John’s our 6th OAM

Feb 7, 2019

The Southern Riverina News has learnt John Hand was the sixth Finley recipient of an Order of Australia Medal.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Len Koschel (pictured) and Ellis Thornton were two OAM winners along with Len Anderson, John Bolitho and Henry Matheson.

Mr Koschel — also known as Wiggy — received his OAM in 1995 and was instrumental in Finley sport. He was made a life member of the cricket club in 1970.

Mr Koschel spent 50 years as the curator at the Finley Recreational Reserve and and was on the Murray Valley Cricket Association Board as well as the Murray Valley Umpires Board.

He received the Finley Rotary Citizen of Distintion in 1985.

Ellis Thornton was recognised for ‘‘community service particularly through sporting organisations.’’

He served the Finley Bowling Club as president, secretary and treasurer and became a life member.

Mr Thornton worked on the Finley Tidy Towns Committee and was awarded a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow for his outstanding contribution to the community and Rotary projects.

The SRN has also learned of ex-Finley local Stephen Taylor receiving an OAM in Military Division on the 2019 honours list. We hope to have more information about Mr Taylor in next week’s edition.

By McPherson Media Group