THE EFFORTS and dedication to the CFA of two local brothers, Ian and Norm
Bodinnar, have been recognised on a national level.
The two Nyah West
residents were awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia as part of Australia
Day honours on Sunday.
Working together in a business that their father
started in 1920, the brothers discovered one another’s secret — that they both
had been awarded an OAM — when they both received letters in similar envelopes,
one day apart.
“I got the letter first, but I didn’t want to ask Norm if he
got one,” Ian said.
Keeping the secret for just one day, the following
morning the pair received more mail at their work.
“I saw an envelope that
looked like mine addressed to Norm, and then just knew straight away that he was
also getting the award,” Ian said.
“When you get this sort of thing you’re
told that you’re not allowed to tell anyone, then when Norm opened the letter it
was just sort of mutual, we both knew.”
The two are equally thrilled to have
been recognised for their achievement and both feel very “proud” and
“honoured”.
Despite that, they were still shocked and believed a number of
people in the community also deserved the recognition.
Both have been a part
of the CFA for more than 50 years, with Ian instigating their involvement when
he joined in 1953.
Norm joined in 1962.
For more of this story, see Wednesday’s Guardian (January 29).
