteering in Sydney, Mr Emerson said he was getting used to his new home on the Coast and was enjoying the perks of Coastal living. “I was a mad surfer back in the day, and since moving here, I have connected with the Retired Surfers Fraternity and have been really enjoying the Surf Club at Toowoon Bay. “My son’s family is heavily involved in Nippers here and Pam and I find ourselves becoming more and more involved,” he added. When asked about the highlights of his volunteer work, Mr Emerson said it was simply a matter of giving. “Being able to help veterans, ex-servicemen, and their families, with their pensions or their emotional issues, or whatever else I can, has been a wonderful way to spend the last 20 years. “Helping people live their best lives after service is truly an honour,” Mr Emerson said.
Source: Interview, Feb 5 Stephen Emerson, Long Jetty, Dilon Luke, Journalist. Media release, Jan 23 Kaye Browning, Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat